Untitled Page

1906

First session of the Council takes place May 14, in the home of the Mayor, Dr. C. A. Crampton.
Town Clerk/Treasurer and Health officer appointed.
Order of business and by-laws adopted.
Board of Assessors appointed.
Mr. Elbert Richmond was appointed Marshal of the Town.
First notice sent to property owners urging them to get board walks into repair.
First 3 Town ordinances approved, to prohibit: breaking electric street lamps, letting animals run at large, defacing any property
Special committee on Sewers reports broken pipes and filled cesspools. Total of $75 is needed to correct these two problems.
Town sets tax rate of 50 cents on each $100 of taxable property, real and personal.

1907

$1 allocated for a padlock to lock the station at Rockville and Dorset so as to keep the station clean.
Official Town Journal, to be published on an occasional basis, is established to contain all official notices and all advertising called for in the Charter.
Granolithic sidewalk laid on Dorset between Warwick Place and Surrey Street – with 1⁄2 costs assessed against abutting properties; later some 640 feet to the east of that sidewalk was also laid in granolithic.

1908

Delinquent tax payers are advised their properties will be put up for sale. Mrs. Bergdoll was the only delinquent and her lot on the corner of Warwick and Dorset was to be put up for sale.
Election produces a tie for the second member of the council and a special election has to be called.
Town requests that “The Town of Somerset” be inserted in the postal Guide and that the name “Somerset” replace “West Chevy Chase” on cars of Rockville and Georgetown Line.
Granolithic sidewalk laid on Warwick Place.
Georgetown Gas Light Company authorized by State Legislature to lay mains in Montgomery County.
First bond issue voted - $3,000 to improve streets and walks.
Town to buy stone for the streets from the old Glen Echo Railway.

1909

May 4, Mr. Gibbs resigns as Clerk/Treasurer and Mr. Charles Wise is appointed same.
The Terrace around the windmill is sodded to stabilize it.

1912

Warren W. Biggs elected third Mayor of Somerset. He had acted as the first Clerk-Treasurer and was elected to the Town council in 1909.

1916

Somerset Woman’s Club formed.

1921

Women get to vote in Town elections.

1924

Streets paved.

1928

Somerset Elementary School begins classes.
Mrs. Gish the first woman to be elected to the Town Council.

1931

Meetings held at the Somerset School House.
The Kenwood bus dislodges the pillar at the Town entrance.
The Marshal, Mr. Bryan reported he had stopped two cars for speeding on May 4. On July 6 he resigns and Mr. Cremins is appointed for the ensuing term – he would not accept! The matter of a Marshal was held over for 3 months, during which time a police man was assigned to the Town – he stopped a number of cars for speeding. At about that same time the Town got together with neighboring communities to investigate hiring a special patrolman. The funding did not appear to be available and the matter was dropped.

1940s

Town Clerk, Henry Genus, needed Council action to get him extra gasoline from the rationing board so he could get to work.
In 1942, a victory garden was planted in Town.
In 1943, owners of the Bergdoll petitioned for a zoning change to build apartments within Town boundaries. Town Council voted no.
In 3 auctions over 1946 to 1947, Bergdoll Estate sold much of its land, resulting in houses being built in "new" Somerset.
Somerset Elementary School expanded with a new addition in 1949.

1950s

Somerset Elementary School expanded again in 1951 with another addition.
Patent Attorney Frederick W. Turnbull, mayor in 1958 and a member of the St. Andrew's Society, was often seen and heard playing his bagpipes.

1960s

Woman's Club pushes for a new entrance on Greystone. Designed by local architect, Francis D. Lethbridge, the entrance was completed in 1965.
Mayor Vinton (1958-1969) was responsible for acquiring much of the Town's parkland to be a buffer from the development just south of Town in Friendship Heights.

1970s

Pool dedicated in 1971.
Walter Behr, vice president of the Council, finishes the unexpired term of Mayor Goldberg (who unexpectedly died while in office) and goes on to become the longest-serving mayor in Somerset history.
Swim team program begins.

1980s

Town Hall dedicated on July 4, 1982 (the Town, under Mayor Vinton, had purchased the house in 1965 and it was used as a school for autistic children prior to the Town needing a permanent office and meeting space).
Town recognized by National Arbor Foundation as a Tree City, 1982.
Eagle Scout Sam Lasky oversees building, by Troop 52, of an 800-foot nature trail in Vinton Park.

1990s

54 homes officially designated as a Montgomery County Historic District.
Pool membership fees eliminated, 1997.

2000s

History committee established, 2002.

2006

April 30 - with sounds of bagpipes and current and past residents in attendance, Somerset celebrates its Centennial Anniversary on a gorgeous spring day (70 degrees, dogwoods and flowers in full bloom).


1906	1907	1908	1909	1912	1916	1921	1924	1928	1931
1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000	2006
1906 First session of the Council takes place May 14, in the home of the Mayor, Dr. C. A. Crampton. Town Clerk/Treasurer and Health officer appointed. Order of business and by-laws adopted. Board of Assessors appointed. Mr. Elbert Richmond was appointed Marshal of the Town. First notice sent to property owners urging them to get board walks into repair. First 3 Town ordinances approved, to prohibit: breaking electric street lamps, letting animals run at large, defacing any property Special committee on Sewers reports broken pipes and filled cesspools. Total of $75 is needed to correct these two problems. Town sets tax rate of 50 cents on each $100 of taxable property, real and personal. 1907 $1 allocated for a padlock to lock the station at Rockville and Dorset so as to keep the station clean. Official Town Journal, to be published on an occasional basis, is established to contain all official notices and all advertising called for in the Charter. Granolithic sidewalk laid on Dorset between Warwick Place and Surrey Street – with 1⁄2 costs assessed against abutting properties; later some 640 feet to the east of that sidewalk was also laid in granolithic. 1908 Delinquent tax payers are advised their properties will be put up for sale. Mrs. Bergdoll was the only delinquent and her lot on the corner of Warwick and Dorset was to be put up for sale. Election produces a tie for the second member of the council and a special election has to be called. Town requests that “The Town of Somerset” be inserted in the postal Guide and that the name “Somerset” replace “West Chevy Chase” on cars of Rockville and Georgetown Line. Granolithic sidewalk laid on Warwick Place. Georgetown Gas Light Company authorized by State Legislature to lay mains in Montgomery County. First bond issue voted - $3,000 to improve streets and walks. Town to buy stone for the streets from the old Glen Echo Railway. 1909 May 4, Mr. Gibbs resigns as Clerk/Treasurer and Mr. Charles Wise is appointed same. The Terrace around the windmill is sodded to stabilize it. 1912 Warren W. Biggs elected third Mayor of Somerset. He had acted as the first Clerk-Treasurer and was elected to the Town council in 1909. 1916 Somerset Woman’s Club formed. 1921 Women get to vote in Town elections. 1924 Streets paved. 1928 Somerset Elementary School begins classes. Mrs. Gish the first woman to be elected to the Town Council. 1931 Meetings held at the Somerset School House. The Kenwood bus dislodges the pillar at the Town entrance. The Marshal, Mr. Bryan reported he had stopped two cars for speeding on May 4. On July 6 he resigns and Mr. Cremins is appointed for the ensuing term – he would not accept! The matter of a Marshal was held over for 3 months, during which time a police man was assigned to the Town – he stopped a number of cars for speeding. At about that same time the Town got together with neighboring communities to investigate hiring a special patrolman. The funding did not appear to be available and the matter was dropped. 1940s Town Clerk, Henry Genus, needed Council action to get him extra gasoline from the rationing board so he could get to work. In 1942, a victory garden was planted in Town. In 1943, owners of the Bergdoll petitioned for a zoning change to build apartments within Town boundaries. Town Council voted no. In 3 auctions over 1946 to 1947, Bergdoll Estate sold much of its land, resulting in houses being built in "new" Somerset. Somerset Elementary School expanded with a new addition in 1949. 1950s Somerset Elementary School expanded again in 1951 with another addition. Patent Attorney Frederick W. Turnbull, mayor in 1958 and a member of the St. Andrew's Society, was often seen and heard playing his bagpipes. 1960s Woman's Club pushes for a new entrance on Greystone. Designed by local architect, Francis D. Lethbridge, the entrance was completed in 1965. Mayor Vinton (1958-1969) was responsible for acquiring much of the Town's parkland to be a buffer from the development just south of Town in Friendship Heights. 1970s Pool dedicated in 1971. Walter Behr, vice president of the Council, finishes the unexpired term of Mayor Goldberg (who unexpectedly died while in office) and goes on to become the longest-serving mayor in Somerset history. Swim team program begins. 1980s Town Hall dedicated on July 4, 1982 (the Town, under Mayor Vinton, had purchased the house in 1965 and it was used as a school for autistic children prior to the Town needing a permanent office and meeting space). Town recognized by National Arbor Foundation as a Tree City, 1982. Eagle Scout Sam Lasky oversees building, by Troop 52, of an 800-foot nature trail in Vinton Park. 1990s 54 homes officially designated as a Montgomery County Historic District. Pool membership fees eliminated, 1997. 2000s History committee established, 2002. 2006 April 30 - with sounds of bagpipes and current and past residents in attendance, Somerset celebrates its Centennial Anniversary on a gorgeous spring day (70 degrees, dogwoods and flowers in full bloom).