Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/22
=== STREETS CHANGE ===
There was a time when Maryland Avenue ended at the edge of the lots of the last houses there, 14 and 17 North Maryland Avenue, before a street was laid through to Petersville Road. Gretchen Jane Moler Rollison lived at No. 14. The neighborhood youngsters played on the property extending through this expanse and on the lawn that drifted from the Jordan House to Potomac Street (Fast Eddie's fills that lawn today).
Before the completion of Maryland Avenue, the street would be blocked off for carnivals, dances, and street parties to be held on the paved portion. Large carnivals with ferris wheels were set up on the undeveloped area where the bridge approach is now located. The Lions Club's Halloween parties were also held there.
Maryland Avenue was concreted from Potomac Street to Petersville Road in the mid-thirties. (During this same time, the town concreted both sides of South Maryland Avenue and Wenner's Hill, leaving a middle width of dirt road for horse traffic.)
The street bed at Moler-Rollison's was so high that just one step from the porch put you on the ground with your elbow on the bannister. There was an alley past No. 17, where a car could go up and turn around behind Mrs. Shafer's stables (Virginia A venue). Four or so large elm trees lined Maryland Avenue from Moler's to Potomac Street.
Gretchen Jane Rollison remembers when her father pushed her in a wheelbarrow from their house, down Maryland A venue, over the crossing in front of Cross's store to the mill to buy 100 pounds of flour. (She had to walk back.)
S - Gretchen Jane Moler Rollison
W-MMM
Do You Know ...
The first tax on dogs came October 5, 1892, when a license fee was imposed in Brunswick.
The first ordinance in Brunswick controlling cattle, sheep, and other animals was passed on June 6, 1893.
The town council granted permission on October 17, 1935 to the Recreation Committee to erect a building in City Park. This was to be built under a National Youth Administration (N.Y.A.) program. Rev. Mark Jenkins of Grace Episcopal church outlined the proposed plans to the Council.
The first child born in Brunswick was Martha Brunswick Sigafoose (VanOsdale) on May 11, 1890.
The first twins born in Brunswick were Lula Brunswick and Luther Brunswick Darr on April 24, 1891.
Large blocks of limestone outlining City Park along Gum Spring Hollow Road were once a part of the piers of the old iron truss bridge of 1893 to 1955.
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