Area History
River Road- "The River Road is the oldest road in this part of the county. As far back as 1716 it was known as Tahogee (Tahoga) Indian Trail. Later it was widened into a tobacco rolling road. Small bridges were built across many streams so that the tobacco casks could be rolled to market. In 1758, it was again widened by order of Governor Sharp of Maryland, so that General Braddock's army could march westward. "Washington, City and Capital", pg. 813.

The Loughboro Place-5312 Allandale Road "...includes as the east wing the present stone house an old Dutch trading post built in 1700. Here was carried on trade with Indians who came to the flint quarries nearby for arrowheads and tomahawks. Relics of these weapons are occasionally found in the fields of the estate.  the main house, designed after Pennsylvania colonial homes, was built about 1808 by Nathan Loughboro as an investment. On the death of his wife in 1844, he moved to this country place, which he called 'Milton' and added a west wing, also of stone gathered on the grounds...".

"There are still visible traces of the road which Loughboro built between this and his townhouse "Grasslands", so that his wife, a noted beauty of her day, might ride in seclusion. One of his heirs had an underground passage cut from the kitchen in one wing to connect with the dining room opposite. During the Civil War, one room of the house was used as a Union Prison and the walls still bear signatures and inscriptions written by captured Confederates."

Nathan Loughboro's suit against the government in protest against taxes on his townhouse, on the ground that it was 'taxation without representation', is an historic precedent in law. His bitter feud with Jefferson, whom he styled 'Little Red Breeches' is political history." Ibid., pg 814.

Green Acres Web Photo Gallery

Below you will find a fascinating collection of images. Many of these were supplied from some of our longtime Green Acres homeowners, from their private collections. More images will be added as they become available, so visit again soon! 

Real Estate in the 1940's: Green Acres-Glen Cove

Of particular interest are reproductions from an original Green Acres sales brochure, complete with specifications and prices for homes in our neighborhood. Keep in mind: Green Acres was developed in response to the demand for affordable housing created in large part by returning WWII veterans. Anxious to settle down and looking for "starter" housing, Green Acres was an ideal place to look. These modest homes were well-built. But don't be deceived by the prices you see here: While affordable by 1940's standards, for many these sales prices represented a tremendous expense, and a big step for first-time homebuyers of the time!

Albert Walker was a keen businessman, and Green Acres was not his only development. In Walker's business plan he envisioned Green Acres as a neighborhood of "starter" homes designed primarily for newlyweds with few or no children. In Walker's model, as families (or perhaps incomes) grew they would "move up" to larger homes in other Walker developments. To ensure this concept, Walker placed building restrictions on Green Acres homes: No additions were allowed!  If you wanted more space, you had to move! 

These restrictions weren't removed until many years later.  Today, as you can see by looking around the neighborhood, many neighbors would now rather add on than move!

Please click on any "thumbnail" image below to see a larger version. Can you find "your" house? And how 'bout those taxes?! 

Enjoy!

(Note: The full-size images might take time to load. Be patient!)