Located in the heart of Montgomery County, Gaithersburg is one of the
largest cities in Maryland and home to a highly educated and diverse
population. The arrival of the railroad in 1873 spurred a residential
and industrial boom, making Gaithersburg the market center for
Darnestown, Quince Orchard, and Hunting Hill-and the agricultural
powerhouse of Montgomery County. Rare photographs of these forgotten
crossroads villages, as well as surrounding farms, houses, and mills of
the Gaithersburg and Germantown areas, reveal places from the past, many
of which have long since disappeared from the modern landscape. Despite
the loss of a number of these landmarks, many still stand due to the
efforts of the citizens.