Poolesville received its name from the U.S. Post
Office Department when the area’s first post office was
established in Poole’s Store in 1805. John Poole had opened
his small store in 1793 in his residence, a small
one-room-and-kitchen log house that still stands today. His primary
customers were the farming families who had been settling in the
area since about 1760. These are the ancestors of many families who
live in the area
today.
Agricultural development was the primary cause of
prosperity in Poolesville. Town residents supplied services and
goods to the local farmers. Blacksmiths, wheelwrights, shoemakers,
tailors, carpenters, barbers, coopers, tavern-keepers, and an
hotelier were thriving in Poolesville in the early 1800s. Another
factor in Poolesville’s development was its proximity to the
Potomac River ferries and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which
started partial operation in
1833.
Poolesville, whose population had reached about 200
by 1861, was the second largest town in Montgomery County and was
of major importance during the Civil War due to its strategic
location between the Nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C.,
and nearby
Virginia.
Today, Poolesville retains its small-town, rural
character with a population of about 4,200. Historic preservation
is a matter of importance to the residents and an integral part of
the town’s planning process. Many 19th-century homes have
been carefully preserved. But residents agree that
Poolesville’s most valuable asset is its combination of small
town character and rural setting. The John Poole House, built in
1793, is a historic landmark in downtown
Poolesville.
This geocache is hidden on the grounds of our new
town hall. If you visit during business hours, come on in and say
hello. Parking is available near the
cache.
The Town of Poolesville Thanks
you for
visiting!
Thanks to Shady for helping with the original MML hide!
