In Search of the Lost Souls of “Silver Spring”

It was a mild 61 degrees and a little before 8 p.m., April 17, 1917, when members of the Columbia Historical Society began to stream into the Gold Room of the Shoreham Hotel at the corner of 15th and H St., N.W., in Washington, D.C. Scheduled to speak that evening was Maj. Gist Blair, whose talk was titled “Silver Spring.” Blair was the grandson of Silver Spring’s founder, Francis Preston Blair, Sr., advisor to U.S. presidents from Andrew Jackson to Ulysses S. Grant, and son of Montgomery Blair, United States Postmaster General during the first term of President Abraham Lincoln.

Silver Spring Cares Superhero: Chris Richardson

“It’s up to us to maintain our precious green spaces. If you want to see where Sligo Creek trash ends up, take a pontoon boat ride at high tide on the Anacostia River at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. In our section of Sligo Creek, I have personally seen egrets and great blue herons, as well as listserv photos of night herons, green herons, and wood ducks – one of the most impressive North American birds. Sligo Creek is well enjoyed by its residents for recreation and exercise; I see Councilmember Tom Hucker jogging there all the time.”

Silver Spring Cares Superhero: Chase Spahr

“Because I usually get a lot of presents that I don’t really need, so instead I thought I could give it to people who couldn’t afford it (plus it was my mom’s idea). To be honest, I wasn’t super excited about it until I went to meet Max [Levitt, executive director] at Leveling the Playing Field.”