An Excerpt of Kensington History
When considering the historic significance of Kensington and Circle Manor, ask yourself what differentiates Kensington from the wide spread suburban sprawl surrounding us. It's not just big houses, small houses, yards, etc. It's that you can see that it was developed over a hundred years ago, not yesterday or just after WWII. And the Circle and the echoing Oval on the West Side are critical to that. It just looks different, and anybody driving through would notice it immediately.
Just for a little background…Our area was once a land grant called Joseph's Park, later purchased by Daniel Carroll (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), who sold parcels to various farmers. In 1880, this area was a farming community with a population of around 75. The Metropolitan Line of the B & O came through the area stopping here at Knowles Station - creating more growth in the area.
Brainard Warner purchased property to the south of the station from Brown/Jones in 1890 and created the Kensington Park Subdivision - an area roughly bounded by the town limits to the west and south and east, with the northern boundary jaggedly cutting through blocks south of Warner, Mitchell, and Howard Avenues. There were nine other small subdivisions making up the rest of the town at the time. Mr. Warner saw this area as an excellent summer retreat where one could escape from the Washington summers - a place free from the worries of the big city. Mr. Warner subdivided his land, laying out the streets with the curvilinear street patterns we see today. He saved the center circle of his subdivision to build his own home, on the location of the old Brown farmhouse. He sold multiple lots to his friends and others so they could build in the area, keeping the central circle for himself while creating a "garden suburb" similar to his favored Kensington, England.
His vision for Kensington remains intact today, a century later.
After Mr. Warner built his own home he became very influential in the development of the town. Our railroad station was built in 1891 to accommodate the commuters who were moving into the area.
Brainard Warner gave the land and built the Noyes Library in 1893. He convinced his friend Crosby Noyes, editor and publisher of the Washington Star to donate books for the library. He was influential in local politics (the town was incorporated in 1894) and was able to convince others to name the town, the post office and train station "Kensington." Mr. Warner organized a stock company to build the first town hall. He gave the triangular piece of land at Washington, Connecticut and Calvert Streets to the Presbyterian congregation and helped finance the Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was active in the establishment of the Kensington Electric Railway (known to locals as the Toonerville trolley) which traveled up the Parkway from Chevy Chase and through town on Howard Avenue.
Frederick McKenney purchased the Warner home and grounds in 1914 continuing the tradition of a single residence. The property changed hands again around 1950 and soon became a nursing home.
In 1980, a portion of Kensington with this property being its central focus, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1986, the Kensington Historic District was included on the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation described as "a Victorian-era garden suburb."
There are many who feel that this pattern of development and resulting atmosphere make our community unique in Montgomery County. We feel an obligation as described in the County's 1992 historic preservation brochure: "We are custodians of the buildings, sites, and structures that define our history. They do not belong to us alone. They have belonged to those who came before us. With our firm commitment to their continued existence, they will belong to those who come after us..."
There are many who consider Brainard Warner "the founder of Kensington," and the site of his home to be an integral and irreplaceable part of our community and a significant part of the history of our town.
Reference: Kensington Historical Society Archives
The 2006 Kensington Historical Society Calendar has photos and information celebrating
the history of "Circle Manor" available at the Town Hall and several local stores.
Also see the KHS website: www.kensingtonhistory.org (off-site).
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