Germantown, Maryland

===Expansion (1865–1950)===
Germantown did not have a public school until after the end of the [[American Civil War]]. During that time, education was handled at home. In 1868, a one-room schoolhouse was built on [[Maryland Route 118]], near Black Rock Road, which hosted children from both Germantown and neighboring Darnestown.<ref name="19th century history"/> In 1883, a larger one-room schoolhouse was built closer to Clopper Road. Another, newer school was constructed in 1910, on what is now the site of Germantown Elementary School.<ref name="19th century history"/> This school had four rooms, with two downstairs and two upstairs, with each room housing two grade levels. After the eighth grade, the students would head via train to nearby Rockville, for further education.<ref name="19th century history">{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownmdhistory.org/?q=node/2|author=Germantown Historical Society|work=Germantown Historical Society|title=Germantown's History, A Brief Overview|quote=There was no public school in Germantown until after the Civil War. Before that time school was held in people's homes. In 1868 there was a one-room school on built on Rt. 118 near Blackrock Road that served the children of both Germantown and Darnestown. In 1883 a larger one-room school was built closer to Clopper Road to teach the children of Germantown. Another new school was built in 1910 on the present site of Germantown Elementary school. This school had four rooms—two downstairs and two upstairs—each room housing two grades. After eighth grade the children rode the train to attend high-school in Rockville.|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:The Cider Barrel, Germantown, Maryland, 1925.jpg|thumb|The Germantown Cider Barrel in 1925.]]
The wooden structure of the Bowman Brothers Mill fell victim to a fire in 1914. Four years later, the owners were back in business again, selling the mill to the Liberty Milling Company, a brand new corporation. Augustus Selby was the first owner and manager of the new Liberty Mill, which opened in 1918. Electricity was brought into Liberty Mill and also served the homes and businesses nearby, making Germantown the first area in the northern portion of Montgomery County to receive electricity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownmdhistory.org/?q=node/2|work=Germantown Historical Society|author=Germantown Historical Society|quote=Fire engulfed the old wooden structure of the Bowman Brothers Mill in 1914, but four years later they were in business again and sold the mill to a brand new corporation—the Liberty Milling Company. Augustus Selby was the first owner/manager of the new mill which opened in 1918. Electricity was brought into the mill and also served the homes and businesses nearby, making this the first area in the northern part of the county to get electricity.|title=Germantown's History, A Brief Overview|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref>

In 1935, professional baseball player [[Walter Perry Johnson]], who played as a pitcher for the Washington Senators (now the [[Minnesota Twins]]), purchased a farm on what is now the site of [[Seneca Valley High School]]. Used as a dairy farm, Johnson lived there with his five children and his mother (his wife had died), until his death in 1946.<ref name="WalterPerryJohnson">{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownmdhistory.org/?q=node/2|author=Germantown Historical Society|work=Germantown Historical Society|title=Germantown's History, A Brief Overview|quote=Johnson bought his dream farm in Germantown in 1935 and lived here with his five children and his mother, his wife having passed away, until his death in 1946. His dairy farm was located where Seneca Valley High School is today. He was elected by the local people to two terms as a County Commissioner.|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref>  A road near the school was named after him.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

"Feed the Liberty Way" was used as a slogan for Liberty Mill which, with eight silos, became the second largest mill in all of Maryland, supplying flour to the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]]. Cornmeal and animal feed were also manufactured at Liberty Mill, and a store at the mill sold specialty mixes, such as pancake and muffin mix.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownmdhistory.org/?q=node/2|work=Germantown Historical Society|author=Germantown Historical Society|quote="Feed the Liberty Way" was the slogan for the mill which, with its 8 silos, became the second largest mill in Maryland and supplied flour for the army during World War II. Cornmeal and animal feed were also made at the mill, and a mill store sold specialty mixes like pancake and muffin mix.|title=Germantown's History, A Brief Overview|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> Following the end of [[World War II]], the Liberty Mill went into disrepair. For over 25 years, the mill continued to deteriorate until it was destroyed by an arsonist on May 30, 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownmdhistory.org/?q=node/2|work=Germantown Historical Society|author=Germantown Historical Society|quote=After the war the mill went into decline, and was burned by arson in 1971.|title=Germantown's History, A Brief Overview|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> The cement silos were removed by the county in 1986 to make way for the MARC Germantown train station commuter parking lot.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://patch.com/maryland/germantown/the-dawn-of-the-industrial-age-in-germantown | title=The Dawn of the Industrial Age in Germantown | date=August 25, 2011 }}</ref>