Drummond

In 1902, a vision took root. A vision of a tranquil Maryland suburb, just a stone’s throw from the bustling District of Columbia. This vision was Drummond. General Richard Coulter Drum, a decorated US General, sold a piece of his farm to the Drummond Land Company. This land became the foundation of the village that bears his name. The lure of a peaceful retreat with easy access to the city via a new streetcar line on present-day Wisconsin Avenue proved irresistible to the upper-middle class. Drummond’s 45 lots, neatly arranged along Park Avenue, began to sell quickly. Drummond’s story is not just about bricks and mortar. It’s about the people who shaped its character. It’s about the beekeepers who, between 1916 and 1919, transformed 4717 Drummond Avenue into a buzzing hub for the Department of Agriculture’s beekeeping studies. Imagine the apiary on the grounds, the house converted into offices and laboratories, the air thick with the hum of scientific discovery. It’s the story of Elizabeth Tibbott, a woman of unwavering conviction. She designed the very home her grandson, Bob Tibbott, a third-generation Drummond resident, lives in today. Her relentless pursuit of a position at the Department of Agriculture, despite facing blatant gender discrimination, speaks volumes about her character. She applied 58 times, only to reject their eventual offer. Her goal was not the job itself but the principle of equal opportunity for women. Drummond also housed Lloyd and Mary Davis, a mixed-race couple who moved there in 1965. Lloyd, a senior advisor at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, played a pivotal role in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. From Drummond to Atlanta, his legacy resonates with the ongoing fight for social justice. Before Davis, another champion of civil rights called Drummond home. John Doar, who served in Eisenhower’s Justice Department, lived here from 1962 to 1968. He bravely investigated civil rights abuses, protected voting rights, and fought for school desegregation in the Deep South. He escorted James Meredith, the first African American student, into the University of Mississippi. He participated in the investigation into the murder of three civil rights workers in Mississippi. He even rode with the Freedom Riders in Alabama. Francis Lethbridge, a renowned modern architect, also left his mark on Drummond. Residing here from 1957 to 1978, he shaped Washington D.C.’s 20th-century landscape. His designs included modernist suburban communities and award-winning projects like Tiber Island and the River Road Unitarian Church. Drummond’s unique governance further strengthens its community spirit. Semi-annual meetings, annual elections held each first Monday of May, and the yearly September block party all contribute to a vibrant neighborhood life. A time capsule, buried in 2000, holds secrets and dreams of Drummond’s residents, waiting to be unearthed in 2100. Drummond, a quiet village nestled near the nation’s capital, holds a rich tapestry of stories. It’s a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and the pursuit of a better future.