Fircrest

Images of America: Washington

by Ralph R. Colyer

Fircrest was ready and waiting when America exploded into the modern era following World War II. In 1906, the creative energy of Edward "Major" Bowes, of Amateur Hour fame, combined with the engineering brilliance of Mat R. Thompson to create the quintessential American suburb. Anticipating America's love affair with the automobile, they designed a modern "suburban park" with wide streets that curved with the contours of the land. Brisk initial sales faded, and the development, Regents Park, struggled. But the people of "the Park" persevered. In 1925, the Fircrest Golf Club was started, and the homeowners joined together to incorporate. Seeking a fresh start, they renamed their village the City of Fircrest. Postwar homebuilders discovered a solid community with a modern plan and available shovel-ready lots. When the dust settled, the iconic midcentury American neighborhood that Bowes and Thompson envisioned stood proud.

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2015