Benjamin Franklin Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Franklin Gilbert (1841–1907), an American
real estate developer
, was the founder of Takoma Park, Maryland
, a suburb
of Washington, D.C.
, and the city's first mayor
. Gilbert was born in DeRuyter (town), New York, Madison County
, New York
.
Gilbert arrived in Washington, DC during the Civil War and found work at the National Hotel as a clerk. He later opened a luncheon establishment named "The Temperance" located between 9th and 10th Streets in the Northwest quadrant of the city. During that time he became an associate of Alexander "Boss" Shepherd. Financial loses during the Panic of 1873
resulted in a relocation to Dunellen, New Jersey
and the accumulation of a fortune in real estate.
After returning to Washington he began to acquire land for Takoma Park, the first commuter suburb in the area, founding the city in 1883. Gilbert purchased most of its land himself, approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) around the B&O Railroad tracks. He was elected mayor upon the city's incorporation in 1890. He dreamed of creating "a fashionable suburb for Washington bureaucrats and a sylvan resort community where Washington's wealthiest families could escape the unhealthy summer air in the capital." Selling lots for five cents a square foot, Gilbert emphasized the beauty and peacefulness of the local environment, and was especially proud of the pure waters of the local Sligo Creek
, which he thought would bring health benefits to residents. Losses due to the Depression of 1893 led to a change in Gilbert's financial standing. He declined to seek reelection as mayor in 1894.
His daughter, Margaret Gilbert Jamison, wrote of him:
He suffered from a stroke in 1901 and spent the rest of his life gravely ill. He died in 1907.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
real estate developer
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
, was the founder of Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and the city's first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Gilbert was born in DeRuyter (town), New York, Madison County
Madison County, New York
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 73,442. It is named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Gilbert arrived in Washington, DC during the Civil War and found work at the National Hotel as a clerk. He later opened a luncheon establishment named "The Temperance" located between 9th and 10th Streets in the Northwest quadrant of the city. During that time he became an associate of Alexander "Boss" Shepherd. Financial loses during the Panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
resulted in a relocation to Dunellen, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and the accumulation of a fortune in real estate.
After returning to Washington he began to acquire land for Takoma Park, the first commuter suburb in the area, founding the city in 1883. Gilbert purchased most of its land himself, approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) around the B&O Railroad tracks. He was elected mayor upon the city's incorporation in 1890. He dreamed of creating "a fashionable suburb for Washington bureaucrats and a sylvan resort community where Washington's wealthiest families could escape the unhealthy summer air in the capital." Selling lots for five cents a square foot, Gilbert emphasized the beauty and peacefulness of the local environment, and was especially proud of the pure waters of the local Sligo Creek
Sligo Creek
Sligo Creek is a free-flowing tributary of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River in Maryland. The creek is approximately long, with a drainage area of about .- Geography :The creek rises in the Kemp Mill section of Silver Spring in Montgomery County and...
, which he thought would bring health benefits to residents. Losses due to the Depression of 1893 led to a change in Gilbert's financial standing. He declined to seek reelection as mayor in 1894.
His daughter, Margaret Gilbert Jamison, wrote of him:
Although he made a great deal of money in early and middle life, he was essentially an idealist rather than a cold, calculating money grabber. He devoted a great deal more of his time and energy to persuading people with children to buy a lot and build a home in a pleasant place like Takoma Park than he did in trying to persuade wealthier people to invest their money in his subdivisions.
He suffered from a stroke in 1901 and spent the rest of his life gravely ill. He died in 1907.
See also
- Takoma Park, MarylandTakoma Park, MarylandTakoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
- Takoma Park Historical DistrictTakoma Park Historic District (Takoma Park, Maryland)The Takoma Park Historic District is a national historic district located at Takoma Park, Montgomery County, Maryland. The district area was platted in 1883 by developer Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, and promoted for its natural environment and healthy setting. Originally an early railroad suburb, the...
- Takoma, DC