At the intersection of three major roads in Montgomery County, Maryland, you can find the small town of Damascus. These roads are Ridge Road, Damascus Road, and Woodfield Road. These three roads are currently known as Route 17, Route 108, and Route 124.
The history of Damascus dates back to 1783 when the Damascus area was given as a grant to Nathanial Pigman by the state of Maryland. Pigman, who came from a farming family, was a soldier of the American Revolution and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Damascus entered a new chapter on Feb. 14, 1819, when Edward Hughes, a veteran of the War of 1812, bought a 40-acre section of the land. Hughes subdivided lots of his new land for sale, which drew people in and turned the area into a developing town. Hughes is today known as the founder of Damascus.
The town was officially named Damascus in 1861 when Congress approved a postal route through the area. The name came from the capital and largest city in Syria, whose name means “a well-watered land.” James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, also appointed Hughes to the position of postmaster.
Damascus was an incorporated town, having a local government, from 1890 to 1914. However, the incorporation was later withdrawn, per the request of the people, to allow Old Quaker Road, used even before the revolution, to be paved into a state highway. Damascus remains unincorporated and, therefore, has no officially defined boundaries.
Damascus High School was established in 1909 and had its first principal that same year, his name John T Baker; namesake of John T. Baker Middle School. Its current building was constructed in 1950 and was last renovated in 1978. Although there was originally a plan to renovate this year, 2025, it has been repeatedly pushed back. The renovation plan is now on an indefinite timeline. Damascus students and teachers await this renovation with high hopes.
Bradley Rodner, principal of Damascus High School, has shown great pride in Damascus thus far. He plans to dedicate a bulletin board to a detailed representation of the School’s rich history. Rodner hopes to “honor [Damascus high school’s] history and create a welcoming and inspiring space for students, staff, and visitors.”
Even after Damascus’s population growth and urban development, the town has kept its rural small-town character. Many of Damascus’s inhabitants are well acquainted.
The Damascus Heritage Society Museum opened on Nov. 17, 2009; visitors can find a collection of newspaper articles, photographs, and maps that preserve the unique history and cultural heritage of Damascus. The museum is open from 12 to 4 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays; for free. However, the museum will be closed starting March 1 2025 while the library is remodeled.
The 43rd exhibit is dedicated to the “old schools”; more than 20 single-room schools in the Damascus area. Two of these schools were Damascus 1883 and Damascus 1910. Another exhibit is dedicated to Damascus’s old social life. This exhibit features displays of picnics, serenades of couples on their wedding nights, social clubs, and quilting parties. A temporary exhibit featured World War two veterans.
One of Damascus’s prides is Jimmie Cone which opened in 1962. Jimmie Come opens seasonally; this year 2025, it is set to re-open on March 17. The re-opening of Jimmie Cone is cause for excitement among the inhabitants of Damascus. Interestingly enough, Damascus’s history includes stories of kids who died going to and from Jimmy Cone.
Damascus was also Maryland’s last dry town, forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages, until 2013. New York J&P Pizza was the first restaurant in Damascus to serve alcohol.
In 2017, Damascus’s water tower was painted and decorated with a D in honor of the Damascus High School football team. The project was a collective effort of the parents and teachers who worked together to raise money to paint the tower. While the original plan was to paint the school mascot onto the tower, Georgia Tech, who has trademarked the logo, would not allow it.
Damascus is home to a population of 17,224 as of the 2020 census; 22.1% of its population is under 18 years old. Also according to the 2020 census, Damascus has about 5,836 households.
Most members of the Damascus community would say they enjoy living in Damascus due to its calm small-town energy and friendly environment.
