In the 1930s the Chevy Chase Land Company opened a new block in Section 5-a, for development. The block was bounded by Connecticut Avenue, the “Bethesda-Silver Spring Boulevard”, Glendale Road, and East Blackthorn Street. This block was to be different in design and character from other residential blocks in Chevy Chase. The Land Company’s architects had designed interior motor courts which would be reached by a common driveway from Blackthorn Street. The houses would be English in style, rather than American Colonial, and the entire block, when completed, would resemble an English country town.
The concept was experimental, for its time, since it required each homeowner to share common property and to give up the traditional “backyard” in exchange for community architectural character. It was thought that in this way, the residents would share a common interest in the betterment of their neighborhood.
This block was called “The Hamlet.”
The original Hamlet contained thirteen lots, of which only ten were sold, at that time. However, the unusual and distinctive nature of the block gained wide recognition. Soon other blocks surrounding the Hamlet, although of traditional lot design, became known as “the Hamlet area”.
In the 1940’s the Dunlop farm, north of East-West Highway, was opened for development and Glendale Road and Curtis Street were extended across East-West Highway. Many of the builders who had worked in the old Hamlet were building homes in the new area which was to become the last section of Chevy Chase. This section, bounded by Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase Lake, Farmington, and East-West Highway, was called “the new Hamlet.”
However, the Northern limits of Chevy Chase Section 5 stop at Leland Street. The Sections of Chevy Chase are Special Taxing Areas, incorporated by an act of the Maryland State Legislature and administered by a citizens committee elected from the residents. But the neighborhoods North of Leland Street were never incorporated, and therefore, lacked a community association which the other neighborhoods were granted by law.
In 1953 the late Senator Gerald Nye, Mr. Clarence Wright, and other homeowners in the area met to discuss the route of U.S. #240 which was then proposed for a location near the Hamlet. From this first meeting, an informal citizens association evolved. Thereafter, annual meetings were held, and eventually bylaws were proposed and adopted by the members. It was decided that the group would be known as THE HAMLET CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND.
Officers and members of the Executive Committee serve voluntarily, and are nominated and elected by the membership at each Annual Meeting.
The Hamlet Citizens’ Association is represented on, or has close contact with the Chevy Chase Fire Board, the Hamlet Garden Club, the Chevy Chase Library, and Junior Women’s Club of Chevy Chase.
Members of the Executive Committee and other residents also volunteering their services, have testified before the Montgomery County Council, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Montgomery County Delegation to the General Assembly, and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The annual meeting of the membership is held each January for an annual report and election of officers. Other meetings are called by the President as necessary.