Celebrating Potomac's Origins Means Learning About Murders, Slavery and Family Feuds

A direct descendant of the Offutt family, whose vast acreage originally known as Offutt’s Crossing at the meeting of River and Falls Roads became Potomac Village in 1880, brings to life his colorful family history at the Potomac Community Village Potluck Dinner and Program on December 17th at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road.

Historian Ralph Buglass, will present “Offutt’s Crossroads and the Early Days of Potomac,” detailing the murders, feuds, and lawsuits of his forebears, including an inside look at family members’ involvement in slavery, and a name change at the request of the U.S. Post Office. His ancestor, William Offutt, was granted hundreds of acres around Potomac to help settle the colony of Maryland in the late 1600’s, later acquiring an additional 2,000 acres, including a Potomac River island still bearing his name. After hearing and seeing Buglass’ presentation, today’s residents can decide for themselves how well the crossroads have been settled.

A passion for history, and existing knowledge of his father’s family, inspired Buglass to uncover his mother’s family roots, the Offutt’s. A volunteer with the Montgomery County Historical Society, Buglass is also the volunteer school master of the Kingsley School, a one-room schoolhouse in Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg that he worked to renovate and furnish. He received the 2015 Maryland Parks and Recreation Association Agency Volunteer Award and last year was a National Service Award recipient from the Country Schools Association of America.

A potluck dinner begins at 6 pm, with the PCV meeting and program following from 7:00-8:45 pm. Attendees are asked to bring various items for dinner according to the first letter of their last name. Details and RSVP are on the Potomac Community Village website, www.PotomacCommunityVillage.org. You may also RSVP at 240-221-1370. For more information, please call Joan Kahn (301-294-6801) or Linda Perlis (301-299-6181). If you don’t wish to join us for dinner, you are welcome to come just for the program portion of the evening, starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Potomac Community Village is a non-profit all-volunteer network of neighbors and friends that enhances quality of life for older Potomac residents by creating social connections and providing services such as transportation, computer assistance and simple home repairs. For more information, to volunteer or get volunteer help, contact info@PotomacCommunityVillage.org, 240-221-1370, or check out www.PotomacCommunityVillage.org or PCV’s Facebook page.

“Б