10500 St. Paul Street

10500 & 10520 St. Paul Street

 

The two buildings before you, 10500 and 10520 St. Paul Street served the handful of local farmers and date back to the beginnings of the Knowles Station community. The end of St. Paul Street used to continue at grade across the train tracks as County Road, connecting with Bladensburg Road (now Plyers Mill). The crossing and the Train Station marked the perfect spot for commerce to develop. On the left, is the older building, a general store, built and run by William Mannakee in the 1880s. Next to it, a grocery store was built in the 1890s and gas pumps were later added. Russell and Ray Mizell bought the entire property in the 1930s, and relocated their lumber business from the often-flooded lot near Rock Creek to this ideal location next to the train station. In its early days, the gas station was known as Carmack’s Service Station, as in the photo. For most of the 20th century, it was the Curtis Brothers’ Station.

The B&O railroad provided deliveries of high-quality lumber, hardware, and other goods from distant sources. Three generations of the Mizell family ran the Mizell Lumber and Hardware Company for over 90 years at this location until the business closed in December 2011.

Since these two buildings are in the Historic District, their general appearance – wood siding, original windows and low overhanging roof – is protected by the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Ordinance. The street-facing gable with its scalloped shingles centered above the front doors, and the symmetrical windows flanking the doors are elements of the original design. The turned posts and decorative brackets of the porch are typical of the 1890s. The facades of these buildings have changed very little since they were built.

On the south side of St. Paul Street, there were two buildings housing, at various times, a real estate office, barber shop, dry cleaners, and the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A & P). They are no longer standing. The cement plant, which long ago housed a coal and wood supply area on a railroad spur, has given way to a parking lot. Down Metropolitan Avenue to the right are small shops with a variety of offerings.