The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department

Kensington has had fire fighters since the earliest “bucket brigades” formed in 1894. As they gathered equipment through the years, and became organized, they housed their equipment in the rear of the Armory and in various barns behind stores. Finally they purchased this property in 1943, moving there in 1946. The most recent renovations and additions were completed in 2000.

Behind the firehouse, two rows of garages went up shortly after the firehouse with shops and hot-rod clubs moving in (Kensington’s “Gasoline Alley). Later it became mostly auto mechanic shops, as it is today.

Across Connecticut the trees on the left of Plyers Mill Road line the railroad embankment, leading you into another early subdivision. Further down this road lies Ken-Gar, an African-American community which was developing at the same time as Kensington. It was platted 1892, but was not part of the incorporated Town of Kensington.

Walking south down Connecticut Avenue across the railroad bridge one can see Howard Avenue where it crosses Connecticut Avenue. On the far side the business development extends down Howard Avenue to include many warehouse type buildings housing such diverse businesses as auto repair, electrical supplies, plumbing and more recently, large antique shops. Knowles Avenue connected the two historic railroad towns, Garrett Park and Kensington. The northwest corner at Connecticut and Knowles Avenues became commercially developed in the mid-1950s, coinciding with the widening of Connecticut Avenue. Turning back down Howard Avenue, past the Safeway building which opened in 2008, we once again return to the small shops and slower pace of early Kensington.