E. Brooke Lee

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Edward Brooke Lee
File:Edward brook lee.jpg
Col E. Brooke Lee, c.1940
Born (1892-10-23)October 23, 1892
Washington DC
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Damascus Maryland
Cause of death pneumonia
Resting place Rock Creek Cemetery Washington DC
Alma mater Princeton University, George Washington University (1917)
Occupation Politician
Political party Democrat
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Somerville Wilson, Thelma Lou Ellen Lawson Crawford, Nina G. Jones
Children Blair Lee III, Edward Brooke Lee, Jr., Elizabeth Somerville Lee
Parent(s) Blair Lee I,Anne Clymer (Brooke) Lee
Relatives Lee family

Edward Brooke Lee (October 23, 1892 - September 21, 1984). A Maryland politician and World War I hero, Lee was born in Blair House Washington DC. His father is Francis Preston Blair Lee and mother is Anne Clymer (Brooke) Lee.[1] E. Brooke Lee's father, Blair Lee, represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate. A great-grandfather, Richard Henry Lee, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a U.S. senator from Virginia. A great-uncle was Montgomery Blair, Abraham Lincoln's postmaster general.[2] Lee died of pneumonia in Damascus, Maryland, September 21, 1984.

Early life

Born at the Blair-Lee House in Washington, DC. Lee, became a member of a famous Blair-Lee family dynasty that included a signer of the Declaration of Independence, governors of Maryland and Virginia, diplomats, a postmaster general and members of Congress. Attended the Pomfret School in Connecticut graduating in 1912. Attended Princeton University but left the University as a sophomore in good standing in 1916 to act as his fathers legislative assistant in the Senate.[3][4] Graduated George Washington University Law School, in 1917. Married first wife Elizabeth Somerville Wilson daughter of State of Maryland Senator Joseph S. Wilson on April 13, 1914.[5] They had three children.[6]

Military and World War I

The Silver Spring Armory in 1917, constructed by E. Brooke Lee

Lee joined Maryland National Guard F Company, 1st Maryland Infantry of Hyattsville in 1912. Lee and Frank L. Hewitt another businessman and real estate investor, helped build an armory and organize a new Maryland Guard company Company K located in Silver Spring Maryland in 1914. The armory has been remodeled and now houses the Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Department.[7] Lee advanced through the ranks to first lieutenant. Company K was activated into federal service on 28 June 1916 to Eagle Pass Texas. Lee commanded Company K and aided General John J. Pershing in his pursuit of Mexican revolutionary and bandit, Pancho Villa.[8] who was running border patrols along the Rio Grande River into New Mexico. On 28 June 1916 Company K was mustered out of federal service. With the United States entry into World War I Lee was promoted to Captain, Infantry, National Guard of Maryland 29 January 1917.

Company K in June 1917 was again mustered into federal service. Lee and Company K encamped at U. S. Senator Blair Lee's field west of Georgia Avenue and north of Kalmia Road in the District of Columbia. The National Guard unit comprising 150 men was sent to Camp McClellan, near Anniston, Alabama in August 1917 for ten months of training and emerged as Company K of the 115th Infantry,29th Division of the American Expeditionary Force. Lee served in France during World War I, 1917-18 as part of the 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F. Lee was awarded Distinguished Service Cross:

"While in command of a raiding party against the enemy trenches near Balschwiller on the morning of 31 August 1918, Captain Edward Lee led the advance through the enemy wire, being the last to quit the enemy trenches, personally assisting in carrying the wounded back through the enemy counter-barrage, and remaining all day of August 31 in a shell hole in no man's land in order to assist all wounded to return to our line."[9]

Lee was also awarded the Silver Star Citation for:

Lee distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Balschwiller, France, 31 August 1918, in assisting in carrying the wounded back through the enemy counter-barrage.[9]

Lee was promoted to the rank of major. Lee twice received the French Croix de Guerre. Lee also received the Belgian Order of Leopold. Lee was discharged from active duty, June, 1918 as a lieutenant colonel and was generally considered a war hero.[10] After the war Lee became chief of staff of the 29th Infantry of the Maryland National Guard.

Political Start

Lee was drafted in Maryland Democratic politics by a group of influential state democrats in 1919. Lee was reluctant to jump into state politics so soon after World War I. The group wanted Lee to run for Maryland Comptroller. He repeatedly turned them down. Canadate Albert Richie begged Lee to run.[11]

Lee was thrown into the political arena immediately upon his return from his tour of duty in Europe in World War I. In a 1977 interview Lee recalled:

"I had an interesting experience when the transport got into Norfolk Harbor or Newport News harbor. They threw the Baltimore Sun on board, and the Baltimore Sun edition that they threw on board said, 'Senator Smith Favors Young Lee for Comptroller."[12]

Campaigned on the ticket of Governor Albert C. Ritchie as the 25th Comptroller of the State of Maryland. Co-founder and treasurer, United Democratic Clubs of Montgomery County, 1921. Secretary of State of Maryland, 1923-25. House of Delegates-Montgomery County, 1927–30; Speaker Maryland House of Delegates, 1927-30. Appointed by Governor Ritchie to Committee on Public Works, 1933. State roads commissioner, 1934.

Develop Silver Spring and Montgomery County

Setup first land-use and zoning system for Montgomery County. Lee's political influence in Annapolis made him a formidable power in county politics and land development. He was a strong advocate of planned suburban growth in the county facilitated by zoning. Lee was also instrumental to the establishment of both the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in 1916 and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1927. These agencies would Control the development of regional Water, sewer and road systems that were essential to the county's urban growth. Lee remained a force in Montgomery County civic affairs and politics for more than four decades and helped shape the development of the region before his death in 1984.[11]

In November 1911, Washington, D.C.'s health officer urged a Kensington audience to support the installation of a suburban sewerage system because of the need to preserve "Rock Creek in its present sanitary condition." [13] In March 1916, there was a proposal in the General Assembly to give Montgomery County and Prince George's County residents "a joint sanitary sewerage system and a water supply under one administration" known as "The Washington Suburban Sanitary District" to "be submitted to the people on a referendum." In Montgomery County, the area would extend from the D.C. line to Garrett Park in the west and Burnt Mills in the east. There were to be three commissioners, one each from the respective counties and the third appointed by the governor. Each county would be a separate sanitary district. It wasn't until March 1918 that this agency began operations, spurred by the State board of health promising to compel various suburban communities to either link up to D.C.'s sewer system to end unsanitary conditions in Rock Creek or to build their own sewage treatment plants. By 1919, WSSC was buying up the Chevy Chase Land Company's water system, building a filtration plant in Kensington, and installing sewers in Bladensburg. Originally, the Washington Suburban Sanitary District covered just 90 of the 981 square miles of the two counties. In 1922, D.C. formally agreed to allow WSSC to connect to its sewers.

In December 1926, Colonel E. Brooke Lee, often known as " "Father of Modern Silver Spring"[10] just elected to the House of Delegates and about to be elected Speaker of the House, proposed the creation of a suburban zone in both counties " which would include the general territory of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission(WSSC) with 'such additions , or exceptions as a comprehensive study may indicate.' " This new suburban zone would be taxed to pay for street construction, lighting, garbage and ash collection. He recommended employment of a zoning expert and the enactment of a zoning law. A month later, Colonel Lee proposed " The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission" , with three commissioners from both Montgomery County Prince Georges counties - all appointed by the governor - which would cooperate with the National Capital Park and Planning Commission (NCPPC) and "receive advice from its experts." Montgomery County was to be subject to a mandatory park tax while Prince George's County would decide how much tax, if any, its residents would pay for such improvements. Col. E. Brooke Lee and others approached the Maryland State Legislature with a proposal leading to CAPPER-CRAMTON ACT.

Hereford cattle

File:Old Gartrell Farm, Last home for E. Brooke Lee.jpg
E. Brooke Lee Old Gartrell Farm
Polled Hereford Calf

Lee spent the last 30 years of his life was the “old Gartrell farm" located on Sweepstakes Road in Damascus Maryland and a gentleman farmer raising and promoting Polled Hereford (hornless variant of the Hereford)with farms in Maryland, Missouri, and Mississippi.[14] Lee became the largest breeder of polled Hereford cattle in the United States.[15] first member, Polled Hereford Hall of Fame, Kansas City in 1960.[10] Lee and his third wife are remembered the awarding by Maryland Hereford Association of the "Nina and E. Brooke Lee Award" a recognition of education, leadership and support of the MHA and the state's Hereford industry.[16]

Legacy

Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School opened in 1966.

References

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