Many have sent in their own photos and videos wondering why we haven’t shared any visuals of the “waterfall” at Burnt Mills Local Park in Silver Spring. While we have provided information in the past, today we’ll take a closer look at the Burnt Mills Dam– visible from a busy stretch of Colesville Rd.

Located along the winding course of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, the Burnt Mills Dam stands as a silent witness to the region’s evolving relationship with water. More than a physical structure, the dam and its surroundings weave together a narrative of industrial progress, natural beauty, and recreational delight.

The name “Burnt Mills” originates from a grain mill that once stood at the site. This mill burned down before 1788, and despite being rebuilt, it eventually ceased operations in the early 1900s– yet its name endured.

In the early 20th century, recognizing the need for a reliable water supply for a growing population, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) selected the site for a state-of-the-art water filtration plant. In 1929, the Burnt Mills Dam was constructed with a distinctive hollow deck Amberson-style design, accompanied by the Robert B. Morse Filtration Plant, which provided clean drinking water for decades.

As newer, larger water treatment plants were built along the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, the Burnt Mills facility was decommissioned in 1962. Although the machinery and pipes were removed, the dam and its two historic pump houses remained as quiet reminders of the past.

Between 1996 and 2000, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) acquired the dam and pump houses to safeguard their historical significance. Today, the Burnt Mills Dam is officially recognized as a historic site.

The surrounding area has transformed into the Burnt Mills East and West Special Parks, maintained by Montgomery Parks as tranquil green spaces away from the city’s hustle and bustle. The dam-created Burnt Mills Reservoir offers a scenic setting for a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors enjoy exploring the Northwest Branch Trail, part of the larger Rachel Carson Greenway, where walking, biking, and horseback riding are popular pastimes. Even President Theodore Roosevelt once marveled at the river’s captivating rocks and rushing water.

Fishermen are drawn to the reservoir as well, where the gentle cascade over the dam provides a peaceful backdrop while they try to catch sunfish, bass, and bluegill. The Burnt Mills Dam illustrates how a site can evolve over time– from a place for a mill to a crucial component of public health infrastructure, and now to a cherished destination for nature enthusiasts and history buffs in Silver Spring.

Information courtesy of neighborsnwb.org, www.servpro.org, mncppcapps.org, Montgomeryparks.org

As has been the case for Maryland baseball many times this season, the Terps spent their final game of the season facing a late deficit — multiple times.

And yet, unlike many games through the long spring season for Maryland, the Terps came back. Multiple times.

In a game filled with momentum swings, Maryland put up a dramatic late rally to defeat Rutgers, 13-11, Saturday afternoon at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.

After Rutgers failed to convert with a runner in scoring position in the first inning, Maryland used the bottom half of the frame to get its offense going once again. Chris Hacopian launched a solo homer to right-center field, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead. Eddie Hacopian added a single and two stolen bases but was ultimately stranded at third.

Rutgers stormed back in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on a string of hits, walks and a costly wild pitch. RBIs from Matt Chatelle, J.T. Thompson, and R.J. Johnson Jr. helped the Scarlet Knights post four runs and put the Terps in an early hole.

While Maryland’s players could have easily flashed back to the other games of the series — which left the Terps on the outside of the playoffs looking in — they quickly responded to the early deficit. Elijah Lambros blasted a three-run homer to left-center field, scoring Aden Hill and Jacob Orr to tie the game.

Both bullpens tightened up in the middle innings. Maryland grounded into a double play in the third inning before its batters were retired in order in both the fourth and fifth innings. Rutgers managed just one hit of its own during that span.

In the sixth inning, the Terps found a breakthrough. Rutgers threatened in the top half with a double by Chatelle, but Logan Koester shut the door by forcing back-to-back outs. With the game still hanging in the balance, Alex Calarco hit his 19th homer of the year to give Maryland the lead.

Once again, though, Maryland was pegged back. Peyton Bonds launched a three-run moon shot in the top of the seventh inning to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-5 lead. But the Terps still responded. Chris Hacopian sliced a single through the left side to score Lambros. Eddie Hacopian followed with a three-run home run of his own, allowing Maryland to reclaim the lead.

Trailing 9-7 entering the eighth inning, Rutgers roared back. With two outs and a runner on first, Ty Doucette blasted a two-run homer to right-center field, tying the game at 9-9. Moments later, Bonds doubled to right field, driving in Trevor Cohen, who had reached on a single and stolen second. The Scarlet Knights had their first advantage since the second inning, and Maryland needed a response.

The Terps wasted no time flipping the script in a wild bottom half. Hill started the rally with a single, and Maryland loaded the bases after a walk and another single. Chris Hacopian stepped up to the plate — but the first pitch he saw smoked him, pushing a runner into home.

That wasn’t the end of Maryland’s scoring for the inning, even though it was the end of its hitting. Three more Maryland batters were walked. After an explosive inning of plate discipline and patience, Maryland suddenly held a 13-10 advantage.

Facing its final three outs, Rutgers showed a flicker of life. Yomar Carreras launched a solo home run to right field, cutting the deficit to 13-11. But Maryland reliever Andrew Koshy held firm, forcing two flyouts and a groundout to end the game, and Maryland’s season, with a victory.

Three things to know

1. End of the road. Maryland entered Sunday’s game knowing it would not be able to make the postseason. A dramatic victory will surely put a smile on the faces of some Maryland fans, but the Terps’ attention now turns to the long offseason ahead.

2. Clutch non-hitting. Maryland’s lineup came up big in the eighth inning, driving in key runs during the comeback rally. Eddie Hacopian, Orr and Paul Jones II all walked while taking just one swing at the 14 combined pitches they faced.

3. Series struggles continue. While Maryland pulled off an electric comeback win, the Terps only managed two wins in a weekend series throughout the season. If the Terps wish to stop their two-year postseason drought, they will have to figure out how to string together victories next season.

Severe storms brought major damage to neighborhoods across the Baltimore region Friday afternoon. 

“I saw it get really super dark, and I saw clouds that looked like it could have been a tornado, but I’m not a weather person, so I don’t know,” said Dorothea Woods, a Dundalk resident.  

The thunderstorms came on fast, toppling huge trees onto fences, roadways, and cars. 

“There’s my car, crushed by a tree!” Jeff Finucane, a Federal Hill resident, said. 

“My husband looked out the window and saw this 80-foot pine tree swaying in the air, and not even ten minutes later it came crashing down,” Dundalk’s Candice Fulton said. 

Also in Dundalk, strong winds tossed around a trampoline, ripped the siding off of homes, tore a roof off, and somehow blew a hole through the side of an apartment building. 

Downed power lines even ended up in a neighbor’s pool. 

In Canton, the storm took the roof off of the Merritt Club and littered the sidewalk with debris. 

Authorities respond 

City authorities said they were dealing with widespread damage, outages, and road closures during a media briefing on Friday night. 

“In terms of trees down, we have approximately 20, with about 8 roads completely blocked. Our forestry crews have been working on that since the start of this storm. We look to have those streets opened up by sometime later this evening,” a member of the Office of Emergency Management for Baltimore City said. 

The National Weather Service announced that they plan to survey some of the hardest-hit areas on Saturday morning. 

According to BGE, the storms left nearly 60,000 customers without power, damaging equipment all across central Maryland, with the hardest hit areas in Howard, Carroll, Baltimore Counties, and Baltimore City. 

BGE asks customers to report outages either:

• Online at BGE.com
• On BGE’s free mobile app, available at the Apple Store or Google Play
• Via text message to 69243  
• Or by phone, by calling 877-778-2222