Modern Times
The Woodward High School Incident
In most cases, however, change came less dramatically, as a result of a desire to replace small old homes with larger new ones. Since the 1990s, many old houses have been razed and replaced, and almost all of those that remain from the early days have been modified and expanded. These have typically been architectually unique, reflecting the distinctive tastes of their owners. As a result, Luxmanor continues to be eclectic, with a broad range of housing styles, from “subsistence homestead” to country cottage to French castle to Spanish villa to Adirondack lodge to Frank Lloyd Wright berm house.
Yet it still remains true to the claims made for it back in 1934 -- “entirely different” from any other neighborhood.
In November 1985, at the end of a long process of review by Montgomery County Public Schools, a proposal was made to close Woodward High School on Old Georgetown Road and transfer all the students to Walter Johnson High School.
According to a Washington Post article on November 24, more than 500 parents and students attended an “emotionally charged” hearing. Many testified that it would be a mistake to close the storied high school. The Post reported the former Luxmanor principal, Reed Snyder, as stating, “It would be tragic and devastating if you were to wipe out the identity of that entire Woodward cluster” of schools. Parents and students carried signs saying, “Support continued excellence.”
However, the two schools, within a half-mile of each other, were plagued by low enrollment. Woodward was at 955 (down from 1,143 in 1977) and Walter Johnson was at 1,023 (down from 2,277 in 1961). As a result, the school closed and the building was converted into Tilden Middle School. The old Tilden Middle School, on Tilden Lane, was originally slated to become an elementary school, but those plans did not materialize, and it became a holding school for other schools that were under construction.
Modern Architecture
If Mr. Luchs or one of the early Luxmanor residents from the 1930s were to come back today, they wouldn’t recognize much. In fact, residents from the 1960s and 70s don’t recognize much. Luxmanor has changed with the times.
In a few cases, change came as a result of disaster. For example, in March 1996, longtime Luxmanor residents, the Sutos, suffered a devasting fire that destroyed the home they had lived in since 1950. The fire department arrived promptly but they were unable to obtain water from the nearby hydrant because of a water main break on the same day. By the time the fire department found a working hydrant, the house had been gutted. As a result, the Sutos replaced their house with a grand, contemporary structure. [S]
