Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine

 

Dr. Stonestreet and his family

The Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine, in its current home on the Beall-Dawson grounds.

 This one-room doctor’s office was built in 1850 for Dr. Edward Elisha Stonestreet of Rockville, who had just graduated from the University of Maryland medical school; he served as one of the town’s doctors until his death in 1903. During the fifty-one years of Dr. Stonestreet’s practice, medical knowledge and technology underwent many radical changes. The Stonestreet Museum contains a small office vignette, and changing exhibits that highlight our extensive 19th and early 20th century medical collections including books, instruments and tools, pharmaceutical items, and more.

 

 

 

The doctor’s office, in its original location on the edge of the Stonestreet property, c. 1890.

The office was originally situated in the front yard of the Stonestreet home on East Montgomery Avenue. Some years after the doctor’s death the office was moved to the Rockville fairgrounds (now the site of Richard Montgomery High School), and it was thus spared demolition during the city’s urban renewal project in the mid 20th century. In 1972, Dr. Stonestreet’s office was donated to the Montgomery County Historical Society and moved to the grounds of the Beall-Dawson House.

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Clarence Hickey, as Dr. Stonestreet, demonstrates Civil War-era medical techniques.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Following the reopening and reinterpretation of our Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine in October 2019, Dr. Stonestreet (portrayed by Clarence Hickey) will be holding “Office Hours” the first Saturday of each month, from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
 
 
These events are family friendly and open to the public free of charge. For questions about Office Hours, please contact us at 301-340-2825.
 

Feb 1, 2020  |  The Human Skeleton as a 19th Century Medical Tool & Instrument

  • The Human Skeleton was used as a 19th Century Medical Tool & Instrument.  It was not a scary Halloween thing. It was an instrument for reference in treating injuries and bone conditions, as well as for teaching medical students.  A real human skeleton is on display in the Museum, while an artificial  model skeleton will be on display for a hands-on experience!  Visit the Museum and talk with Dr. Stonestreet about skeletons.

 

March 7, 2020  |  19th Century Farm and Mill Accidents 

  • Farms and Mills were an essential part of 19th century life in Montgomery County.   About 40 mills operated on the County’s streams, and were a workplace source of accidents and injuries.  About two thirds of the County was farmland, another source of accidents and injuries.  Visit the Museum and see how injuries were treated by country doctors, using a life-sized mannequin posing as an injured worker.

 

April 4, 2020  |  Dentistry in the 19th Century

  • The 19th century saw a transition in dentistry from from early tradesmen pulling and filling teeth, to the opening of the Baltimore School of Dental Surgery in the latter 1800s.  Visit the Museum and see this transition in Museum displays of instruments.  Talk with Dr. Stonestreet about the 19th century “STEM” process at work, improving dental and medical instruments, and general medicine as well.

 

Clarence Hickey, who portrays Dr. Stonestreet for the public at the museum and at other venues around the region, closely watched the “Mercy Street” PBS series and has written an episode-by-episode account with his observations about the historical accuracy of the show’s depiction of Civil War-era medical care.