I almost have my answer to my question, but I am still waiting for a
few more missing pieces.  Can anyone help me solve this mystery to
what I know and I don't know.  I feel that a small detail could make
the different and solve the answer.

Here what I know.   Their was a street in Bethesda, Maryland called
Melrose ave which got it's name in 1894. It was called melrose street
for many years. Bill Offit's book said that in 1941 the county council
was prosposing to changing the name to Cordell Street but the Park and
Planning commmission said that it was changed in December 1952 to
Cordell Ave.  What I have been looking for, for the last 3 months is
why was the name Cordell Ave selected. Could it have been named after
someone, well known or famous.  I have thought it was named after
Cordell Hull and then I thought it was named after Eugene Cordell but
I don't have proof of either one of them having the street named after
them.  I am getting tired of this question but I must find out the
answer for my well being. So if you can help me please let me know.

Thank you

Have you tried looking in local newspapers from December 1952?

I don't know if that exact information is out on the internet
anywhere, but I suggest contacting the Maryland Historical Society.
They have a web page at http://www.mdhs.org . I would reccommend
calling them and asking them about it because they have a library and
they say they will help you out with research and mail copies of
things out. The historical library can be reached at (410) 685-3750
ext. 349. I hope this leads you to the answer!

Thank you for your suggestion about looking in the newspapers for
December of 1952. My only problem is that I don't know what local
newspapers (Bethesda) were around in publication in December 1952.  I
think that finding it in the Washington Post or the Washington evening
star would be termousdously hard. Do you know any particular newspaper
that was in publication in December of 1952 besides the wash post and
the wash star. Maybe a newspaper from Bethesda, maryland. If you do,
do you know where I could get a copy of it.  I have tired my local
library but they weren't any help.

It's interesting that the first proposal to change the name of the
street came in 1941 (ie possibly gearing up to a change in 1942?), and
that the actual change took place in 1952.  This might just possibly
reflect an anniversary relating to one of the two Cordells you
mention. Since the two attempts are about ten years apart, perhaps
40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries would ones to investigate, ie events
which occurred in 1912, 1902, 1892.  I don't know when your Cordells
lived, so cannot say if this is a reasonable suggestion or not.

Another tack, have you tried accessing the minutes of local county and
town council meetings for 1941, 1951-1952?

I really can't understand it myself.  Funny thing Bill Offit's book "A
social history of Bethesda" sayes that the county council was thinking
about making the change in time for the 1941 telephone books.  However
when I called the County Park and Planning commission they say the
change was not made until December 1952. I have to, find this answer,
this is really boggling my mind.

The Washington papers might well have an index in which you could look
up Montgomery County news. And I'm sure the MCHS could tell you if any
newspapers were published in the county in 1952.

The newspaper suggestion is a very good one.

For information on the original 1941 proposal, you could try:

The Bethesda Journal (1939-1950)
Maryland State Archives
Special Collections, Maryland Newspapers
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/news/oclc/html/oclc20438213.html

and/or

The Bethesda Chevy-Chase Tribune (1937-1950)
Maryland State Archives
Special Collections, Maryland Newspapers
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/news/oclc/html/oclc19515615.html

For information on the actual name change, you could try:

The Record of Montgomery County (1949-1956)
Maryland State Archives
Special Collections, Maryland Newspapers
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/catalog/003800/html/sc3843.html

and/or

The Tribune Montgomery County, Maryland (1950-1956)
Maryland State Archives
Special Collections, Maryland Newspapers
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/news/oclc/html/oclc19516577.html

(A full list of Montgomery County newspapers in the Maryland State
Archives is at http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/news/counties/html/ind_mo.html
)

All of the papers are apparently available at the Montgomery County
Historical Society in Rockville ( http://www.montgomeryhistory.org/ ).
And they offer a research service by regular mail or email (
http://www.montgomeryhistory.org/library.html ).

I hope you find your answer soon. :)


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