It was 1948. Much of River Road was not paved, farming was a way of life in Potomac, people hitched their horses to a post at the crossroads of River and Falls – and Dunham’s Motor Service, Mitch Mitchell’s gas station, the Perry Store, and a bar pretty much made up the businesses of “downtown” Potomac.
Al and Betty Dunham were the team that made certain that Dunham’s ran smoothly. Al Dunham and his staff repaired cars, pumped gas and installed horse trailer hitches. Betty Dunham answered the telephone, kept the books, handled customer service and scheduled the appointments – all while raising five children, and managing the household and their farm. All of the Dunham sons worked at the shop, shoulder to shoulder with their mom and dad. Terry Dunham is still employed as a mechanic at Potomac’s BP station and his brother Lou manages an auto repair shop in S.C.
“There are still some people around Potomac who will only let a Dunham repair their cars,” Terry Dunham said.
Betty Dunham died from heart failure on June 24, 2014 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. The Jefferson resident was 88 years old. Born in Washington D.C. to Louis J. and Louise Wahl, the former Elizabeth Wahl grew up working in her parents’ business, the Wahl’s Department Store at 7th and H Streets in N.E. Washington. She attended Georgetown Visitation Academy before marrying Alvin F.X. Dunham in January 1944.
After Al Dunham returned from serving with the Army in WWII, they bought a farm on Glen Road in Potomac in 1947 and he opened Dunham’s Motor Service in 1948. The family moved from Glen Road to the “Top of the Mornin” farm in Jefferson in 1971 but they continued to commute to Potomac until the business was sold following Al Dunham’s death in 1998.
“My mom was my co-worker for 23 years, my commuting buddy – and my best friend. She was the glue that held us all together. She kept the business organized and was able to manage everything through the good times as well as the bad times,” Terry Dunham said. “She always found a way to squeeze out money even when times were bad. She married my dad at age 17, so never finished high school. However, at the age of 60 she went back to school and earned her G.E.D. She was so proud that she finally did it. We were proud of her too.”
The comfortable garage was a welcoming place for residents to gather while awaiting their car repairs.
Everyone knew everyone in Potomac and Rockville, so it was not unusual for customers to hang out and visit there. The dachshund that never left Betty Dunham’s side was “Miss Mouse.”
The shop cat was named “Balance.” She often sprawled on the counter, purring and awaiting for attention and petting by the customers. One day a customer called to say that he had driven his car home, only to find Balance in the back seat. “I got a little more than I paid for,” he said when he returned the cat.
In the early days, Dunham’s “was an Amoco before Amoco was Amoco,” Al Dunham said to Joe Klein in an interview for the Potomac Almanac. Mitch Mitchell of Mitch and Bill’s cited that the two businesses often “shared our knowledge, our parts, and our tools. We were very happy to have them as our neighbor. The knowledge of those Dunham men was phenomenal.”
Dunham’s was an institution in Potomac for 50 years. Many Potomac Villagers most likely remember the smile on Betty Dunham’s face as she greeted customers and long-time friends. When the business became Cherner’s Automotive, Betty Dunham was sorely missed by the many who knew her and were used to seeing her familiar face in and around Potomac Village.
Survivors include four sons: Michael F.X Dunham of Surfside Beach, S.C., Louis W. Dunham of Rockville, Terry Dunham of Jefferson and Alvin “Buddy” F.X. Dunham II of Walkersville; one daughter, Molly Dunham Glassman of Towson; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.