ABOUT THE FILM
“Next Stop: Silver Spring” is a 90-minute television documentary about the history and restoration of the historic Baltimore & Ohio railroad station in Silver Spring, Maryland, for broadcast on WETA TV. Directed by Silver Spring based filmmaker, Walter J. Gottlieb The documentary is a production of our nonprofit organization Silver Spring Media Arts, Inc. in cooperation with Montgomery Preservation, Inc.
The film tells the story of the Silver Spring station site from its founding in 1878 to today. The station has been restored and re-opened as a showcase of local railroad history. Located on the B&O’s historic Metropolitan Branch, the Silver Spring station was a critical link in Montgomery County history. From the B&O station, countless residents went off to war, went to visit loved ones, took trips West, or set out to start a new life. The documentary intertwines the history of the station itself with the story of the restoration of the present 1945 Colonial Revival structure. Living figures from the station’s history help tell the story through on-camera interviews, along with Silver Spring residents whose lives intersected the station in significant – and emotional - ways.
The film includes an original score written and performed entirely by local musical artists. The musicians researched, wrote, and perform songs relating to specific topics from the station’s history. The songs are integrated into the documentary along with all of the other production elements (visuals, interviews, etc.).
Next Stop: Silver Spring” is an important slice of local history, Americana, and the enduring romance of the rails!
Silver Spring: Story of an American Suburb