Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-01
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.
SATURDAY, JANUARY l, 1876
NEW YEARS A HUNDRED YEARS
AGO.

NEW YEARS A HUNDRED YEARS
AGO.
Perhaps there could be nothing more appro.
pirate for the New Years Day Of the Centeu.
NAL year than+to make. as we'll as We may, q
pen picture Of Alexandra, as it presented itself
on the lst Of January, l776, one hundred years
ago.
The town at that time stood on level from
ten to fifteen feet higher than at present. 1t
Was laid out on bill! top, which extended 10
nearly unbroken plain from Oronoko creek
and marsh, (which has since dwindcd into
The Gut") on the north and northwest, to
the river shore on the east, and 20 what WAS
called white Oak Swamp that ran along
the southwest and south. Very low meadows
aud swampy lands, separated this bill top from
another beyond the marshy grounds. 10 the
east the contour of the hill, on which the town
was built corresponded with the river beach,
TO which it had originally descended prccipi-
tously. but which bad, by l776. been cut away
for all Of the streets between Wolfe and Orc
uoko, to run down an inclined plain to the river.
The river then formed coves 10 front OF the
hill, similar to those it yet makes north and
south oft. 1t curved 10 from Flshtowo to Lee
street at the foot Of the Mansion House hill,
aud then away in a curve southeast to the Long
Wharf. On this hill top lay the scattered
houses which made up the town. All the ship.
ping business was done at the two points at the
end of the coves, where warehouses and
whurves extending to deep water had been built.
In l77G the ship yard, near the Long Wharf. had
on its stocks Sloop intended for the Cont
mental service. On the hill top, Cameron street
was the principal street, tho Court House and
Market were upon it, and crossing Oroncko
Greek at Pitt street, by bridge, 1t extended
to Christ Church, then twenty years Old. Ou
the same street, opposite the market, at the
northwest corner Of its intersection with
ROYAL street stood the Royal George
Hotel, frame hostelry, then used as
a recruiting station for the Army OF lodepen'
dence. 10 the east OF the market the large
stone Herbert House, dominated the smaller
frames that lay around and overtopped the
modest Court House and Jail that stood Oh
the market square opposite. King, Queen, Prin-
cess Prince, Duke and Wolfe streets IN one
direction, and Fairfax, Royal and Pitt streets
in the ether, were the only streets. There was
not pavement on any Of them. There were
not ten brick houses in the town, but some of
the frames were so staunch that some OF them
with UNDERTAKINGS OF brick or stone, which
mark how the streets have been lowered, still
survive, and arc still comfortable. Not few
of Alcxandria's lads were with Washington,
beleagurng Boston, whence they drove the
rcd-coats only few weeks later. The talk on
the street was OF MIR. Henry aud Mr. Jctfcr-
son trouble with Governor Duumore, aud the
last news from the army was that Washington
was abou. to plant battery on Dorchester
Heights. and thus force the British 10 leave
Boston. All we're waiting with anxiety to hear
the news from Canada where it was known
that Montgomery and Arnold were moving to
the contest Of Quebec None knew then that
on the night before the assault on Quebec had
been made in vain, and that the Continental
troops had been driven back with Arnold wound
ed and Montgomery slain. Years afterwards our
people gave Montgomery monument BY giving
his name to street. We had no Mayor then.
\ Board of Trustees governed the town. There
were no elections. When one Trustee died or
resigned, the others elected good subject Of
the King to fill his place. All commissions
ran 10 the Kings name The indictments
found at the January term Of the Court, were
found against the peace and dignity Of our
Lord, the King" But the New Y ear had come
tina, was to change all that, and all ears were
attentive to catch whatever the breeze borne.
All hearts felt that it would not be long before
they would see the courier coming that would
bring with him the echoes of the bell that pro-
claimed Liberty to the land and the inhabi-
'aD's thereof" U &c
The Richmond Wing of yesterday says: We
have good reason TO believe that the foreign
holders of the bonds Of the State have deputcd
a distinguished gentleman Of the South their
went to propose readjustment of our TO-
da,tedness TO them, Indeed We know that