Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27

PLEAsAHT- LORD BALTIMORE The ORIGINAL
PROPRIETOR THE HoLMEAD owNKRsHIP-ITs
PURCHASE By S. P. BRowN-THR IMPROVEMENTS
NADIA FAMOUS OLD RACE COURsE-CHURCHES,
SCHOOLS, LITERARY AND SOCIAL ORGANIRA-
T10NS.
Correspondence Of The Star.l
MOUNT PHEASANT, D. c., sept. q, 1879.
As there are probably many persons living
within the limits OF the District Of Columbia
who are not acquainted with the beautiful SUI
burban village OF Mount Pleasant, q short letter
OF description may prove interesting. That part
of the District bearing the name OF MOUNT
Pleasant was originally the properly 81 L1 fa
hands Of a long line Of ancestry, nnsliy became
the property OF old Anthony Holmead, the
grandfather Of william Holmead, member OF
which family now owns portion of the origi-
| nal estate, lying east OF the 14th-street road.
After number OF years, when the vast estate
bers OF the Holmead family, and great amount
OF 1t had been sold, a large portion became the
property OF s. P. Brown (who Is now q resident
| where the present village stands. At that time
| the property was used as the headquarters of
| q detachment of the Union army, and north
| street, soldiers were encamped, and large
building on the west of the road was used as
hospi al, while long line of defenses lay be-
| tween 14th street and It'll street.
1t was not until after all the military forces
had been withdrawn that attempts were made
to improve and build up this vast property. In
| by its owner, Mr. S. P. Brown, which was duly
+ nan ed MounJ Pleasant. Inc first lots which
were sold did not realize much, and only five
wee bought; but ere long many persons desir-
| ing suburban homes and attracted by the loca-
ton and healtnfulnesS of the place, bought lots
| and built themselves residences. During ten
years the village has steadily grown, many i'm
prove mentS made, and roads and houses built.
The roads, which are neatly laid of into Streets
are macadamiZed and are kept in good condition
the year round, making one of the finest subur-
ban drives adjacent to the city. The villagers
ale mostly government employees, and are
an ne
| ranged rooms. To each cottage Is generally
attached good sized yard, varying from 5Ox1OO
the village contain several acres of ground.
| Many OF The villagers raise their own poultry
| keep their cattle, have a garden and produce
their own vegetables, and keep a neat flower
garden, while some possess fine fruit orchards
| There are two good stores In the village, which
supply the neeessaries Of every day life,-meats,
the city every day. To facilitate the delivery
of the mail, there has been post Office estab-
lished In the village, one Of the stores answer
Ing that purpose. and the villagers get their
The village is we'll provided for in the educa-
tional lire, by good substantial school-house,
between TWO and three hundred pupils who are
under the tutorshp of three good teachers, with
MRS. Julia E. York as supervising principal.
This sub school district has trustee to repre-
sent 1t In our public school board and 10 look
after its educational interests. The grammar
school In the village also has its competitive
examination OF candidates for the high school
In the city; two from this school having last
school year been successful in acquiring the
| req uisite percentage.
The village has neatly. built hall, containing
| three rooms, which is used for church service,
Sabbath school, debating clubs, the temperance
order, and balls and parties. The large or main
| room is used for large gatherings, and the two
small ones for society and club meetings. 1t
will accommodate about $50 people, and is
owned by stock company, Comprising the
temperance division and a number Of villagers,
1t is well arranged, with airy rooms and plenty
Of light, and lighted by gas. During the winter
season many gay and social entertainments are
The 0 scen S YIN IN and abous e the village and
along Rock Creek needs but little description,
as the skillful hands Of some OF our home
Of the beautiful views hereabouts. Many per-
| sons go miles away seeking lovely scenery
and picturesque landscapes, while a jaunt
hills around Mount Pleasant, either In the
early spring, summer, or fall, reveals to the
surprised visitor beauties unthought OF. The
| ground is OF rocky and billy nature, and
| in some places the rock has abounded to such
an extent as to warrant an attempt at quar-
rying. Such attempts have been frequently
dent OF the village, is now engaged in quar-
rying stone-blue rock-from quarry opened
on the l4th street road, north OF the village,
and does most Of this work.
Years ago, before Mount Pleasant village was
built, the site on which it now stands was &C.
cupied by a great race course and sporting
| grOuhdS-the race course taking in the great
part Of the ground In semi circular form, while
| the ground south OF the present village was
the public house and sporting grounds of Mr..
James Eslfn, present resident of the village,
| now In his S7th year, and the oldest resident
| Of the place. This place was the rendezvous
OF. all the spol ting men of Washington and
racers of the country, and some of the great
| est races In the annals Of sporting history
occurred on the race course. which is now
| covered by a beautiful suburban village. All
that ground extending from 18th street on the
west TO 18th street on the east. and north of
Boundary street, known as Pleasant Plains,
is also included in Mount Pleasant The
healthfulneSs Of the place Is unusually good
OF late there has been little building going on,
other than the erection of one handsome cot
tage on the property owned by Gen. Sherman,
known as the SHERMAN Place." and now occu-
pied by Mr.. Henry C. Corbin, relative of Gen
Sherman. There have been additions built to
several OF the cottages, though few new cot.
depression In the real estate market property
has been selling very low. Ground and desir-
able at that, can be bought cheap; prices per
foot ranging from to Is cents; while, but
short time ago, some, being the highest ee-
waited In the village and q desirable location,
brought only to cents per foot, under the
Rent Is not so high as In the CITY, that is, taking
In consideration the size and accommodations
OF the cottage, though, In fact, there are few
ing their own residences, having bought the
ground and built them. The few that are
rented bring prices from $40 to SIS per month
During the winter the villagers have CON
t1nual round OF festivities, which includes min
st1el enter Jainments by an organization In
the village known as the Tropical Exotics,
ball, parties and soirees. entertainments by
the temperance order. debating society
known as the Mount Pleasant Lyceum, who
weekly discuss the important questions Of the
day, literary organization known as the
Ph1lomathic society, youths debating club
all these associations providing in a general
way for the amusement of the villagers dur
ing the winter season,-an of which entertain
ments are held in Union hall
The fact that there is no spirituous LIQUOR sold
IN the village betokenS temperate indus
trious, and thrifty little settlement, where
there Is little sickness, few deaths, quiet nights
and pure atmosphere to breathe unfreig6ted
with the nauseous gases of the asphalt nut
sances, which make life bitter for city people.
NJ.
(yTnv T1rNIEO