Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24


SIMON CAMERON, ANNE ROYAL, DUFF GREEN,
ETC.
There are young men here who remember
day when paved streets in the capital were the
exceptions, and when the ground now covered
with long rows of fine houses untenanted
save by warrant goats and cows. Great trans
formations have taken place within the recol-
lection of those who have barely entered upon
the estate of manhood. How much more
varied is that panorama which passes before the
mind of him whose recollection embraces the
events of more than half a century. 1t was
such q train OF thought that passed through
the mind of a STAR reporter as he sat in the
office OF Col. James 4. TAFT on Capitol HILL and
listened to continuation of the "reminiscences,
Of which one chapter has appeared in The
STAR.
EAST WASHINGTON HALF A CENTURY AGO.
''From list street west" said the Colonel, "to
the Bladensburg turnpike north Of Maryland
avenue, swamp land. in which were nimer-
Gus springs speak of fifty-ive or sixty years
ago. Now the whole space. from Maryland ave
nue. to street north, is almost entirely covered
with houses. There was grist mill in full Ope-
ration on Cool Run branch just south OF Ben
ning's bridge. The water that ran the mill
came from sherwood springs-wheh. by the
way, are very fine now. During the late
u
located in that neigtborhood. Square 76O,
which is now entirely coyered-there being
magnificent block OF buildings on East Capitol
street, between I'd and SCI streets east-was alter
nately wheat or cOrn-fied. The old Caldwell
homestead, now Known AZ DR.. Beae's. was the
only house on the square south. which is now
covered with fine residences. Square 7S3. in
which public school Is located. and where DR..
Steele's church is. was entirely unOccupied, eX-
cept by Ambrose White. who had a brick yard in
that square. Between Sd and 4th streets, on
Pennsylvania avenue, south side, was q rope
walk and a small story -a-half frame house.
Now that square Is covered with business houses
Of every sort. The square fronting on Penn
sylvania avenue. between I'd and 3D. had on it
ut that time but one house. a large brick house,
the homestead of George WatterstOn. then libra
RAN of Congress. Now the whole front on
Pennsylvania avenue is built up and occupied
for business purposes"
THE OLD QUARrER-MILE RACE TRACK
The speaker paused a moment to gaze on the
picture which the mystical wand of memory had
cOnjured up before him, and then, recalling
spot where many of the sunshiny hours of boy
hood had been passed. continued: Son East
Capitol street there was a quarter-mile track,
extending from the old yellow house. corner
OF 11th street, to 9Th Street-a quarter-rne race
course. There was not a house on either side
between 1lth and Sd streets Here the Prince
George county horses used to run against the
Washington horses. East Washington was not
however, an unimportant place. Daniel Rapine,
VIM A Bradley, Roger c. Weightman, Captain
Carberry and Samuel SmallwoOd, all of whom
were residents of Capitol Hill, served as mayors
q Washington"
OLD HOUSES ON NEW JERSEY AVENUE.
"Al the houses now standing on New Jersey
avenue, between and streets" continued
the Colonel, ''are original houses, with the ex-
eeption of the hotel at the corner of B, Gen.
Buffers house, the new coast survey building,
and George F. Gulck's house. DIR. Fred. May
owned and lived in the house now occupied by
Judge Holt. DIR. May was the father of the Gel
ebrated surgeon. DIR. Fred. May, and Col. Chas.
May, of PalO Alto fame In the same row lived
James Young, father of the present nestor of
the District medical profession"
"REMINISCENCES OF THE CAPITOL
"The columns for the eastern portico Of the
81 part Of the Capitol" said the colonel. ''were
hnded at Blagden's wharf, at the foot of Sd
street, and were hauled by men and boys along
Virginia avenue to ID street, and thence to the
Capitol. This work used to be done on Satur-
days, when the boys were out Of school, and it
was considered rare sport by them. Foot COM
munication between the Capitol and the navy
yard was at that time over the hill. where the
Providence hospital stands. PENNSYLVANIA av-
enue was not pasaable. l used to shoot ducks
on the ponds along the avenue. Nearly all the
ground both streets and squares. was enclosed
and cultivated east of Sd street east The IA
vorite amusement of the people was shocking
corn.
GAME BAsr OF THE CAPITOL
was abundant. Quails built their nests in the
Capitol square. YeIlow-shank and bull-head
paOver could be found anywhere in the commons.
In the fields there were meadOw-larks, fickers,
or yellow hammers, while on the Eastern branch
Wild fowl of every sort was abundant. Old man
Bnghtwell, horse fancier, had his stables back
Of the Old Capitol He had mile training
track, commencing on East Capitol street. about
9Th street, and extending as far east as 10th
street, and a very fine track 1t was. The whole
country east Of the Capitol was open country,
save here and there it was dotted with little
houses or shanties."
SENATOR BRODERICK'S BIRTHPLACE.
After another pause the Colonel continued:
"Broderick, who was afterward United States
Senator from California, was born on East Capt.
tol street. in little frame shanty, few doors
west OF Sd street. Old Captain Burche. father
Of the Burche who was afterwards chief clerk of
the House of Representatives lived in the house
on East Capitol street now owned and occupied
BY Mr.. Smith, who married a member of the
Easily family. Daniel Rapine kept bookstore
In the house on East Capitol street, altered by
Col Ordway. character who figured here in
those days was
OLD ANNE ROYAL,
the first editress of Paul Ppy. She had Sale
Slack as her clerk. / believe Anne was the wife
offs revolutionary soldier. She first opened
printing office where Ben Buffers house stands.
Then she moved to small frame shanty. on
north street. between Sd and 4th streets where
she published The Hutrpss. Sallie Slack was
her clerk and manager. Anne used to write
eome very sharp things. She spared no one. 1
think she prospered very well, too. 1t used to
be said that she got money by blackmail. but
don't know how that was. The house where she
nrst opened her Office was first called Bells
tavern. All below there was a swamp-impen-
efrable-all the way to Buzzards Point.
SIMON CAMERON AND DUFF GREENS NEWSPAPER
''By-the-by," said the Colonel, suddenly COM
Ing across fact In neglected corner of his
memory, 81 knew Simon Cameron when he was
ajourneyman printer under Duff Green, who
was then publishing the United States telegraph
TN Carroll row. William Meloy, now one of the
criers of the court and his brother, used to
distribute the papers They used to ride on