Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-14

THE OLD BURIAL GROUNDS.
How the Living have Crowded tina
Dead Out Of their Graves.
CEMETERIES THAT EXISTED WHEN FARxKas TILTED
THE GROUND NOW COVERED WITH AsPHALr-xASY
BURIAL PLAcEs LOCATED IN WHAT ARE NOW CEN
TRIAL PARTS OF TIE CITY.
Many burial grounds. within the city limits have
within the past few years been abandoned The
oio graveyard sites are now In most instances
occupied py much better paying, though not As
perhaneht' tenants There were a number Of
grounds In the city in the early part OF the
century. MT. Christian Hines, who died a few
years ago, recorded his early recollections of
.ne city. He noted the following cemeteries:
Sne on 24th street between and streets: one
ons o Ten ~, ana streets near Easoy's snpy ard;
nogs q anS cna
sne southwest corner OF Lafayette square. There
ana o,d residents OF the city-Lemuel Williams
"oiu, VINO remember most OF these burial grounds
THE OLD PUBLIC CEMETERIES.
Wnen the city was incorporated two squares
were SET apart as public burial grounds, and these
were managed each BY three commissioners. One
vi tnese was located at the head OF Goth street,
pounuing on 10th and Boundary streets, and " as
Known as the western Burial Ground or Hoimeads.
~ was Ior many years regarded as one OF the prn-
Ing families OF the city buried their dead there It
nnally was completely filled. In some cases bodies
were buried two and three In one grave. Twelve
o OF nlteen years ago the ground was condemned
Tor cemetery purposes for sanitary reasons Sub
sequently the bodies were disinterred and removed
70 o.nsf s s6g BY Of the
ceeds going to the school fund. Tine property was
purchased by citizen who had It subdivided into
located In square 1026, bounded by 18th, I4th, H
ana streets northeast, and was managed, like the
Holmead cemetery, by commissioners Tnerewere
some interments made here but 1t never became Q
popular ground. About thirty years ago inter-
ments were discontinued. There was no restric-
ton on the establishment and maintenance Of
grave-yards within the city limits till 1864, when
the city councils passed an act prohibiting the To-
cation OF them.
CEMETERIES IN EAST WASHINGTON.
In the early part OF the century Christ church,
East washington, located near the eastern termi-
nus OF street southeast, what is known a. the
Congressional cemetery, and this has always
been favorite burial place. soon afterward tine
Eoenezer NOW 4th streep N. Il church located
Which was popularity known as the Methodist
burial ground and, though somewhat in a dilapi-
two colored grave-yards both OF which have been
condemned, and interments therein are not per-
Lnltted The Congressional and Methodist, with
the Potters Field at the Almshouse, are now the
only places within the city limits where inter-
ments are made. Prior to 1876 the almshouse
was located on the north side or NJ street. between
peared.
OTHER OLD czxETEKrrs
Another burial ground used extensively was that
OF st. Johns Episcopal church, known as the
protestant graveyard" on the square bounded
by and and 18TH and 18th streets northwest.
which was opened about 1870. 1t was Kept in ex.
eellent order, and many prominent people were
inferred there, but some years ago as at Hol-
mead's, the bodies were removed and the burial
sites were divided on into building lots.
E01ln1rv Inn oh~S
yard, prior 10 1888, on the square bounded BY v
and w and 18th ana 14th streets popularity known
as as the N, Methodist graveyard THIS gave way to
wal, and after the bodies had been removed TO
Rock Creek and Glenwood the lots were sold Be-
meath and about St Patrick's church, which was
erected about the beginning OF the century. Some
interments were made, few as late as 1860
Inc receiving vault for this ground was on street,
principal burial ground for the parishioners OF st.
Patr1ckSchurch was. about 1910. located ON bound.
ay street. outside the city limits, near the mead OF
I'd street northwest. In this many intermepts
were made until Mt Olvet cemetery was estab-
lished In the SOS, since which they have ceased
st. Matthew's congregation at the corner of 18th
and II streets, had no available ground for burial
purposes. and In the latter part OF the 4Os bought
the square south OF the Foundry burial ground be-
west. This. too, was after the removal OF the
bodies. converted into building sites St. Peters
congregation, TO limited extent, buried in and
ABOUT the cnurcn, "a and streets southeast.
ST. PETERS Burial GROUND
proper, the square of ground between n, I. 3D. and
4th streets northeast, was presented to St Peters
by the late Washington Young prior
TO 1s4o: It was used as burial ground till 1852,
lishment OF Nj. Olivet cemetery many dead
were buried there, especially from the Catholic
families OF East Washington. Daniel Carroll. OF
Duddfngton, was among the number buried here
till 1862 when his remains together with those OF
members OF his family, were reinterred in the
Georsesown n.c Sollege g grounds St Peters Gene
pery: some old residents state that in winter It
was necessary 10 let comm slide down the slip
A few yards south St Mary's German Catholic
congregation established a cemetery about 1910.
and their dead were buried here until the new sd
Mary's cemetery was established near GleawOod
In 1862
The Van Ness mausoleum was the last resting
place or the family OF Gen. John p. Van Ness on
the south side OF II street, between 9th and 10th
but this went the way OF the grave-yards some
There was once a German burial ground on the
square bounded by Vermont avenue, o.
K, and 18th streets northwest, which disappeared
ground on the square bounded Dy T. 5th 9th. and
Boundary streets, which was abandoned many
years ago.
HOW THE CITY LOOKED.
The city then had not commenced ifs rand
growth But few OF the streets had been opened
to the Boundary, TIN, 14th, and Goth being the
only ones In the western part OF the city. All be-
yOnu street northwest, and three-fOurLhS Ortha1
east OF North and South Capitol streets was COW
cred with scrub growth now and then relieved
by corn or wheat neld, or market garden In
some Instances the exact boundaries Of the squares
were not needed, and that part OF the street laid
down On the map as the carriage-way often yielded
q good crop To some Industrious husband man
Then the Cammacks were running a market gar
den on the square bounded by 18th, l4th. o ana
streets northwest which they had bought for
s., 500. The ground Is now assessed at Sgo .OOO
Joshua Pierce then had his nursery and gardens
extending from 14th TO 18th and from o TO II
streets northwest The late Joseph AbbOtt
was raising large crops OF turnips on the square
west OF 14th, between and L streets and nav
between 9th and 10th, and Q streets on the
square south or the latter were extensive brick
YARDS. Prof. Rugg!es, OF Columbia College had
bought Tor 2x mills per foot the square bounded
by Vermont and Rhode Island avenues l4th ana
streets and sold IL to Heitmiller who Converted
IL into market-garden. The establishment OF
Oak Hill cemetery. near West Washington. Glen
wood, Prospect Hill and st. Mary's on Lincoln
avenue, and the enlargement OF the Congressional
and Rock Creek grounds for the whites, and the
Establishment OF the Young Mems grounds near
the quaker burial ground and the HarmOntal
ground for the coored. afforded facilities TOR burial
when improvements crowded the city dead to the
country.
THE STORY OF A BUSTLE.
why the Father Of . Family Wanna n
NRPVAmf hn Moi