Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-15
UP THE METROPOLITAN ROAD.
Washington's Notable Suburban Extern
sions.


VIE HISTORY OF TAKoMA PARK-ryoLUrIoS OF
BEAUTIFUL AND THRIFTY VILLAGE FROM A
TANGLED wILpERSEss-rHE PARK AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS, ETC. ETC.
Continuing up the Metropolitan road from
Lamonds. 1--WE speedily come to that most marked
OF all the many improvements which have been
made recently on the line of this road, COM
prlsed in the cluster of beautiful homes known
as Takoma park. Five years ago Takoma was
nameless and unknown. Farmers looked with
scorn at the edges Of the dense growth Of for
est which covered the tract. and its local desig-
nations were synonyms for all that was poor and
worthless. II was as wild looking region as ever
stopped the progress of agriculture or served
as home for the animals and birds which fee
before the approach of civilization. To pene-
trate the tangled underbrhsh was in many
places possible only to squirrels. II was a will
derness, the only entrances to which were
either by following the picturesque Sligo in
its enchanting deviousness. or By swinging the
axe and manipulating the grub-hoe. Such WAS
the condition of the region when. five years ago
last Thursday week. MIR. Ii. T. Gilbert his wife
two children, Mrs. yeitenheimer, and her two
children. entered an unfinished barn on piece
of property which had been partially torn out
of the woods, and made themselves as comfort
able as the circumstances would permit. The
barn was about half-built then; its
only roof was of paper, and its
sides were destitute of paint Owls hooted
around ali that night and kept most of the
party in a condition of wakefulness that was
painful. The next night the shrill cry of
numerous wild turkeys was frequently heard,
while less than six miles away the heart Of
American civilization was throbbing. A thor
ough exploration of the surrounding country
and the requirement OF the knowledge neces-
sary to be able TO describe it intelligently was
the first part of Mr.. Gilbert's work. The next
was to make known the beauties of the place,
and to this end he labored without cessation.
First he named the place "Takoma Park" and
then he talked Takoma Park to everybody.
Men who had achieved regulations as persons
of more tnan ordinary shrewdness shook their
HEADS and seemed inclined to the belief that
Gilbert bad bitten off more than he could
chew. But Gilbert never thought so. or, if he
he did. he RETAINED from making his opinion
public. The result may be seen by any visitor
to the park.
THE ORIGINAL TAKoMA PARK
was about 800 acres in extent but the numer-
Gus additions which have been made from
time to time have widened its borders until
they now include fully l,5OO acres. The first
purchase was the O.. G. Grammer estate Mr.
Grammer being the old Washington citizen
who is credited with having said Fools build
houses and g. g. Grammer buys them" Then
portions of the old Carroll estate (includinp
Sligo mill. which was first erected more than
n hundred years ago., part of the Francis T.
Blair estate. and small tracts from the Riggs
and Gen. Beale properties. Out of this viii
derness was TakOma Park evolved.
By the middle of January. 1855, things began
to assume a more cheerful appearance at Ta-
kOma. Mrs. Neitenheimer. Henry Garrett /,
l. Thomas, Col. G.. G. knif1in. Dr. D. W Bliss
and Fred Dudley all had houses in the park
and were occupying them. Since then each
succeeding year has seen the number of build-
ings more than doubled The six houses have
been followed by hundred others. all COM
plete. Thirty more are now in process OF
construction, and arrangements are being
made for the erection of seventy additional
homes, so that the close of the building seas IN
will find Takoma with about 200 houses These
are not being built by spectators. They are
being put up for homes by the persons who
own the lots-people who will live in them all
the year round.
A very pleasant addition has been made to
Takoma on the west by Messrs. Lewis K Hea-
ton. about six acres in extent There are
several buildings upon it already, and others
will soon add to the number.
THE RAILROAD VIEW DECEPTIVE
Nothing could be more deceptive than the
appearance OF Takoma Park from the railroad.
Ninety-nine people out Of every hundred who
might glance at the place from the car windows
would say pretty place. lots of nice houses,
but too low Never was there a greater mis-
take. The location of the park is on one of the
most naturally beautiful and thoroughly
heaithfui tracts of rolling country that can be
found anywhere. A short distance from the
railroad II commences to rise. and each wave of
Nerdure. crested by beautiful homes, Is higher
than its predecessor. The drainage is there
fore natural and perfect Malaria can never
secure "a grip on any Of the residents of Takoma
because the place varies in an altitude of from
800 to 100 feet above sea-level. and the song of
the mosquito is never heard. The mosquito is
one of the few living things which cannot SUBJ
sist in Takoma.
There can be no doubt that the air of this
region contains about all tue good qualities
which could be combined in one atmosphere
The oreezes that sweep softly over the ever
green forests bring with them grateful odors of
pine and sweet-smelling wild vines and plants
Nothing could be more gratifying in the nature
OF revelation than drive through the park.
Within It's limits there are fifteen miles of
streets and avenues. grayel-laid and smooth
shaded by trees and Frightened by natures
prettlest flowers, while over and around all are
waited the delicious odors of honeysuckle and
Wild laurel. For nearly three miles that
WONDERFULLY PICTURESQUE STREAM THE SLIGO
flows through the park, now rushing madlv
through narrow neck Of channel and tumb-
ling nOisiiy over a series of rapids that for a
moment compare with the bubblinC. boiling
OF lne DaIleS OF the ST Louis
river; now apparently sleeping i'll a broad pool
which. mirror-like, reflects the sky's tints where
they creep In between occasional breaks in
the Swallowing foliage. The IiInpid waters of
the Sligo are not the only ones in the park
Springs are numerous and varied in their char
aeter. Many of them strongly impregnated
with iron, others contain a large percentage of
magnesla, while some contain soda in appreci-
able Quantities. The pure-water springs are Of
more than ordinary purity.
NATURES sASIrARIUM
The air and the water are credited with WON
derful health-giying properties Less than a
month ago Admiral Colhouu, of the United
States navy, rented house in the park
Mrs Colhoun was then a helpless invalid
ana SO III that for ten DAYS after the ar
rangements had all been completed she couId
not be removed from her home in the city-
After weeks residence in Takoma she walked
10 the railroad station from her new home and
then added to the surprise OF her family by
walking back-a journey Of about half a mile.
For more than two years such a walk has been
impossible 10 Mrs. Colhoun but she has re-
peated IL every fine day ever since, The adj
nnral has purchased lot of ground and Har-
Sey Page, the architect, Is preparing the plans
for fine residence where the admiral will
settle down for life
The streets of the park are really fine They
vary little IN width, some being forty Others
nifty feet across. They are smooth and hard
and 1T Is not difficult to believe after driving
over them for two or three hours that Mr. Gil
bert has RyDandp1 On tbair