Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26
ROADSIDE SKETCHES.
ATramp to Brightwood, Silver Spring
and Takoma.
THE NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
Through . Beautiful Rexion-Rock Creek
Church and Cemetery-Remains of the Old
Notifications skirting the Soldiers Home
Some Historic Country Seats.
Written for The Evening Star.

Wntten Tor The Evening star.
IF YOU DESIRE TO TAKE TRAMP TO
Il Brightwood. Silver Spring, Tskoma and Rock
Creek and National cemeteries, take Bright
wood avenue at Florida avenue. thence to
Rock Greek Church road to Shepherd road.
to Brightwood avenue, to Blair road, to Rock
Greek Church road, to Hardwood road, to Lin
coin avenue, to North Capitol street, to New
York avenue.
The roads are ali good with the exception Of
q bad spot in Blair road between Takoma and
Lamond's.
Proceed by way Of Brightwood avenue
(which was travelled on excursion Of Septem-
Der 81 to the mouth of Rock Creek Church
road Entering this road and moving along in
a northeasterly direction you soon have the
Soldiers Home Park on your right. Gaining
the top Of the hill at Eagle or Scott gate. and
turning toward the west. the eye strikes a scene
of great beauty. Looking toward the Home
grounds the view Is also charming. Barnes
Hospital and the Sheridan. sherman and
Library buildings appear 10 good advantage as
you advance. Hardwood road which forms
the eastern boundary of the Home, is soon
reached On the right at the junction Of the
roads. is National cemetery. while to the left
are the gate and lodge OF Rock Greek ceme-
terry. As you advance from this point the
earthwOrks of old Fort Totten. directly in front,
on an elevation of 81 feet above tide level,
present commanding appearances. byroad
leads over to the fort
You are now in the little village of Rupli-
vile, and soon pass the eastern gate Of Rock
Creek cemetery.
on SHEPHERD ROAD.
At Kelly's corner, a short distance from the
cemetery, Bates and Terra Gotta roads are
passed on the right, while on the left. Just be-
yond, Shepherd road is entered on the left. This
road WIS named after Governor Shepherd. 1t
is also known as Magnolia lane. 1t is a nag
row, winding thOroughfare. with a tolerably
even sandy surface, and leads through rolling
cultivated section Taking this road you soon
cross Piney branch and presently enter Bright
wood avenue a. Brightwood. passing en- route
TO Brightwood avenue. A wine house stands
opposite the mouth o. the lane. near the road.
IN BRIGHrwooD.
The large brick building on the left as you
move through Brightwood is Masonic Hall.
The road running southwark, west Of the hall
Is 14th street Three other roads also converge
here, viz: Military road and South and North
Rock Creek roads. The first named connects
with Daniels and Milk House Ford roads to the
westward. while the other two extend 10 Rock
creek, which Is only about half Q mile distant.
Facts about Brightwood related in the
tramp Of September II and need not be re-
peated here.
IL JIG HAs tAc uiDe 70 spare D WISH 10 flOck
creex viii be enjoyed 1t is spanned by
substantial wooden bridge, which is shown in
the accompanying illustration.
ALONG BRIeHrwoop AVENUE
Advancing along Brightwood avenue the
public school and Emery Methodist Church
are soon passed on the left. the earthworks of
old Fort Stevens being visible to the rear Of
the church.
The illustration, which was sketched from
tire OF the church
ton of the remains Of the fort as they appear
today
Not far beyond the fort on the right. Piney
Branch road, which leads over to Takoma, is
passed
BATTLE CEMETERY
is Just north Of here, on the right. where you
may stop a mome mt and learn from the super
intendent some facts about the place. Among
other interesting things he will tell you that
ths cemetery occupies a part of the field upon
which the tAttle for the possession of Washing
ton was fought on July II. 1854; that the forty
Union soldiers buried here were killed in that
battle; that twenty-five. or more than one-half
VI them, belonged to New York regiments and
that OF the remaining eighteen twelve were
Pennsylvsnians, .w1 we've Massachusetts men,
Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island being repre-
sented by one each.
Looking west from the cemetery the hand
some country places Of the Shepherds, Clag-
etts and Blairs are observed.
BLEAK HOUSE.
Resu1ing the tramps along Brightwood ave-
nue. you pass on the left, just beyond the Gene
terry. gate. with stone posts and lodge, which
enters the pleasant grounds OF Bleak House.
the country place Of Alexander Il. Shepherd
1t one time governor Of the District Of Column
bia. and to whom the city of Washington ia
largely indebted for It's present attractive pro-
portions The place takes Its name from Dick
ous' Charming story The h0usa