Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-01

| The Glass House people did most Of their
shopping in Georgetown going and returning
! across the commons. In the first part Of the
century their most direct route led them across
large sing stone bridge that SPAWNED
Rock creek at street. 1t was built prior to
the year 1900, as 1t Is represented in an engrav-
ing of that date. Its arch is said to have con-
tanned one stone for each Of the original thir-
teen states. Its builders must have considered
1t very substantial structure, for they carved
on its keystone the words MAY the Union last
as long as this bridge"
Some of the Glass House children in going to
school became long-distance pedestrians. Some
and others to Mr.. Tippett on the Navy Yard,
and the path there was not q straight one,
either.
THE LIFE OF THE VILLAGERS.
or course the pleasures Of the place were few
and simple. The chief amusements Of the men
in summer were boating, fishing and cunning.
The river was free from gas tar and sewerage
and the fish were plentiful and healthy.
In winter there were lots Of glorious coast
ing, skating and duckshooting. Canvas back
ducks were as plentiful on the river then as
blaskbirds are now, perhaps more SO.
Christmas was made great holiday, as might
be expected among people who came from
countries where it is SO heartily and iovously
IA
ing little anecdote. There was q superstition
among the workmen that the devil would get
after any one who worked on Christmas day.
Mr.. John Knoblock. q very original character
and general favorite, but who had not the
fear Of the devil before his eyes, imperiled his
safety one Christmas morning by going to work
In the box shop. He had not worked long
when he heard three mysterious taps several
times repeated, and when he at last located
them in large pile Of shavings the horns and
head OF the enemy Of souls appeared to emerge
therefrom, whereupon John quickly emerged
from the room. He speedily returned, how
ever, with his gun and with the laudable pur-
pose OF exterminating the devil. When he
re-entered the shop Satan vas there in full
size and shape, aud in conventional attire, tail,
hoofs hair, horns and all. But when he saw
Johns gun he made for the opposite door and
got out OF and closed it just as a load Of buck
shot struck it. A moment later and Mr..
Grinder would have paid for his fun with his
life.
OF course the city afforded very fair amuse-
ments in those days, but il was q long, dark
way home to any Glass House man who went to
the theater any other place Of evening
amusement. One local fun-maker, who dis
tinguished himself among and above the rest
for some years, along about 1925 to 1880, was
young fellow named Frank Boyle, who had q
fools cap and bells and used to come over
from his home on the western slope of Camp
Hin (the ruins Of the old house are there yeti
and amuse the natives with his pranks and
antics.
Parties Of ladies and gentlemen used to come
down to the factory from the city, and the
workmen would make curious toys Of glass for
them. called singing bottles, hip-nops, &c.
There was no church in the village, but the
people attended services in the city. DR.. Haw-
ley Of st. Johns used to hold evening meet
ings at Mr. Knobloch's, and in later years DR..
Noble Of the Presbyterian Church used to have
prayer meetings at Mr.. Johnson's. On pleas
ant Sabbath afternoons in summer, when there
were candidates for baptism. old Parson Oba-
diah Brown, pastor of the Nineteenth Street
Baptist Church (then white), and at one time
Postmaster General, used to bring little
portable pulpit and set it up at Big Rock. A
brief DEPRESSION here may be Of interest.
BRApDocKs ROCK.
Mr.. George wstterston, in his guide book Of
Washington city, published about the year
ls40, states that ''near o rock which rises from
the Potomac west Of the Glass House, Gen.
Braddock is said to have landed with his army
on his way to the west, and the rock was called
by the old inhabitants 'Braddoek's rock and
the place near it 'BraddockS landing" This
Is very interesting statement, but am In
formed BY gentleman who has made thor
ough study Of the history Of the land on which
washington and Georgetown stand, and parttc-
uiarly as to the water 'front.' that the rsgimental
books OF Braddocks army fail to verify Mr..
Watterston's statement, and, in fact, virtually
contradict it. ;
The remains Of the rock still jut out from the
north bank OF the old canal Just south of the
east end Of the observatory grounds II was
originally very large and extended into the
river rs far probably the outer line of the old
towpath sfterward lay. 1t is said that some
of II was quarried for use in the foundations Of
the public buildings at the beginning Of this
century, and when the canal was built large
part Of the rock was blasted away to make room
FOR that waterway.
This rock has had for at least two centuries .
name about which there 10 no dispute. but
which seems to have been forgotten BY people
generally. This name Is "Key Of all Keys
(meaning quay Of AL quays), and on the plat 81
the old village Of Hamburg 1t is the point from
the most western, street Of that place, called
Rock street, which Is represented - running up
over Camp HilL, Jam informed thAs this name,