Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23
OLD EAST WASHINGTON
The Days When the Navy Yard Was
Looked Upon as Out in the Country.
The Quaint Customs That Prevailed
Big Ships and Guns.
Written for The Evening Star.

Big Ships and Guns.
Written for The Evening Star.
In the old days, running back TO the
forties, all that section of the city lying to
the southeast of the Capitol was designated
the Navy Yard. By some who wanted to
be a little more precise il was called Navy
Yard Hill, in contradistinction to the Navy
Yard proper. In that early period 1T was
regarded as a sort of caudal appendage to
the city. while our city brethren in their
vanity were wont to look upon the jewellers
therein as akin to country cousins, you
know, and the place a rural hamlet, the
principal street being known as the Main
road" now Pennsylvania avenue east.
The gilded street car, with its tinkling
sound of brass. was a vanity little dreamed
OF by our modest fathers. Neither did they
rejoice in the luxury of the gorgeous omni-
bus, as that stately vehicle had not put in
an appearance at that time. The only mode
of public conveyance was the old numbering
stage. whose asthmatic groaning and creak-
ing announced its coming far down the
dusty road. In fact. streets and roads were
alike as to dust. a paved street being an
almost unknown quantity.
These stages were owned and run by a
man named Harrington, who kept a public
house on Garrison street NOW 9Th street.
near the navy yard gate. They started
from that point and ran to the southwest
ccrEer of 9th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. only. The fare was a levy or twelve
and half cents. Here they connected with
| another line Of stages that ran to George
| town. which were owned by Allison Naylor,
sr. The fare on this line was levy"
| also. Indeed. a trip to the Navy Yard was
| thing not to be entered into lightly or in
advisedly. but with the fear of the Lord and
the pugnacious Navy Yard boy before our
| eyes. Here dwelt many a type of the jolly
Kip Van Wrinkle who with rod and gun
whlled away the hours along the bright wa
ters Oh the Anacostia; or regaled his friends
At the Union House then kept by John
Goldin) with many a fish story or told of
marvellous shots made with his single
barrel shotgun across the branch" For
then plentiful in the Eastern branch, and
other game could be found in abundance
near by, and where the rollicking Rip got in
bis fine work.
A Quiet Old Settlement.
AS the city proper had its little Britain
and its Great Br.tain-that is. its West End
and its Swampoodle, its Northern Liberties
and Its '1sland"-so the Navy Yard had its
addenda In the extreme southeastern sec
burnt bridge. known as Stanton Town, one
OF the Oldest settlements in the city. In
this quaint and venerable spot lived some
Of the first settlers of the District. The
houses were primitive in the extreme, and
some few are still standing that were there
long before the British crossed the river in
1914. Here fourished the observance of all
old holiday customs and games that lent q
charm to festive days and made their re-
curi ence SO welcome. Bonfires were kept
burning throughout 1.-The night before
Christmas" while a motley crowd of black
| spirits and white" would gather around the
| blazing fire, and with music, singing and
dancing watch for the coming Of the great
| festival, which would be heralded by the
| firing Of small cannon, guns. &C.
The strolling minstrel had not passed
into innocuous desuetude then, but with
| his merry crew would go from house to
| house "discoursing most eloquent music"
the recipient Of such honors being ex-
pected to show his appreciation in a liquid
form. which he invariably did. All Hallow
| Fen was religiousiy observed. old games
were revamped and festive gatherings were
numerous. The girl of that period was well
versed In the art OF necromancy as well
as ghost lore. shrove Tuesday and pan
| cakes were synonymous terms. The very
air was redolent with the odor of the
| griddle. and hence It took no ghost to come
from the grave to tell us that 1t was pan
cake day." And so every holiday had its
votaries. and was scrupulously observed.
The Ancient Navy Yard.
The Washington navy yard was organized
| in 1882 near the close Of the administra-
| ton Of John Adams. The cost of the ground
was $4,000 only. and consisted Of forty
| acres. H. B. Hibben. q chaplain in the
navy, says. in his history Of the yard, which
| is known as Senate doc. 22-that for many
| years II was regarded as one Of the most
important and defensible. and the one most
useful. convenient and necessary to the
government. Guns. ammunition and sup
| plies were continually being shipped from
this yard north and south. 1t seemed to be
used as the central depot of supplies
The first commandant OF the yard was
Capt. (afterward COMMODORE Thomas Tin
gey, who remained in command from 1890
| to lS29. Among the old naval heroes who
were in command Of the yard were: Hull,
Patterson. Stevens Kennon, Aulick. Schu-
brick. Ballard, Forrest, Paulding and
others whose names adorn the page of
history. The yard was. 1 think. far more
attractive in the old days than it is today.
Its high ship houses. its immense anchor
| shop, whose molten fires and inky clouds
of smoke reminded one of Dante's Inferno
its numerous FORCES. boiler, galley and
other shops for the complete fitting out OF
| man-of-war gave employment to hum
dreds Of men, and made the yard one Of
the busiest centers in all Washington. The
building of war ships was then a prominent
feature of the yard, and a large number
Of our old wooden battle ships. whose
ndIneS nave pdSSeu lHtO HistOTy, were Du1lt
here and took their baptismal plunge in
the waters Of the Anacostia Among the
number were the ships of the line:
Columbus, "A rate. built in 1919; frigate
Potomac. Al rate. 1921; schooner Grampus.
II rate, 1921; schooner Shark, II rate. 1921 /:
frigate Brandywine. A rate, 1875; sloop Of
war st. Louis. Is rate. 1928: schooner
Experiment. II rate, 1881; frgate Columbia
A rate, 1886; soop of war st. Mary, %
| rate. 1874; sloop of war Minnesota. 40 rate
1855: steamer Water Witch. 2 rate, 1S45.
Big Vessels aud Guns.
Doubtless many of our old citizens can
| recall the exciting and pleasant scenes
Of a launch of a man-of-war at the navy
yard. They will also recall the great
| crowds that came trooping over the COM
mons and through grassy lanes from the
| city, to witness the inspiring sight.
The water battery erected near the larger
ship house (the latter has since been torn
DOWN was an awe-inspiring sight to visit
ors and terror to river captains. as the
shot would go flying down the branch and
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