Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-28
THE LITTLE STONE. HOUSE
Il n Now the Homo Of the Lutheran
Sunday School.
The Fifth Religious Denomination in
Br0olkland-The Tragedy Of the
Fisher Children Revived.

any OF the communities bordering on the
city. Already there are four denomination
al congregations, three Of which. the Bap-
fist. Episcopal and Methodist, have already
comfortable houses Of worship. and the
fourth. the Catholic. Is erecting a neat
frame church. which will be ready for oc-
cupancy in June.
Now the Lutherans Of that vicinity are
endeavoring to establish a church. They
have begun by organizing a Sunday school
SO that the children may have the proper
instruction The older people can go to the
city for services. but 1t is impossible to
send the little ones there for Sunday
school. Many children had already started
to the Baptist Church. so that this move
ment viii! leave some vacancies in that
congre cation.
school is the little stone house" on Bunker
Hill road. near the Queens Chapel road
Mrs. Geo. M. Pduger kindly gave them
the use OF this house, and those at the
mead or the movement have fitted it up
nicely. The walls and woodwork have been
neatly painted. the floor has been carpeted
and an organ and chairs have been Sc
cured. The room is kept warm by q small
stove.
The Sunday School Organization.
This Sunday school Is in reality a mission
OF Christ Church Of this city. Rev. Chas
Z. Morhart, the pastor Of Christ Church
together with Mr.. Geo. Johannis, Mr.. w.
H. German and Mr.. ]. H. Albers have
been the promoters in establishing the
school. The teachers are also from the
congregation Of Christ Church. The rising
mission feels assured of the aid of asso-
ciate churches, so the undertaking does
not appear as heavy to them as it really
The Sunday school has only been organ
iZed one week. but even in that time there
mas been a gradual increase. On the open
ing sunday, the 10th instant, things looked
very hopeful for there was an attendance
OF about twenty-five children At the SER
vices which followed Sunday school about
sixty-nve persons were present. With such
beginning and steady and faithful work
on the part Of all. there is no doubt that
the Lutherans will prosper. The congrega-
tion seems to be an energetic one and will
ing to do all it can for the advancement Of
tiers go from the city every Sunday plainly
SHOWS their earnestness In this direction
Despite Rev. c. c. Morhart's many duties.
ne Is willing to give his time to the rising
congregation. Mr.. Morhart conducted the
services the first Sunday, but it is probable
ne will only go out once in a while in the
future: The little house is only large
enough for Sunday school. and If it is
tiers will have to be secured. This is the
future plan of the Lutherans. Then q new
church will be started, and a fifth edifice
VIII De begun in Brookland. This, how
ever, Will not materialize for some time as
me present work will be confined to the
complete and perfect organization of a
sunday school and the gathering together
OF Oh the children which belong to its fold
Inc teachers at present are Miss Schlerf
MISS Wolf. Miss Schmidt and Miss Miller.
and Mr.. Albers, Mr.. Germann and Mr.. Jo-
nann1s. The organist Is Miss Charlotte
scnlerf. Sunday school will begin every
ut C.sn -
expected that the little flock will he in
creased day by day.
The Little Stone House.
A history of the little "stone house ;"
which has played strange part in years
gone by. will not be amiss here. On the
side facing the Bunker Hill road is a white
stone bearing the inscription, Erected
March. 1860" but 1t Is asserted by some to
be older than that The little house was
then the lodge gatehouse of the Dundass
estate. The fine mansion was situated some
distance from the road and then the place
was known by the fanciful name of Chilly
Castle" Everything about the estate was
we'll taken care of. and beautiful gardens
were spread before the house. Mr.. Wood
was the next occupant, and after him Mr.
and Mrs. Fisher and family.
The little lodge house had been rented
from time to time to people in poor cir
SohiSeohSSS. AZ Tic tlIIt0 MrS. F1Sher look
possession of Chilly Castle family Of
coiored people lived in the stone house
with the old colored woman Mrs. Fisher
often intrusted The children: until one
day, when she came home and could not
find them. Upon being questioned the old
colored woman said at first she did not
know where they were. but at last confess
ed that she had murdered them, and their
bodies were found in the bushes
For some years after this awful tragedy
both lodge house and mansion were shun-
ned In the meantime the estate passed
from Dundass to Mr.. Geo. Pfuger who
now owns It, On account of the murder of
the Fisher children the beautiful Chilly
Castle was torn down and the present
house erected on the foundation The
grounds have been transformed into fertile
market gardens. and many changes have
been made. The lodge house has been
rented to different parties, but for some
time has been vacant
In the late war the lodge house played an
important part as a Jail. Here prisoners
were kept until they could be removed to
other quarters. And so the little brown
stone house." as 1t is called TODAY. has
been lodge house, Jail, dwelling and Sun
day school.