Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-12
ALEXANDRIA'S t5Oth ANNIVERSARY


Wharf.-The Largest Parade and Most
avish Decorations Ever Witnessed
in Alexandria-A Gala Day-Scenes
and Incidents.
Al.xar dria celebrated her sesqui.cen'
teuhisl looay, and the event his ex-
ceeded, if anything, the extravagan'
expectations of those who conceived it
and who succeeded in enlisting the in-
terest of the entire community. l. has
been a success 10 every particular, and
wall henceforth be regarded as the most
interesting aud colossal event in the
city's history. The preparations have
been Cd an extensive scale and have
been going on for weeks. Daring the
past fsw days our ciiiz .ps have been
making ready for todav's display, and
decorators have been kept busy night
and day in arranging buildings of all
sorts in holiday garb, while several
thousand electric lights have been put
in st pres and dwellings and placed on
the outside of buildings and in the princl'
pal streets. Private residences, too, have
been becomingly bedecked with flags
and bunting, and fairy lamps have been
strung far and wide throughout the
CITY. Centennial buttons and badges
are being worn in profusion, and pic
lures of George Washington are legion,
while in some instances those of R. E.
Lee and Stonewall Jackson are seen.
There has been genuine enthusiasm
manifested by both old and young, and
the patriotic fever has for some weeks
been in the epidemic stage. All have
anxiously anticipated this day, when
old Alexandria was 10 turn out en- masae
to celebrate the one hundred aud If
tieth anniversary Of the moulding OF
Belle Haven into town by the laying
out of it's squares and lots and the for
nation of lts government. The year
1899 is not only the sesqui centennial OF
the laying out Of the town, but is also
the two hundred and thirtieth anniver-
sary of the land patent to Rob-
ert Howsen and the one hundred and
twentieth year since the establishment
of the municipal government. George
Washington was at that time about IL
years OF age, and 40 years later be gu.
pervised the laying out of the capital
city of the United States. The town
at first extended north and south from
Princess street toDuke and east and west
from the river to little beyond Royal
street. The town expanded its limits
and to the original streets, memorial oil
the Fairfax family and the royal family,
the Baron Of Cameron, the King, Prince
aud Duke, the Queen, Princess and
Duchess, were added two new streets
commemorating William Pitt and Gen
eral Wolfe, the hero of Quebec. Later
after the Revolutionary war, when
other thoroughfsres we're opened, they
! received names more pleasant to oul
Washington. Columbus
Patrick, Henry, Fayette, Payne, Wilkes
Gibbon, Franklin, Jefferson, Greene
&c.
The Gazette has of late. as appro
| pirate to the occasion, been printing
"reminiscences of the early days o.
! Alexandria. This paper, which has
been an institution in Alexandria with
all the ups and downs of the city for
over century, and whose files are its
unabridged and correct annals, is
dong what it did at the close Of
the last century-recording the
! city's history and following its fortunes
1t described the scenes and incidents
which were the outcome of the Re-
| voution, the jubilees which followed
the country's independence, the death
of George Washington, the exciting era
which eliminated in the war of 1872
the visit of Lafayette to Alexandria
dozen years later, the fulminatioDs
which ended in the war between the
States, and every other event since sad
or joyous. 1t is still at its post at the
dawn of the Goth century portrayiDe
the cage and body of the times" in re.
cordipg AIexandria's history and de.
scribing today's celebration. Genera
ton has followed generation during all
these years. and the writer's on the
Gazette, like those who compiled
sacred history, have in many instances
never seen those who preceded them
and who bequeathed to them the duty
Of continuing the thread history.
| The following record of the concep.
ton and laying out of the city together
with its organization, the events we
have today celebrated, is in order. II
was written by the late George W.
Rock, who over half century ago
was an apprentice in the Gazette
Office. We quote from "The Concise
History of Alexandria," published by
| Mr.. Rock and the late F. L. Brockett
in the year of 1888. This history OF
! our city, collated from the files Of
the Gazette, is doubtless one of the lest
ever published, and this extract will be
| read with interest by all on this occa
sion:
The records of tho Virginia Land Office at
Richmond show, that on the 21st day of DC.
tober, 1862 a patent for six thousand acres
of land was granted to Robert Howsing, for
and in consideration Of the transportation of
one hundred and twenty persons into the
Colony of Virginia On this tract the City OF
Alexandria was located. The land is de-
scribed as lying upon the freshes of the
Potomac river, and on the West side thereof,
the survey beginning at q red oak standing
by small branch or run nearly opposite a
small island, commonly called and known by
the name of "My Lords Island" and running
down the Potomac river 1852 poles to tree
on the northerly point of creek named by
the English "Indian Cabin Creek" This
grant was issued by Sir William Berke ey,
Knit, Governor, &C., and is recorded in the
L j. k.l.
foot of the giant appears the names of the
persons whose TRANSPORTATION WAS the con-