Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-03-23
Carved Fifty Years Ago.

A monument was erected yesterday In
front OF the old station house on 32d street
adjoining the north side Of the canal, which
was carved perhaps halt century ago, and
which for many years has been stored
away, hidden and forgotten, being brought
TO light recently In the cleaning of an old
building The discovery OF the monument
was made about three weeks ago, and II
was cleaned and polished up AS much as
possible, and IA permit secured 10 erect II 10
its present place. IL Was originally designed
TO commemorate what was regarded as one
OF the greatest engineering leats OF its day
the commencement and complexion OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Just when the monument was carved is
hard to ascertain, but it is supposed TO have
been done some time IN 1850, when the
waterway was completed. In the gladness
over the completion Of their great task the
people at the head of the canal had the
monument made, intending 10 erect II al
some point along the route. IL is believed,
however, from the appearance oil the stone,
that it was never erected, but was stored
away, awaiting day Tor It's erection, aud
as time passed by IL was forgotten altogether
new men assuming control Of the places
held by the projectors Ol the canal and
knowing nothing OF the existence OF the
| memorial.
The monument was discovered in q back
room in the old Hill paper mill building, on
Water street near Potomac street. The old
building has b en- leased by company OF
local men Ior business purposes, and q
thorough overhauing was necessary. 1t
was while the cleaning up was IN progress
that the monument was brought 10 light.
1t was securely boxed up, lying in an un
used portion Of the building. The monu-
ment was taken out and partly cleaned.
1t is perhaps eleven feet in height and IS
made up OF four pieces. A base about three
feet square Is composed OF two pieces OF
stone about eighteen inches in height On
the pedestal is a large block about thirty
inches high and about eighteen inches
square, upon each side OF which there Is an
inscription. Surmounting this block IL an
obellsk-shaped stone between six and seven
feet high.
After being taken out of the old Hill mill
the stones were stored Ia the Office Of Mr..
Ii. 7. Gilbert, who now occupies the old
station. The canal company was notified,
and General Manager G. l. Nicholson took
steps TO have II put IN u proper place. The
site ut the northwest corner OF the stone
arch crossing the canal at Bind street was
selected, ana the iron railing was 30 cut as
10 DCTLllL LHb W DC CiObbChs
The Old stone corner was removed, IN Or
der TO make room for the monument, and
Yesterday woI kingmen with derrick com
pleted the task Of placing it In position.
Or the front of the stone Is inscribed the
following: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company 1850. President, James NJ Coae.
Directors, William A. Bradley, Henry Dam
gerfield, William Cost johnson, John Pick
rell, George Schley, Samuel L. Smith
Clerk, Walter s. Rnggold. Treasurer,
Lawrence Brengie.
The George Schley referred " az one OF
the directors Is supposed 10 be a relative Ol
Admiral Winfield Scott Schley.
On the reverse side is inscribed Chesa
peake and Ohio Canal. Commenced at
Georgetown, July A, 1928. Chief OF Engin
GERS, Benjamin Wrigley
On one of the sides the following 10
carved in the stOne Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. Completed TO Cumberland, Oct. 10,
1850 Chief OF Engineers, Charles Is. Fisk.
The fourth side Of the monument contains
the names OF the State officers OF the com
pany, AZ follows: Maryland Stale Agents,
Samuel SprIgg, Allen b. Davis, William 7.
Goldsborough, Tench Tilghman, John Van
Lear.
The monument fails TO state that the first
spadefu of earth 10 the construction of the
canal was dug up by John Quincy Adams,
who was then the President Of the United
States The scene was near what Is now
known az the low grounds, and In honor OF
the occasion a large multitude of people at
tended to witness the exercises. According
10 the story OF the day the President started
10 shove the spade INTO the earth, bot It was
harder than he thought. In the presence
OF the multitude OF people he took OF his
coat, and in his shirt sleeves, and with re
doubled efforts, succeeded in bringing out a
monstrous large spadelul, amid the cheers
Of all present. Wash Star, 18Th inst.