Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-07-13

The absorption of so much of the city
OF Annapolis by the Naval Academy and
the high price OF Annapolis city lots have
augmented greatly the thriving town OF
Eastport, on the South bank OF Spa creek,
opposite Annapolis.
The town is connected with bridge
three hundred yards in length with An
napolis, and contains about one thousand
inhabitants. Thirty years ago there was
one dwelling house and farm house in
that locality. Annapolis, too, has under
gone many changes since the Naval
Academy came here in IS45.
Then it was place OF 5000 people.
Now, with its environments and the Ma
val Academy. it has 10 600 inhabitants
Then the Ancient City had in il but one
buggy for hire, that kept by the Rev.
Henry Pnce, colored local preacher,
who made also famous candy in his day.
All the oysters that Annapolis then con-
sumed were caught by William Hub
bard and Henry Frazier, who took them
from Horn Point bar, a mile from An
napolis, shucked them on the water and
brought them TO town tor sale.
Now thousand oystermen engage in
the business OF taking oysters, and there
are several excellent livery establish
ments. Fifty years ago one coach was
all Annapolis could boast. and when the
late Col. John Walton brought a coach
OF heroic size to town it was followed by
the Annapolis boys around the city as it
circus was on exhibition. A halt cen
tury ago the steamer "Maryland" made
a trip here once a week, and all the rest
of the maritime interests of Annapolis
were centred in the schooners 'John /.
Barber" Capt. James Jones. the "Mer-
chant" Capt. Jack Sands, the "Rock-
hall. Capt. John Hanlon.
Four horses and carts did all the haul
ing of the city. William Bishop owned
three of these and John Hebb the other.
ohm Smith, colored. was the owner OF
the single coach, and lived in the same
house where Aunt Lucy Smith made ia
nous pastry in colonial days. The An
napolis and Elk Ridge Railroad had be-
gun to run its trains in IS4o. but it was
way up to "war times" before il ceased
TO ring two bells, at hali-hour intervals,
10 give warning to the people OF Annap-
oils that the train was about to start.
Even after that. the genial conductor,
Matthias Hammond, would go TO the
corner of West street, and il he saw a
belated traveller as far down as St. Anne 5
Church, would generously beckon him
on while he held the train for him.
When no traveller was found coming
the conductor would return from the cor
rer to the depot, and say to Engineer
Henry Bush, "Henry, you better grease
and start; see nobody coming" Ten
trains day TO and from Annapolis, and
steamboat every day, and trains going
on schedule time now give Annapolitans
great facilities for getting in and out OF
town. Then, halt century ago, busi-
ness, people and politics were different.
There were snug fortunes in Annapolis.
Every body got along well, and the city
was composed of residents remarkably
kind and considerate OF each other
Friendships were long and lasting, and
when the political parties came to make
nominations, each held their meeting in
the historic Assembly Rooms or old City
Hall, now defunct, and so free were the
assemblies from the hand of the political
"boss" that no one knew until they aIriv-
ed at the meeting who even were going
to be named tor the nominees of the party.
The old house, the old people and the
old methods are passing away, and the
few left that remember the old regime are
not persuaded that the new times are
better than the old times.