Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-02
EMBRYO WASHINGTON
Hamburg and Carrollsburg
on the Pautaumack
ANTEDATE THIS CITY
PURCHASES THAT WERE MADE
BY GEN. WASHINGTON.
Original Reservations-Foun and
Other Parks-Some Old Prop
erty Owners.

1t has been suggested to call the pretty
park now located in the neighborhood of
where the old naval observatory stood. and
from which the Rawlins statue was re-
moved, Hamburg Park, so as to commemo-
rate the name of the town of Hamburg.
which was laid out by Peter Funk before
the national capital had its existence.
Probably not very many persons know
| that there were two towns on this site be-
fore Gen. Washington purchased the prop
erty for it, and the two commissioners or
the territory of Columbia. Peter Charles
L'Enfant and Andrew Ellicott. began to
cast their eyes about to lay 1t out In proper
form with government reservations and all
that sort of thing.
But there were two towns that existed
| right here on the banks of the Potomac. or
the Pautaumack, as the beautiful river was
then called. Hamburg was slightly to the
northeast of Georgetown, which was then
in corporate existence, and thriving, go
ahead town it was.
Hamburg was surrounded by number OF
thriving farms. Not among the least were
the extensive lands of David Burns. 1t Is
not shown in any of the records that 1t
ever had any corporate existence.
Carrollsburg on the Anacostia.
The second town in existence prior to the
time when Washington purchased the titles
to ground for the capital was on the East
ern branch. or the Anacostia river. That
was the town of Carrollsburg, belonging to
Daniel Carroll. and named after it's original
owner, the man of history. Charles Car
! roll.
1t was known, rather the site upon
which 1t stood was at one time known, as
Duddington pasture. This land was con-
veyed by its first owner by virtue of a
| deed Of trust to Henry Rogers. Motley
Young and Daniel Carroll. 1t was subse-
quently subdivided into streets, alleys, etc.
and was probably Incorporated. as the
owners We're clear-headed men of business.
If it was. the articles Of incorporation
are probably filed among other records in
Annapolis. At that time all the ground
hereabout, excepting the small portion be-
| longing to Virginia, belonged to Maryland.
Full mention of both these towns is made
| in an interesting volume published about
a third of a century ago by Messrs. E. F..
M. Faetz and T. w. Pratt. This book is
entitled Washington in Embryo" and
treats specially of the national capital
from 1871 to 1900
Carrollsburg was somewhat of an I'M
| posing place in it's day and generation. and
was a commercial mart Of no little account.
| The researches of the book referred to are
| enriched to some extent by the late Mr..
Henry Brooks of Marlborough, and fur
| Their enhanced because of the aid given it's
publishers by that noble old historian, DR..
| Joseph NJ. lOneT, whose memory IS SO
highly cherished In this community.
Government Reservations
Later on, when these properties and much
other were legally obtained by General
/ Washington. and the work of laying out
| the city begun, certain reservations were
made for government purposes. These were
| called Presidents square. Capitol square.
| Park square Greenleafs Point. Center
market. Nation Church (patent Office
| square. Judiciary square and a few other
| squares.
There was also reservation for a ma
| rine barracks and what Is now known as
| Franklin square was then set out as an ad-
| ditional reservation and was purchased for
| the purpose of supplying the "President's
house." afterward the Executive Mansion
| and now the White House. with water
The ever flowing sweet waters Of that To-
| cality needed no encomium then, as they
do not now.
The names of some well known old fam
lilies figure in property conveyances In
| those good old times" Among them are
Anthony Holmead. BENJAMIN Stoddert
| William M. Beall, Elias Dawson. w. Hell
lem Richard SnoWden, John P Van Ness
| James Greeneaf. Motley Young DIR. John
Craig of Alexandria, Colonel William Fitz
| hugh, Colonel Uriah Forest and others
many Of whom pastured their cattle and
| raised tobacco in the farms about Ham
burg and Carrollsburg.
First Election in Washington
| The first election took place in Washing
| ton in June, 1902, when Robert Brent was
| elected mayor. In all. this city has had
| twenty-one mayors the last being Mr.. M
G. Emery, only recently deceased. They
| have all run their race and there will hard
| ly ever be change made in the present
| municipal government. The present system
| in a general way is satisfactory.
| And thus, through all changes, tribuIa
| tons and vicissitudes, Washington is be-
| coming If it is not already, the grandest
! capital of any nation, empire or republic
| under the sun. Her march is ever onward
| and nothing can stay her progress.
| BOXERS A POOR LOT.