The Washington times., 1903-04-19
ANCIENT BURYINO GROUND THE SPORT OF VANDALSp
Ruined Graveyard Was Es-
tabHshed Before the Be
ginning of the Last Century,
and Is One of the Oldest
IN the Potomac Valley.
Ooned by the West Street
Presbyterian Church. - x

its parts are strewn over the ground
That part OF the stone bearing the in
scription is still perfect, and beneath
the name OF the old soldier It bears
that Of Jane Nelson. his wife, who died
January 25. 1908. from which n appears
the veteran survived his young COM
PanioD more than half a century
a tablet SCARED by time and broken
By the frosts OF many winters lies above
the grave OF Charles Aries McLaugh-
lew. who died March 5. 1906. at the age
Of thirty-seven years.
A Public Park Suggested.
The question now agitating the minds
of the people OF Georgetown is what
can be done with the antiquated and
abandoned cemetery. One suggestion
which has found favor in the minds OF
many is that the entire square be con-
demned and put 10 the uses Of a public
park. The Georgetown Citizens Asso-
citation took the matter up at a recent
meeting, and committee was appointed
to investigate the matter of the prob
able cost of the square with a view TO
laying the subject before Congress in
order TO secure the proper legislation to
carry out the project. There is no pub
lie park or other reservation IN George
town, and the opinion OF many is that
the old burying ground is well located
for park, and that in Transforming IL
into a public ground, one of the most
Objectionable features OF that part OF
the District would be removed. The old
cemetery is regarded as unsanitary, and
its presence in the condition 1t is de-
2reeiates surrounding property, and has
for many years stood in the way of any
proper improvement OF the buildings on
the square. For the most part they are
wretched tenemeuts, rented out to ne
groes.
Willing to Sell the Ground.
It has been stated that the congresa-
| tion OF the West Street Presbyterian
Church. which owns the ground, is will
| ing to sell 1t at q low price, provided
a guarantee is given that the bones OF
! the dead shall be taken up and rein
| TERED in some other suitable place. Il
| is the impression that IL Congress should
move IN the matter the property could
be purchased, the graves removed. the
buildings on the square torn down, and
| beautiful park established at small
cost. The metamorphosis of the place
would have q good effect on surrounding
| property. and Georgetown would have
| the beginning OF a park system. II has
| been suggested that the treatment OF the
graveyard might be similar to that OF
the HoImead burying grond. where the
earth was dug over for a depth OF ak
! feet, the bones gathered up and reburied.
| Lieut.. James swindells, OF the Sew
/ enth Police precinct, believes the park
/ idea to be the best disposition 70 maks
| of the tract He has an intimate knovl-
edge of the locality. and is Of the opin-
| ion that 4 park in that part of George
| town would be a blessing for all the
| years TO come.
/ Otherwise the people o. Georgetown
believe steps should be taken at once to
rid the locality of the old cemetery By
! its sale to some land syndicate which
would be answerable for its improve-
mont BY clearing out the bones OF the
! dead. the lot could be utilized for build
| ing purposes, much better than to -e-
main the catch-alI for the debris of the
neighborhood.
These two plans are all that have
been so far proposed. and unless one or
the other goes into operation, conditions
at the cid cemetery must remain going
from bad to worse, as has been the cass
since 1887.