Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
OLD RUGBY RECALLED
Morrison Market Gardens Of
Fifty Years Ago.
HOW THE CITY GREW
SAD FATE oraAN, AGED MAN WHO
LIVED IN A HUT.
The seventy-Ninth Mghlanders and
the Execution Of Soldier
Who Deserted.

In the last story ! gave to you re-
ferred to the Rugby, Franklin square and
14th street. and its founder and first prdn-
cipal, the Rev. George F. Morrison" said
an old Washingtonian, still in reminiscent
mood. AS to the rise Of the Rugby be-
held 1t even before its earliest germ broke
ground. 1t was planted in the soil on N
street north, all along the north side from
18th street to 18th, and north again to P
street and Iowa Circle, and then south on
18th street to the place of beginning, which
describes the bounds Of the Morrison mar
ket garden Of the 4Os and sos. The Rev.
Geo. F. Morrison, the master Of the future
Rugby, was then a lad in his teens. The
elder Morrison was tall, rawboned, tawny-
haired Scot, about fifty years old, industri-
GUS, frugal, thrifty to fault and honest.
Hundreds of times have seen the dear old
woman. Mrs. Morrison, assisted by her hus-
pano ana the boy, garnering their crops OF
all sorts Of vegetables and small fruits to
sell at the Center, or Marsh market. They
saved as carefully as they cultivated. and
their careful boarding and the rapid growth
OF the city doubled and trebled the value
OF their ground, until they shortly found
themselves In the heart OF the most fash
ionable section of the city and as rich as
any Of their neighbors, If not more so.
Still the faithful. frugal Darby and Joan.
lived on in the two-story log homestead
where their children were born to them.
The land became too valuable now to raise
any other crops than brick houses. Market
but doubt If they were ever again so
happy and content as they had been.
First came a row Of three three-Story
bricks at N and 18th streets northwest, the
the Morrisons. The old homestead was de-
molished. In the new house they lived
some years in elegant simplicity, comfort
and ease, and there their only daughter was
married to an officer in the United States
coast survey. and they took the house next
door. Jack Savage, the brilliant journalist,
editor dTamatist poet, patriot and wit,
lived with his beautiful and accomplished
wife In the third and end one nearest to
10Th street.
The market garden was cut up and d.
vided into lots, streets were opened through
in two or three directions and the extreme
rear to the north. abutting on Iowa Circle,
was cut up into generous slices of gilt
edged gingerbread, which quickly sold like
hot cakes at nearly, as much a front foot
as the whole ground had originally cost.
THE son George, having grown up re-
ceived a college course and entered the
ministry. His parents purchased a large
real estate holding in X street northwest,
running from 18th to 14th street, facing
Franklin square, and now behold the rise
of Rugby, and the advent Of the Rev.
George F. Morrison. principal or president
of the great brick academy. This institution
he conducted with remarkable success for
several years. Then Young's Academy, 18th
street and Franklin square, just below him,
was established. and gradually stole his
thunder and many of his pupils. The
Rugby began to lose prestige and gradually
declined until It finally closed as an insti
tuition Of learning. 1t was leased or sold
and was converted into a hotel, the present
Hamilton House. 30 ~ r--
AT the Rugby on certain weekly occa-
sions were held coiiversaziones, attended by
notables Of the day. There one evening" 1
had the pleasure to meet again and dance
with the late Mrs. Southworth, the novelist.
whom had known since boyhood, when she
taught school in one of my fathers houses
in d street northwest. She was Miss Emma
hewitt, then. and had little sister, or half
sister. whom / well knew as 'Pinky' Hen
shaw. since also a famous novelist known
as Mrs. Frances Baden.