Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
COLUMBIA HosffrAL pU1LD1Na
Some Interesting Facts About Old
Washington Landmarks.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

"ss'1AAn6 WI A2tuOma1AS
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In your issue Of the I'D instant an arti-
Gle appears treating Iof the building occu-
pied by the Columbia Hospital, 25th and L
streets northwest, IN which 1t is stated
that the structure was erected by DR.. May
nard The writer Of that article makes
great mistake In SO announcing the origin
OF the house. It was erected, / think
may safely say, before DIR. Maynard was
born. have clear recollection Of it as
far back as can now remember any of
the buildings in the West End" Its oc-
cupant when I first knew 1t was Tench
Ringgold, then and for some time after
marshal of the District Of Columbia, whose
son was a schoolmate at, the old Western
Academy, 18th and / streets northwest.
Mr.. Ringgold moved from there to the
south side of F between 10th and goth
streets northwest, and the next succeeding
occupant Of the 25th and L streets build
ing was MT. Baggott, the British minister,
who in the month Of June made very
brilliant illumination. there in celebration
of the natal day of King George of Eng
land. I recollect the occurrence well, and
1t was very wildly recalled by converse
ton Chad year before his death) with the
late Edward Simms, then living on c street
between Sd and Az streets northwest, in
the course of which he told me that the
first money he made after coming, to the
Baggott's house for that display.
Another article in The Star of few days
earlier date speaks of the excavators at the
north end of the tunnel to pass under list
street coming suddenly in the course of
their operations upon a very bold spring of
fine drinking water. One of the outlets of
this vein of water was in the western half
of the square bounded by Massachusetts
avenue, d street and list and I'd streets
east. The eastern section Of the square
was high, many feet above the present
do t1o . I, af1yro ,rrr-
face westward was precipitous, terminal
ing in large swamp filled with a dense
growth of tall whortleberries, Virginia
fringe tree, dwarf dogwood and other IA
miliar low growths of this region and It's
outskirts were covered with the wild VIC
let, which the youngsters resorting to the
attractive locality used in the game of i'm
itation cockfghting, as they styled 1T. The
base Of each flower having a protruding
spur two of them were locked together,
and the lad holding the one which pulled
Hence the place was called Chickencock
HILL Near the center of this bog there is
sued very bold and copious spring. And
another outlet of this water vein was In
the center of the square occupied by the
present depot which was awaited of by the
railroad company for several years to sup
ply water to the station. From its source
in the square above described the transfer
Of this water can be readily made to the
new station. Woodcock and jacksnipe were
always to be found in this locality, in their
season. in the twenties and early thirties.
There is a very interesting true story
connected with this place. The north and
south boundaries of the east Capitol
grounds were in the early days the two A
streets On the north side of north A, be-
tween Delaware avenue and list street east,
Mr.. Dowson had erected row of three
story brick houses called 'Dowson's row.
In one Of these Mr. Hickey Gather of Col.
William Hickey, for many years connected
with the offices of the United States Sem
ate) had room, or rooms, and when the
British troops entered the city in August,
1914, by the way Of Maryland avenue and A
street, on passing Dowson's row the elder
Hickey, overexcited by intense patriotism,
fired at General Ross as he rode at the
head of his forces. The shot was less &C
curate than those Of McComas and Wells
at North Point, under whose aim Ross fell
mortally wounded. OF course immediate
search was made for the man who thus
dared, but in vain. Hickey had arranged
his route and destination, and made swift
ly for Chickencock Hill swamp, where he
secreted himself. and luckily escaped cap
ture and death.
W. WILLMORE BIRTH.