Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-05
ENJOYABLE FLAG RAISING.
Col. McElroy and His Guests Have q
Good Time.

One of the unheralded celebrations Of
the glorious Fourth, and yet one Of the
most enjoyable, was that which was COM
prised largely of Washington people who
were the guests of Col and Mrs. John Nc
Elroy at their plantation on the Occoquan.
down In Virginia. "Bally McElroy," as
Col McElroy has christened his farm in
honor of his Irish ancestral acres, lies in
the historic section of Virginia known as
Colchester in revolutionary days, and is
referred to in many of the histories and
biographies as a favorite visiting place of
Washington, the Alexandria pike" cross
ing the Occoquan at this point. Col. Nc
ElrOy has just completed pretty cottage,
which he expects to occupy as his coun-
try home, and party OF fourteen accom-
panied him to the cottage yesterday morn
ing to celebrate the Fourth by raising
flagstaff and dedcating the nearly five
hundred acres to patriotism.
The cottage stands on high hill slop-
ing on all sides to the valley below, and
fruitful orchards of apples. peach and pear
surround the hill in the valley toward the
Occoquan, which skirts it for over a mile.
while on the north and east high wooded
hills give a background of living green.
On the highest point of the hill where the
cottage stands a fifty-foot flagpole was
erected. and about it the celebration cere-
monies were conducted.
The last verse of America" sung rs
an invocation. while Mrs. John McElroy
drew the flag to the top of the staff then
dropped it to half mast in honor of the late
Secretary Hay. The national salute of
twenty-one guns was fired by Mr.. Karl p.
McElroy. These We're huge, giant fire.
crackers set in a circle about the flagstaff.
and walked the echoes on the Maryland
shore miles away across the placid Poto-
mac which can be seen in the distance.
With charming effect Miss Grace
Young sang the Star Spangled Banner"
and was followed by little Miss Josephine
Oldroyd Tiefenthaler, who gave the flag
salute. Mrs. Isabel Worrell Eall read the
Declaration of Independence, and brief
talks were made by Col. Thomas J. Hop
kins Capt. o. II. Oldroyd, Maj. Jacobs and
Col. Johnson all referring to the historic
interest clustering around the place. and
all so fittingly connected with the celebra-
ton of the day
Capt. O. H Oldroyd as musical
director" led in singing number of
patriotic airs. At o'clock a picnic lunch
was served on the cottage porch, and
Fourth of July punch in d trimming punch
bowl was served all day. The afternoon
hours were spent out under the trees.
where songs and stories made pleasant a
owner of Bally McElroy leading Off Dur
ing the morning hours the various springs
and brooks on the farm were visited. and
the place thoroughly explored, while the
yellow fruit for ALL A vote of thanks for
Colonel and Mrs. McElroy and their con
for the delightful reception was adopted
with three rousing cheers.
Just before lowering the colors Miss
Grace Young sang a pretty toast to the
flag, the words by Mr.. Karl p. McElroy
set to the tune Yankee Doodle" At 6
o'clock Mrs. McElroy lowered the flag
while America was sung, a sunset salute
was fired by Mr.. Karl p McElroy, and the
party walked through the fragrant woods
to the Ok Road station a mile distant, the
name being derived from the deep-rutted,
tree shaded trail which crosses the rail-
road at that point, and noted as the road
down which Washington and his troops
a U1 to
Those who made up the party were Col
and Mrs. John McElroy, Mr.. Karl P. Nc
Elroy, Miss Grace Young. Mrs. Mary Van
Auken Mills, Mr.. Howard Mills Capt and
Mrs. o. H. Oldroyd, Miss Josephine Old
royd Tiefenthaler. Col. Thos. Hopkins,
Maj. Jacobs. Maj. H. A. Johnson, Mrs. C.
Lathrop, Mrs. Anna NJ. Baden, Mrs. Isabel
Worren Ball, Miss Nellie AIling and Mr..
Alltng.