Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-29
OBJECT TO THE TRANSFER
PROTEST AGAINST CONVERTING
CEMETERY INTO FAIRGROUNDS.
Heirs of Beatty Estate Declare Presby-
terrain Congregation Has No Power
to Convey Title.

The Commissioners have received a pro-
test from the heirs of Charles A. Beatty.
one Of the early settler of Georgetown. and
at one time among the wealthiest and larg-
est landowners in the District, against the
proposed purchase of the old Presbyterian
burying ground near 34th and r streets,
Georgetown. by the District government
Tor use as public playground. This pro-
test was filed with the Commissioners by
the attorney for the Beatty heirs, and to
be considered by the Commissioners at a
board conference. This old cemetery COM
prises little over three acres, and has
been offered to the Commissioners by the
Presbyterian congregation in Georgetown,
1t is alleged. for $4,000.
The heirs of Charles Beatty contend that
the congregation which has offered to sell
the burying ground is without power to
convey title to the land for the reason
that the land was donated by Charles
Beatty for the use Of the congregation as
a burying ground. and providing that at
any time it should cease to be used
burying ground 1t should revert back to the
heirs of the donor.
Another Reason Assigned.
The heirs offer as a second reason upon
which to base their objection that the Pres
byterian congregation offers to sell the land
without any clause which would require the
District government, after the purchase. to
remove the many bodies that are lying
beneath the ground now. or to rebury them
somewhere else. The heirs assert that if
the property is sold under these conditions
and the old cemetery is converted into
playground the grounds will be desecrated
and turned into uses that the original
owner never intended when he made the
donation. 1t is also pointed out that the
descendants of the dead in the burying
ground are scattered about the country. and
many not known. Three generations of the
Beatty family are buried in the grounds
and the Street Presbyterian Church of
Georgetown claims to hold the title to the
ground in question.
The old Presbyterian burying ground. as
1t has been known for more than a CEN
tury was part of an addition to George
town laid out in 1904 by Beatty and Haw-
kins, and known as the Beatty and Haw-
kins az addltion. All Of that section west OF
old 32d street. now known as Wisconsin
avenue, was embraced in it. Charles A.
Beatty dedicated to the use of the Pres
6yterian congregation, the Lutheran
Church. the Calvanists and to the Church
of England one lot each of 1900 feet, to
be used as a burying ground.
Other Lots Donated.
Mr.. Beatty later donated six lots in square
1858. between 33d and 34th and @ and R
streets. aggregating about one and one-half
acres. These lots were all conveyed to
Stephen Bloomer Balch and his associates
for the use of the Presbyterian congrega-
| ton. This cemetery was in use from 1906
| to 1885. Many of the most prominent fam
| lilies of Washing and Georgetown were
| inferred in the old grounds.
In 1895 the grounds were abandoned as
a cemetery, and a number of the bodies
were removed by descendants, but a large
number of the bodies still remain in the
grounds. During it's day the cemetery was
| looked upon as the most select in the Dis
trict.