The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
amos Casselman Describes
Them in Report.
ONCE a PART OF TIE DISTRICT
Points in Alexandria Made Notable
by Associations with BraddOel<,
washington, Lee, and Others-Brief
sketch Of Arlington and Episcopal
seminary-Ceded Back to Virginia.

# that portion Of the Federal DlstTlcJ
which was once a part OF It and was
,eded back 20 the State Of Virginia in
lS6 The report, in part, follows:
The District OF Columbia as originally |
-ormed. ten miles square. included approx !
5nately one-third. OF about thirty-six
square miles. on the south side Of the
Potomac, taken from Fairfax County, /
"a. ceded 10 the United States by that
state. and formed into Alexandra County,
% the District OF Columbia. In 1876 this
-ounty was cede6 back TO Virginia, Con- !
-ress declaring, in the preamble TO the
act Of rerOcessiOn. that this part OF the /
District was not needed. nor ever likely |
o be needed. for the purposes OF the seat |
4 government.
Has Many Interesting Spots
Among the places OF historic interest in !
his county are those chiefly IN the old
and. al one time. important town OF
Alexandria, and at Arlington Special
interest attaches to the town OF Alexan-
dria as the home town Of Washington.
eight miles from mis- country seat at
Mount Vernon. where he transacted his
private business. shipped his tobacco. att
tended church and Masonic lodge, bought
lis market supplies and employed lis
samily physician. Il was here more than
4ny other place where Washington was
<noWa as a private citizen and neighbOr. /
The town was founded IN 1749; Washing
ION was one Of its trustees IN 176S, il was
Incorporated IN 1779, grew in commercial
Importance, and became rival OF Balti-
more in shipbuilding and in domestic and
C0Teign commerce
In February, 100. Gen. Braddock diseua-
,arked and encamped his army Of British
-egulars at Alexandria. where he re-
NAMED until the middle of April. com
dieting his preparations for his campaign
s-sinst Fort Duquesne. Here he held a
souncH with the governors Of five Of the
-olonies Virginia, Maryland, Massachu-
sets. New York. and Pennsylvania, and
here he gave Washington a commission
10 serve on his staff.
Was Braddock's Headquarters.
The old Carlyle House in Fairfax
street, was Gen Braddocks headquar-
ers. Il was built in 1752. and owned By
ol. John Carlyle. a colonial magistrate.
1t whose invitation Gen. Braddock oc-
-upied il. and here held his council with
he colonial governors. The house is in
good state Of preservation. and is open
% visitors
Christ Church was built in I775, when
George Washington was one Of ten who
bought pews. His pew and the one later
owned by Gen Robert E Lee are pre-
served in the same condition as when
they were occupied by their Ilust-ious
r.r
Festry OF this church, also Of a church at
Pohick. and one at the village OF Falls
church, IN the county
The Masonic lodge alexandra Wash
ington Lodge No - OF which Washing
ton was the first master. under its Vir-
ginia charter, in 17SS. contains an inter
csting collection Of washington relics,
chief among which are the chair in which
ae presided as master. his apron. the
frowel with which was laid the corner
stone Of the Capitol. and ar original
7ainting from life, showing him IN his
Masonic resalia. The lodge IS open daily
TO the public.
Great Hotel in It's Day.
The Old City Hotel Clagets Tavern, al
the corner CT Royal and Cameron streets.
was the principal hotel in Washington's
cay, and was principal center on all
public occasions. Washington was a fre-
Quent guest. and danced at its annual
balls. He was entertained here at
public dinner when about TO set out or
his journey 10 New York to he fnaugu-
rated as President II is now a Junk
shop. but its banquet hall and music gal
lery are still unchanged
At the residence now owned by Mrs
Susan SmOot, corner Of Duke and St
Asaph streets Gen Lafayette was enter
tsined on the occasion Of his farewell
visit in 1s2i he was also a guest at
Claget's Tavern
The house at 20 Duke street was the
residence and Office OF Dr- James Craik.
who was Washington's family physician
and close personal friend. who was with
hlm in ali his campaigns and ministered
to him in MS last hours. The Masons
md three companies Of militia OF Alexan-
irla bore the chief part Of Washington's s
obsequies. The government was then al
Philadelphia. where his death did not be-
come known until several days after its
occurrence.
Home of Light Horse Harry.
IN Oronoco street stin stands the house
of Col. Henry Lee 0dght Horse Harry
Lee, father Of Robert E Lee, who moved
here from WestmOreland County about
1917. The son was here prepared for
West Point in the school Of Ben HALO
we'll
AT the Marshall House. corner of Pitt
and King streets. occurred one OF the
early tragedies Of the civil war. when
the owner, James Jackson. shot and killed
Col. Ellsworth, when in the act OF taking
down Confederate fag. and was himself
shot and killed by one Of Col EIlsworfh's
soldiers
Why Arlington Is Celebrated.
Arlington owes its interest largely tol
the events Of the civil war, which would
require too much space TO be included in
this sketch The estate. which contains
about LEO acres. was bought in T77S by
John Parks-Custis. step-son Of WASH
ington. who died three years later near
Yorktown. leaving three daughters and
son, George Washington Parke-Crstis.
who was then SIX months old. This son
was adopted by Washington. and on at
taining his majority. in 1902. came into
possession Of Arlington and other valu-
able estates
Mr.. Custis chose Arlington to become
his home. and in 1Se erected the Mansion
House, where he continued to reside un-
II his death IN 1851. In this house. on
June 81. 1881, Lieut. Robert E Lee was
married 10 the daughter and only child
Of Mr- Custis, who, on the death OF her
father. became the owner OF this besuti-
ful estate. Lee. then q lieutenant colonel.
obtained a years leave Of absence from
the army, or the death Of his father-in-
law in order TO give his personal atten-
ton 10 his estate. II was during this
period. 1S57-5s. when Lee became most
fa-,fifa-lr- f-,o-r--, m fho -,ao-,Fo % HIov