Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04


We experienced considerable difficulty in
finding out the name of the place, but the
| big building on the railroad is known by
! that name. The tracks were crossed and
recrossed several times between this
| point and Hughesville, and just before
| arriving at the latter place VIE found our
selves speeding over a good road into the
| town and a short distance on the other
| side.
| We were told that gasoline could be
| secured here and also at Mechanicsville.
This is an important note, as there is none
to be had at Leonardtown. Owing to
| the lack of railroad facilities and the fact
| that the steamboats, are not perm tied to
| carry gasoline, the town is without a
| supply. In the summer time, when the
| motor. boats are in full swing, a barge
pulls up to the dock occasionally and sup
| plies may be secured. With the approach
! of winter the motor boats were stored and
| the barge discontinued it's trips. Thus
| the scarcity. -
| Heading our machine to the SOUTH. we
! continued in the direction of Charlotte
Hall, the next village of importance in
| cluded in our itinerary. Here we We're
| greeted by the students of the Charlotte
| Hall Military Academy, who saw us beat
| ing it down the road. After a short stop
the journey was resumed, and on the out
skirts of the town we took the left FORK
and soon ran into some more sand.
/ After run of three miles we pulled into
| Mechanicsville, which is the terminus of
| the railroad. We found it to be pro-
! gressive little town, with large hotel,
! bank churches and school. From here
| the roads took on a good appearance and
| the best running time OF the day was
| made over the macadam road. interrupted
| occasionally by portion of the road be-
| ing under course of construction put
| fnJ, will he DIV nr
! Five miles from Mechanicsville We pass
| ed Helen Post Office and turned to the
left In the direction of Morganza, another
I small village. and Lovevilie, where we
| took the left fork, for IeonardtoWn
Along this portion of the road the con-
| tractors are constructing concrete bridges
and yiaducts and building the roadway.
| Good time was made over the fine smooth
| lance into Leonardtown, 557 miles from
| Washington. The distance by boat from
Washington is about ninety miles
| Turning to the right in front. of st.
| Marys Academy, we motored up wash
| ington street, named after the capital OF
the nation, and found ourselves in the
center Of the Oldest incorporated town IN
! the state, tradition carrying it back to
1852, when it was known as Seymour
| town in honor of Benedict Leonard CAL
vert, fourth Lord Baltimore, the pro-
| pretary governor
| 1t is the county seat of ST. Mary coun-
! ty, and Is rich in traditions of historic
| colonial times Many lands in the vicin-
| ity of Leonardtown are still held under
! the original patents Of the Lords Baltl-
more Lovers grove, beautiful and ro-
| mantle grove Of splendid trees OVERLOOK
| ing Britton bay. is the property off Jo-
I seph II. Key. a descendant OF Francis
Scott Key Of 'Star Spangled~ Banner
| fame. From here can be seen the fine old
| colonial mansion Tudor Hall, recalling
| the romances of the early days Of the
/ state.
| In fact, the whole country is interviewer
| with the history of colonial times, and
many finely proportioned mansions built
| of brick from England" and mahogany
1 from the Indies" are still in evidence of
! how we early settlers ''builded well. -
Leonardtown boasts of it's splendid old
| courthouse, which has often rung with
| the fiery eioquence of the cultured south
| ern orator, polished and keen in debate,
but honest to the point of destruction.
! The first courthouse was built on the site
| of the present building about 1IOS.
| The building is situated on Washington
| street. the main thoroughfare of the
| town Two of the notable institutions
+! are the St. Mary's Academy for girls and
| the Leonard Hall for boys, which are 10
| Gated in the town. A peculiar feature of
1 the town is the fact that it is practically
isolated. the nearest railroad being fif-