Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02
WANT A CAR LINE
Petition Circulated in Extreme
Southern Section.
ONCE WAS CARROLLSBURG
Region Between James Creek and
Eastern Branch.
SOME OF THE PIONEERS
Prominent Men Who Were Interest
ed in Material Development
of the Region.

In view of the Senate having by resolu-
ton authorized the Commissioners of the
District to prepare a report on the needs
of the local street railway situation,
there is being circulated a petition by
the people in the southern part of the
city, asking for restoration Of railway
facilities along M or street south,
from the steamboat wharves to the navy
yard. Probably the oldest portion of this
section is what was known as CAROLS
burg before the revolutionary war. This
was point formed by James creek and
the Eastern branch. which, when the
city was laid out, extended as far south
as w street.
Charles Carroll. jr.. who owned many
acres Whereabouts about 1774, conveyed It
to trustees. among whom was his son,
Daniel Carroll. to be laid out in town
Of over $50 lots, which were disposed of
by lottery. The manor house of Mr..
Carroll stood at the intersection of
what is now Potomac avenue and South
Capitol street. and not far away was the
family graveyard, as well as the grave
yard for the slaves.
The commissioners, in laying off the
city, ran the lines to correspond with the
street lines, and there became interested
such persons as George Washington,
who bought lots on the EASTERN branch,
some of them evidently for wharfage;
DR.. Stuart, commissioner; Col. William
A. Washington, nephew of the first
named; Thomas Johnson, Col. Uriah For
rest, Daniel Carroll, the commissioner Of
Marlboro. and others.
Material Development.
There were some improvements in the
early days, and not a few prominent men
interested in the material development
of this section.
Probably the most promising improve
ment before 1900 was the erection OF
'the twenty buildings on South Capt.
tol, NJ and n streets. This was the enter
prise of Morris & Nicholson, but not all
of the houses were finished. In one the
first Methodist class east of Rock creek
was started, and in this small con-
gregation worshped in 1902, under the
supervision of the Rev. William Waters.
They were here until about 1907. when
they moved to the old tobacco barn of
the CAROLS, about New Jersey avenue
and f street. when that place was va
Gated by what became the Christ Epis-
copal Church congregation, at the Navy
Yard. Later the Methodists were on 4th
street, and Trinity M. E. Church, at 9Th
and c streets. has descended therefrom.
There were many Catholics in this sec
ton, who worshiped at the Carroll or
Fenwick dwellings. In 1901 Daniel Car
roll of Duddngton gave square 69S to
Bishop Carroll, on which is now located
ST. Vincent's Catholic Church. 1t was
supposed that cathedral would be erect
ed here, but further than the raising of
a small subscription for a church moth
ing was done.
In 1904 Capt. James Barry, reputed to
be very wealthy man, built chapel at
Half and B streets southwest, which was
known enthusiastically as st. Mary's, but
popularity 1t was known as Barry's chap
Ell. There was a vault under this church
in which Barry and a number of others
were buried, and between 1904 and 1870
during which time it was served by the
Rev. Father Plunkett and others, a num-
Der Of persons were buried in the adjon-
ing graveyard.