Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

in the panoramic view from its crest
This is destined to be one OF the snow
grounds of the city. place where many
people may gather to admire a broao
prospect that embraces Washington, the
hills to the east and the west and tnat
long stretch of the Potomac due south
to the forts guarding the approach to the
capital Ii is fortunate that a section or
the highlands northward of and overlook
ing the older and much of the newer
Washington is to be preserved as park
land.
This feature of the Meridian Hill site
was brought out by the Commissioners
in their report to Congress March IL,
19nS. in which they said:
For a small reservation its location is
unique. There is no other tract of land
in this vicinity which could take its
Boulevard. 18th street, which connects
the White House with Rock creek Park
and is situated on the crest of the line
of hills surrounding the lower valley of
the Potomac. All of this crest from
North Capitol street to Rock creek is
now practically built up. so that it is the
only space of its kind that remains unim
proved. 1t has a view over the city and
down the valley of the Potomac river.
and in the summer is exposed to the
ton of the country.
=
Meridian Hill has a sentimental and
historic we'll as scenic interest to
Neutrality-suspicious.. Meridian Hill was
Peters Hill, a part of the farm of Robert
Peter of Georgetown. one of the original
proprietors of the site of Washington.
Before Washington city was created. even
on paper a line north from the site of
the White House passed through the land
of Samuel Davidson and near the site of
Scott Circle it entered upon the land OF
Samuel Blodgett. About where q street
runs, that north line entered on the land
of Robert Peter. which extended across
the Boundary and over the highlands be-
yond. Peter owned land west of the vii
lage of Hamburg and nOrthward along
the east side of Rock creek, his eastern
boundary joining the west line of lands
belonging to j. NJ. LfnSan and Samuel
Blodgett and then bending eastward
around the north side of Blodgetts land.
After the exterior lines of the new fed
eral territory, coded by Maryland and
Virginia had been run, Andrew Ellicott
ran a meridional line from south to north
through the middle of the new Ten Mile
Square, as stated on l. Enfant's map. He
began this line at the initial stone of the
District of Columbia, which was set up
u, a
wharves of Alexandria. That stone was
long isolated. but when the United States
built the river wall about the Jones Point
lighthouse. the District corner stone was
'.Cscd so as to form part OF the wall.
Ills center line beginning at the south
stone of the new territory extended
t-tr.d.-n tue site FOR the President S
House. north along the center of 18th
street. over Peters Hill and onward to
the intersection of the diagonal lines of
District M Columbia milo
west from Silver Spring.
On top of Peters Hill Maj. Ellicott set
a stone marking the meridional line.
Hence Peters Hill came to be called Meri-
dian Hill. Commodore David Porter &C
qUired tract of land on those heights
and built house on the line of 18th
street, near the brow of the HILL south of
the site of the long familiar stand pipe.
The south doorway of Commodore Por-
ter's house was due north from the north
doorway of the White House and the
-.-eridian stone, two feet high above the
ground and two feet thick, surmOunted by
a sun dial was on Commodore Porter
south lawn. He called his place Meri-
dian Hill farm.
The meridian stone remained in its orig
inal position until the extension of 16t n
street through the HILL IT was dug up
and. according TO the Crew Webb Cen
tennal History of Washington 1Sf2), be-
came carriage block at the southwest
corner of 18th and X streets. 1t is not
there now. The Rambler made d futile
effort TO trace il. NJ. c. HaZen, surveyor
OF the District of Columbia, who has an