Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-11
OLD WASHINGTON.
Congressional Cemetery, 1907 to 1925.
By James Croggon.

THE many cities Of the dead which
were within the old corporation
limits in the last century have with
one exception. disappeared as also the
funeral customs of the early days
Congressional cemetery. at the south
eastern extremity Of the city east of 18th
street. south Of Potomac avenue and e
street bordering on the circle and the
ground now being reclaimed along the
Anacostia. is the only remaining lefty of
the dead embraced in the lines of the
old city limits. Like the rest of the city,
it has grown in the more than a century
of it's existence, and in its thirty acres the
number of silent tombs and graves is
rapidly approaching 100000. Among them
every condition of life Is represented
senators. representatives. judicial officers.
military and naval heroes. as we'll as
many who stood high among the early
families of the District.
Originally the country hereabouts was
included in the farm lands of William ana
Abraham Young, and at the time the city
was laid out the mansion house OIL MIS-
William Young was In the present ceme-
terry, as also was the family graveyard.
1t is evident, from the fact that the city
authorities established a wharf at the loot
of 14th street. and also that Greenieat
Ferdinand Fairfax, Benjamin Stoddert,
Col. Tobias Lear. Thomas Munroe, Jonn
Kitty and others invested there. that RAPID
Improvement was expected, although the
initial valuation of the ground was Dut
one-half cent per foot, reduced soon aIter
to one-eighth. There was also what was
known as Wheeler's upper ferry at i4th
and Water streets, which was suoSe-
quently displaced by a bridge.
In early days there was little I'M
provement. until nearly half cen
fury, and then 1t came slowly. Inc
naval magazine, on the south part ~
reservation 13. and Mrs: Young
mansion house were the principal OBJ
jects in the section, until the location
of the Washington Asylum (poor ana
workhouse), in 1S46, and the Jail in 1870.
Family Graveyards in City.
There were on the site Of the city
when it passed into the hands OF the
commissioners several plantation or
family graveyards. one of them near
the southwest corner of Lafayette
Square. Probably the first denomina-
tional graveyard. not adjoining
church. was that north of Florida ave-
nue. opposite the head or "a stIee.,
known as St. Patriek's. which was used
from about 1908 until the establish
ment of Mount Olivet, just before the
civil war. st. Patrick's Church, at the
corner Of 10th and streets. had about
it quite a number OF graves. some OF
them dating from 1894. and on street
was a vault There was also a small
graveyard at st. Marys Cha2el, better
known as Barry's Chapel. az Half and
from 1904 until after the erection Of
st. Peters Church, at I'd and c streets
southeast. about 1890. In 1898 the
commissioners Of the District set apart
two squares as public graveyards. one
NJ at M street
west. and after the establishment OF
the municipality passed to it's control,
in 1907. This was popularity known as
Holmead's and was used from that
the bodies were disinterred and 1t has
since become improved building sites.
While used for cemetery purposes
there were many prominent people
Lorenzo Dow. the eccentric and sue
cessful Methodist preacher, who died
in this city in 1884. About the last
interment made there was Lewis A.
spirators in the assassination of Pres
ident Lincoln. His body rested here
but few months. as shortly after its
interment all the unclaimed bodies
The other public burial ground was
square 1929. between 18th and 18th streets.
II street and Florida avenue northeast.
1t was under the direction OF the COM
missioners appointed by the corporation
the civil war. It was not. however. a
popular place and interments were not
numerous. In 1862 the bodies were re-
moved and the title reverted to the United
States. the lots being sold. From the
first the place was regarded as unsuitable
owing to the ground being moist and
marshy and being far removed from the
more settled portions of the city. 1t was
because of this condition of the ground
and location that Congressional cemetery
came into existence.
Start Another Cemetery.
There had been considerable settle
ment near the Capitol and navy yard
about 1900 In consequence of the condi-
lions and the necessity of maintaining In
that section Of the city a public burial
ground Henry Ingle. who was associated
with George Biagden, Griffith coombe.
8. N. Smallwood, DIR. Frederick May,
Peter Miller. John T. Frost and Commo-
dore Thomas Tingey, In 1907 started q
subscription for the purpose Of purchasing
a square for a burial ground That, known
as square Ills, containing 197, 7OS feet OF
ground between p. G, 18th and 10th
streets southeast adjoining the south
west corner of reservation 13, was Sc
lected On May 6, 1867, the subscribers
to the fund appointed Messrs. Coombe.
Blagden and lngle trustees to plat and H.
close and care for the cemetery and to
provide a sexton e. Wider was ap-
pointed, and 1t was made his duty to lay
off the grave sites and to superintend dig
g1ng and covering the graves at 81 each.
1t had been decided April previously.
the sum of $500 having bsen paid for the
ground, to inclose the square with a sub
stantial post and rail fence: that the
ground should be lad of in lots three
by eight feet and that holders could
possess up to fifteen lots at s. each. The
deed for the property was from Mr.. Mum
roe to Henry Ingle as agent and was
dated March Is. 1908. and 1t recited that
the conveyance was for q burial ground
for all denominations Of people and sub
ject to such regulations as the vestry of
Washington parish should establish; there
should be set apart one-fourth Of the
square for the gratuitous interment of per-
sons dying without means, and that the
price of grave sites and privilege OF
burial should not exceed 81.