The Washington herald., 1913-07-27
BY RALPH W. BENTON.

In the midst of the veritable jungle Of
trees and underbrush that covers the
major portion of that territory in Takoma
Park bounded by Elm, Columbia. Syca-
more and Poplar Avenues there are
deserted wooden shack. long since gone
to rack and ruin
Through the leaves and branches Of
the dense forest foliage the traveller
passing along the dusty roadway of Elm
Avenue may see at the summit of the
hill the faint outline of single tottering
wooden wa!l-about all that now stands
of the building. II he ventures up the
hillside through the briers and the un-
dergroNth he soon will come upon an
opening in the grove Of trees with the
blue sky above.
Here may be seen what remains of the
old shack. 1t is a curious sight indeed.
The shed originally was about seventy
five feet long and twenty feet wide. The
roof has been torn away, and the walls
have caved in. The south end is all that
stands. Amid the timbers, scattered
helter skelter, may be seen long rows of
rusted steam pipes. In the center of the
desolated shack stand broken type cases,
and on the ground near by may be no.
ticed scores of water-soaKed discolored
PAMPHLETS. Almost hid under a portion
of the fallen roof is an old broken Adams
printing press, and not far away are the
remains Of an antique typewriter, its
keys now twisted and torn and rusted.
Type cases. broken almost beyond recog-
milton, are on every hand, and If one
searches diligently among the rubbish
that litters the ground innumerable type
will be seen scattered in all directions.
1t is a still and dreary spot-a place
seldom trespassed on except by the occa-
sional foot of some curious, inquisitive,
wandering youngster.
Once n Poultry Farm.
And what is the history of this old
shack? Its story is one of mystery, Of
Etrangeness, of grotesqueness, OF adven-
ture, of picturesqueness. Persons dwell
ing in that section say that the struc-
ture was erected about fifteen years ago
by a man named Finch. who. a number
of years previously, had erected small
frame cottage near blythe house that
still can be seen at the top Of the hill
from Elm Avenue.
1t seems that Finch became interested
In the poultry business and builded the
wooden shed for use as a chicken hatch
cry. 1t was a single-story structure,
with an "A shaped slanting roof, and
was made out of old pine boards. Finch
took great pride in his hatchery He
stalled an elaborate system of steam
heating pipes 1t is these same old rust
ed pipes that can still be seen among the
debris that now covers the spot.
Finch believed himself to be a peer
less authority on poultry raising, and
dreamed of making fortune out there
In the suburb, away from the haunts |
Of man. But, to his great sorrow, the |
hatchery never proved a success And |
many a person who chanced to know |
Finch in a way wondered why, for they
had heard of his homemade hatchery
and knew 1t to be well constructed and |
equipped. There is, perhaps. a single |
man who can tell why the hatchery was
a failure, and he is none other than E.
E Blodgett, the honored bailin of the |
community. who has house not far |
from the old shack. and who was fairly |
well acquainted with the man.
And Mr.. Blodgett's explanation Is that