Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-16
Bits of Early America
OLD GEORGETOWN.
BY Frederic 7. Haskin

Washington. d. c., Sept. 13--George-
town was a city of importance before
Washington was imagined. and al
though now a part of the capital 1t
still remains a most distinctive in
dividuality. There are few historical
cities that look the part SO well. The
narrow cobbled streets are generously
shaded by old oaks and sycamOres,
and lined with houses older still, many
of them opening their front doors d.
rectly upon the curb. others set con-
servatively back among the trees, and
some splendidly isolated in the midst
Of wide grounds. There are whole
blocks of houses that have seen over
a century of the city's life.
For a long time. both before the
Revolution and after, Georgetown was
one Of the leading cities Of the United
States. 1t was great port, and the
waters of the Potomac were bright
with sails from every country in the
world. 1t was also center OF the
tobacco business, and Rock Creek
then a navigable channel was lined
with high.raftered warehouses. sweet
with the fragrance of the leaf and the
twittering of swallows.
After the founding Of Washington,
the Importance Of the older city was
for time enhanced rather than dimin!
ished; for senators. congressman and
diplomats all came there to live. There
were few notables of late colonial and
revolutionary days who did not live
in Georgetown at some time. Ben
iamin Franklin was manager of the
post office in 1776. when there were
only Is post Offices in the United
States. and it often cost thirty.ave
cents to send letter the rate being in
accordance to the distance.
Lafayette was entertained in George
town. President Jefferson lived there
In later day Calhoun and Webster
made their homes in the old city. But
to recite the notables who have dwelt
in Georgetown would be lengthy pro-
cess and of less interest than the
many important things that happened
there. and the lives and customs of
the old Georgetown people. The city
itself is mine Of such information.
for descendants Of many Of the old
families still live there. and cherish
and tell the stories that have come
down to them through generations.
Some of them have written books, and
of special interest is volume by
Sally Somervell Machall. from which
some of these incidents are taken.
Most Of the townspeople were of
CoNttic1, 6ocoont on1 nwnoH OrQQf
estates in Maryland, while making
their homes in Georgetown. Thus
Samuel Mafitt. who was justice OF
the peace at Georgetown about hun
dred years ago owned eight thous-
and acres. and it was his pride that
he produced everything consumed by
his family upon his own land. He had
his own turning mill. grist mill, wool
factory and blacksmith shop. manned
by bis own slaves. George Washing
ton Parke Gusts. relative of George
Washington. was another owner OF
very extensive lands. and is said to
have held no less than two thousand
slaves. Although he spent most Of
his life riding over his estates, he had
both lands and negroes that he had
never seen.
The homes of these landlords in
Georgetown were among the finest Of
the old colonial houses. One Of them,
Tudor House. built by Thomas Peter
in 1906, is still occupied by the family
and it's original appearance carefully
preserved. It stands in the center Of
large grounds. set with old fashioned
box hedges. and shaded by wide oaks.
The house is an imposing pile with
the high pillared verandas and long
French windows of it's period. One
Of it's prizes is palm over century
old which was brought back as
souvenir by Thomas Peter and his wife
when they went on journey to Phila-
delphia They made the trip in their
own carriage and it took four days.
Very perfect accounts of how people
lived in those days may be had from
their descendants in Georgetown. The
men spent most of their time riding
owe: the immense estates. The women
were even more busy, for they had to
make their own cloth and soap, were
the medical and spiritual advisers of
all their slaves and usually the moth.
ers of large families Yet there was
much social life. Dinners and dances
were Of frequent occurrence. the form
er usually taking place in the late
afternoon. while the old square dances
occupied the evenings. Elaborate de-
signs were painted in bright colors
on the floors under the cut glass
chandeliers. and there the colonial
DANES and gallants bowed and pirouet.