Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-17
OVERLAND JOURNEY
OF FIRST PRESIDENT
Gen. Washington, on Way to
Be Inaugurated, Here
1871 Years Ago.

George Washington. on his way
from Mt. Vernon to New York to be
inaugurated as the first President of
Georgetown and crossed the site of
Washington city 13l years ago. The
anniversary of that event may be to-
day, but 1t was probably yesterday,
April Is.
!; At 10 o'clock on the morning of
April Is Washington left Mount Yer
non on his pilgrimage to New York.
In his Enthusiastically democratic
fashion. he was accompanied by only
| two Observation-Disclosures Thomas. the
official messenger of Congress, who
had been dispatched by that body to
attend the President-elect. and Col.
David Humphreys. who had been his
aid camp during the war. The
party had dinner at Wise's Tavern.
Alexandria. where the citizens. who
had turned out to greet Washington,
drank thirteen toasts. one to each of
the original states.
Greeted in Baltimore.
| From Alexandria the party jour-
| neyed by easy stages to Baltimore, ar
| irving in that city during the after
| noon of April II. Amid the cheers of
the townsmen. the party proceeded to
the old Fountain Inn. which stood on
! the site of the present Southern Hotel.
At night a public supper and reception
! was held in Washington's honor. The
affair was not protracted. however, as
records show that Washington retired
| at 10 o'clock. Washington left the
| inn at $50 In the morning. AS he
departed artillery again doomed forth
a farewell and godspeed.
Most likely, Washington. the Presi-
dent-elect. travelled from Alexandria
over the old post road leading along
the east front Of Arlington. though the
present mansion was not then built,
George Washington Parke Custis TAX
ing up his residence there soon after
the death of Mrs. George Washington.
in 1902.
Where He Crossed River.
The President-elect crossed the river
by means of Mason's ferry, heavy
scow which was operated a little be-
low the site of the AQueduct bridge.
Perhaps he stopped for refreshments
and greetings from the citizens of
Georgetown at Suffers Tavern, which
and NJ street. Accompanied by dele
CATION Of Georgetown citizens, on
horses. he passed up 32d street, and,
turning east. crossed Rock creek and
took his way along that ancient road
which we now call Florida avenue or
1.-The Boundary"
From that road he turned into the
old Bladensburg road, which passed
through Brentwood, joining the pres
ent Bladensburg road near the big
mill on the Washington side of the
bridge over the Eastern branch, at the
southerly entrance to Bladensburg.
There the citizens of Bladensburg
welcomed him and gave him entertain
ment
RossburE Tavern Next.
Passing on, he probably stopped for
refreshment at the Rossburg Tavern,
a brick building still standing by the
side Of the Baltimore boulevard, and
now one of the buildings of the Mary
land Agricultural College and expert
ment station at College Park. His
next stop may have been at Vans
Vile. but before reaching that old viii
lage he probably turned aside to visit
the Snowden home of Montpelier, one
of the splendid mansions of that time,
and still standing in a rare and per-
feet state of upkeep.
Then he continued his course to
Baltimore.