Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-10

G~SCeeulJSly lclthS'
The spot where the sturgeon were
| caught has since been identified as
| the stone house and mill butt about
the end of the eighteenth century by
Amos Cloud; the mill is now know
as Eads Mill. George Washington
| was said to be exceedingly fond OF
| fish and fishing was one of his pas
times; in a. letter he was said ne
event a-dragging for sturgeon ire
quently."
Had one stood where the north
/! abutment of the new bridge lcW tow
ers in those early days he would
have looked over the old business
| section;' on Browns Bakehouse'
on Water street. John LawrenceS
Skin Dressing on Fayette street.
"Dawson's Soap and Grease Fac
tory" on Water street near Fred
erick, on the tobacco warehouse, the
inspection House" and the
wharves. 1t was a busy little town
and many shops of miscellaneous
| character fiourished and grew. An
extract from an old letter written
by Major Andrew Ellicott to his
wife Sally. when in the city to make
q survey, reads II bought for your
in a little shop in Georgetown. a pair
at black mitts and a small smelling
bottle"
In olden days two fairs were held
annually by the town. Each fair
lasted three days. The first was set
for the first Thursday in October
and the second began on the sec
ond Thursday in April and on these
days all persons were free from ar
rests save only for felony and
breach of peace. The gentry came
from far and near in sa:ins and
homespuns and the fair w0s cere-
moniously opened by the bailiff, who
read a proclamation which began
40 yes! and that's e'e time, o yes.
and that's two times, o yes! and
that's the theinrd and last time
come all manne of persons where
upon he stated what must not be-
done by the people on the day under
penalty of punishment, and it end
ed with land I'll haam to my Dan
ner." In 1859 the race track was
opened in conjunction with the fairs
with gentlemanly betting. 1t Is sait
of George Washington that he at
= tended the races, but moderately
and gnerally subscribed to the purses
| The old fairs were gay and festive
occasions, statesmen and privat'
citizens gathering together for pleas
ant recreation.
Key House Now Stole
On the spot where now is beins
built the north approach to TIE new
bridge stanads a little shop Hop
kins' Hardware Store. 1t is all tina
is left of the Francis Scott Key mar
sion. From this house went forti
his two n who were killed, or
in a duel.
One bright morning, the Fourth o
July in 1928. to the accompaniment
of the Marine Band, a little party Sc
cut from the Union Hotel on Bridg'
street and proceeded to the spo
where John Quincy Adams thel
President of the United States
turned the first spadeful of eartl
for the new waterway to the west
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
which was completed in October
1850. A few days after the. cana
was opened the Freeman Rawdon'
came down from Cumberland, w1er
she had started with the elizabeth.
Southampton" Delaware an,
Ohio" all bearing coal, and was tn
first to round a bend q half mil
above the spot where the ney
bridge now stands. As the boa
passed the old Columbian Foundr
at the bend a salute was fired. Nea
the end of the canal a bridge VIZ
/ built long ago over Rock Creek, BIZ
n stormy night. while bearing TIL
weight of a stage. it gave way. an
driver and horses were drowneG
This gave rise to the tradition still
talked of In Georgetown Of 'eTh,
pHeadless Man of X street Bridge
There also is told the story o
The Drummer Boy of Little Falls
who tried to cross the river at tina
point so that he might muster int,
the army of Virginia during TIL
Revolutionary War. He was drown
ed and there are those who say tina
they have heard the brave little rol
OF his drum when night and morn
ing meet.
The new structure is OF reinforce
concrete, having seven graceft3
spans. The work is being carrie,
ron under the supervision of tn
United States Army engineers.
was begun in 1917 and it is expec
ed that the late fall OF l9as will Sc
it's completion. The deck of tn
tridgeiis to he of ample width /
carry foot passengers. vehicles an
trolleyS and in the center il rises 5
feet above the water at low It'd
What would Major L'Enfant ha,
said when he stood on the height