The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1922-03-17

In Memory of the Author Of "The
Star-SpangIed Banner" Once a
Resident of Old Georgetown-Many
Historic Memories Awakened by
This Enterprise-AIl That Is Left
Of the Francis Scott Key Mansion
Stands Where North Approach 10
Being Built
which will cross the Potomac river,
connecting Virginia with the city of
Washington at Thirty-fourth street,
was originally designed as a memorial
TO Francis Scott Key, author of 'The
Star-Spangled Banner" and once a
re ident of old Georgetown. The gen.
eral assembly of Maryland made
Georgetown town in 1751, twenty-five
years before that province ceased to
be loyal to the British crown. The old
town, now part of Washington, evil
IDENTIFY was built on the ashes Of the
Indian village of Tohoge
How surprised the old residents
would have been to have awakened
some fne morning to find this glisten-
ing white structure in place of their
little river ferry. Their only bridge
was at Little Falls, three miles above
the present bridge-site, and was made
of timbers swung on chains. In the
charter of the Georgetown corporation
1t was written that the city should
keep the chain bridge and the road
leading to the bridge free and in re-
pair forever" The Georgetown ferry
at one time was in dispute, for Vir-
ginia claimed the river. The ferryman
was Persuaded to row the sheriff to
the Virginia shore. He was arrested
Whep ne stepped onto Virginia soil to
collect his fee and taken for trial to
Fairfax courthouse.
Many years ago, where falls the
shadow of this new structure, there
came and went the ships of the Dutch
East Indies bringing silks and jewels
and returning down to the sea with
their cargoes of tobacco. There also
dOcked the Shenandoah, which went
regularly to Europe with her hold full
of the Virginia weed. to return laden
with salt. Sailing packets put out for
New York with -four, and once on a
Saturday night the schooner Pearl
slipped silently down the river with
board. causing a scarcity of Sunday
morning breakfasts and putting great
CONSERVATION in the hearts of the
housewives.
Wakes Old Georgetown Memories.
Many tales are told Of the boats
which put into port and it is said that
when Spilman sailed from jamestown
In the pinnace Tiger many years be-
fore to trade with TIE Indians for
corn, that Capt. Henry Fleete. who
and held. He learned the Indian
language and almost entirely forgot
his own. Later he was ransomed and
taken TO England. There he told many
wonderful stories and in writing Of the
upper Potomac said ''it aboundeth with
all manner of fish. The Indians in one
night will catch thirty surgeons in a
place of the river not above twelve
fathomS broad. And as for deer, buff
falo, bears, turkeys, the woods do
swarm with them and the soil is ex-
ceedingly fertile
The spot where the surgeons were
caught has since been identified as the
stone house and mill built about the
end OF the eighteenth century by Amos
Claud the mill is now known as Eads
mill. George Washington was said to
be exceedingly fond Of Ash. and fish
ing was one Of his pastimes; In let
ter he has said he went a-dragginp
for sturgeon frequently"
A Busy Little Town.
Had one stood where the north abut-
ment Of the new bridge now towers. in
those early days, he would have looked
over the old business section; on
Browns bakehOuse" on Water street.
John Lawrence's skin dressing" or
Fayette street, "Dawson's Soap and
Grease factory" on Water street near
Frederick. on the tobacco warehouses
the inspection house and the
wharves. II was busy little town and
many shops Of miscellaneous char
scter flourished and grew. An extract
from an old letter written by Mai. An
drew Ellicott 10 his wife Sally, when
In the city 10 make survey, read :
Il bought for you in a little shop in
Georgetown a pair of black mitts and
small smelling bottle"
In olden days two fairs were held
annually by the town. Each lasted
three days. One was set for the first
Thursday I'm October and the other be-
gan on the second Thursday In April
and on these days all persons were
free from arrests save only for felony
and bres N OF reace. The gentry came
-