Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-10
THE GEORGETOWN BRIDGE
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

BY Frederic j. Haskin.
WASHINGTON, u. c., Feb. THE
bridge now under construction which
will cross the Potomac River, connect
ing Virginia with the City of Washing
ton at Thirty-fourth street, was orig
lnally designed as a memorial to
Francis Scott Key, author OF the'"Star
Spangled Banner and once a resident
of old GEORGETOWN. The General As
sembly of Maryland made Georgetown
town in 175l, % years before that
province ceased to be loyal to the Brit
ish Crown. Tho old town. now part of
Washington, evidently was built on the
ashes of the Indian village of Tohogc.
How surprised the old residents
would have been to nave awakened
some fine morning. to find this CHS
tening white structure In place of their
little river ferry. Their only bridge was
at Little Falls, miles above the pres
ent bridges and was made of tim
bers swung on chains. In the Charter
OF tho Georgetown Corporation it WAS
written that the city should keep the
chain bridge and the road leading to
the bridge free and in repair forever"
The Georgetown ferry at one time was
in dispute. for Virginia claimed the
river hers. The ferryman was per-
suaded TO row the sheriff to the VIr-
ginia shore. He was arrested when he
stepped onto Virginia soil to collect
Il
Courthouse.
| Many years ago, in the shadow of
this new structure there came and
went tho ships OF the Dutch East
Indies bringing silks and jewels, and
returning down to the sea with their
cargoes OF tobacco. There also dock
ed the Shenandoah. which went regu-
larly to Europe with her hold fun of
the Virginia weed, to return laden with
salt. Sailing packets put out for New
York with flour. ana once on a Sat
urday night the schooner Pearl slip
ped silently down the river with most
of the slaves of the town on board.
causing scarcity of sunday morning
breakfasts and putting great conster-
nation in the hearts of the house
wives.
OLD PORT OF GEORGETOWN
Many tales were told or the boats
which put into port and 1t was ssfd
town in the pinnace Tiger many
years before to trace with tho In
dians for corn, that Captain Henry
! Fleete. who was among those to land,
was captured 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 writ
ling of the upper Potomac said ''it
aboundth with all manner OF fish. The
Indians In one night will catch 30 stur-
geous in n place OF the river not above
Il2 fathoms broad. And as for deer. buf-
faloes. bear. turkeys. tho WOODS do
swarm with them and tho soil Is ex-
lcecdingly fertile
The spot where the sturgeon werc
caught has since been Identifies as
the stone house and min built about
the end OF the eighteenth century by
Amos Cloud; the mill is now known as
Eads Mil. George Washington was
said to be exceedingly fond OF fish, and
fishing was one OF his pastimcs: in
letter he has said he went a-drasgins
for sturgeon frequcntly"
! Had one stood where the north
abutment OF the new bridge now tow
ers IN those early days he would have
Hooked over the old business section
on Browns Bakehouse" on Water
Street. "John Lawrencc's Skin Dress
ing" on Fayctte street, "pawson's Soap
and Grease Factory" on Water street
near Frederick. on the tobacco ware
house. the Inspection House" and the
wharves. 1t was n busy little town and
many shops of miscellaneous charac-
ter flourishcd and grew. An extract
from an old letter written by Major
Andrew EllIcott TO his wife Sally,
when in the city to mako survey,
reads II bought for you in little
lshop in Georgetown. n pair of black
mitts and small smelling bottle
| In olden days two fairs were held an
nuaily by the town. Each fair lasted
three days. The first was set for the
first Thursday in October and tho sec
lond began on the second Thursday in
April. and on these days all persons
lwcre free from arrests save only for
felony and breach of peace. The gentry
came from far and near in satlns and
Ihomcspun and the fair was ceremon-
iousiy opened by the bailiff. who read
a proclamation which began 20 yesi
and that's e'c time. O yes'! and that's
twa times. o yes, and that's the third