Evening star., 1923-07-27
Says Scientists Guess.
Writer Recalls Swimming Hole
At Walker Hotel Site.

To the Editor OF The Star;
have always had a great deal of
faith in scientists, and have often
read of some wonderful discoveries
by them; but the decision reached by
some of the scientists representing
the Interior and Agricultural depart
ments, the Carnegie Institution and
the Johns Hopkins University in
recent controversy Is in error, and
more like guesswork.
1 believe 1 can prove beyond a
doubt that the declaration by a mem
ber of the. Association of Oldest
Inhabitants. about the swamp de-
posits found on the site Of the new
Walker Hotel on Connecticut avenue
and De Sales streets Is correct.
The writer of this, who Is in his
seventy fourth year, can well remem-
ber the swamp or swimming hole
about that neighborhood, would spend
their leisure hours swimming and
fishing.
This swamp was formed from a
small branch from Rock creek. some
where, as near as / can remember, at
Manor, or just below the entrance
gate. This was a beautiful spot in
It's day, and well do L remember the
picnics where the school children
went each year in May to crown their
queen.
But the older boys, after erecting
the swings, etc, for the girls, would
wander down to the branch mentioned
to fish and swim. This branch started
at this point and flowed in, south
easterly direction, spreading out into
| a swamp at about NJ street and con-
down m
direction. 1 am now at what is at
present 22d and NJ street. This is the
point at which we had stepping
stones or logs. where the schoolchil-
from school in Georgetown.
The swimming hole was here, too,
and the boys would spend many hours
enjoying 1t. This swimming hole
was an ideal place on hot summers
day. as the branch and swamp took
the west. This bank, as 1 remember.
was as high as a two-story house in
some places, and was covered all
along down to the edge Of the water
with berry bushes and other kinds
of growth generally found near
to me in those days, with large trees
growing along the bank. their
branches spreading out. giving shade
to the boys who would be In the
water.
The writer was about seven years
old at this time. and I often crossed
the swamp at this point with an
older brother, going to school in
Georgetown.
Some of these trees were quite
| large and very tall. and some had
| fallen and were lying about where
they fell. In those days there were
\ no streets or houses above the north
| side of NJ street, except about four,
as near as L can remember. One
! could stand on the corner Of what is
| now 21st and NJ streets, face west,
and turn the body and eyes toward
north and east, and all the houses that
could bs seen were three frame houses
| and one of brick-all a barren waste.
The writer lived out on 21st (then
called the road. between what is
now o and p streets, about five min
utes' walk for a boy bent on having
| swim In the hole. Just across from
| where / lived there was brickyard
owned by a man named Hopkins, and
\ beyond this yard. toward Dupont
| Circle, was what was called the
| slashes, where dead animals were
| buried.
| All the land back OF where lived
| west from the road" sloped down to
| the branch and swamp before men
toned, where many cows would pas.
ture and go to the branch for water
In those days this branch and swamp
| spread all along through and under
a bridge at Goth and a little north
| of l. street. where 1t turned more In
| an easterly direction. At this point
on the east side OF goth street. be-
! tween L and NJ, a little back from
| the road was slaughter house, kept
| by man named Linkins.
| The branch continued on from goth
and L streets. running through the
| slaughter house property. and con.
| tinuing on about east, along through
| where Connecticut avenue intersects
l. street. I remember at one time
there was a flood; this branch was
swollen very high. which caused 8
great many logs and trees to float
| down the branch, finding lodgment IL
one OF the many crooks and turns ir
this stream. Therefore. am inclined
| to think that the scientists who tool
up this matter of determining the age
| Of the deposits found recently in the
| excavations made at Connecticut ave
nue. and De Sales street have got
n