Evening star., 1927-05-15

when the estate was purchased from
descendants of the Calvert family by
New York real estate company. which
proceeded to split it into house lots
and erect homes for Government EN-
ployes.
Just north of Riverdale is the Uni
versity of Maryland The agricul-
tural college was established there in
1856. originally as private COrpo-
ration, and the experimental station
was begun in 1887. About the uni
versity is the village of College Park,
the home of many of the faculty and
also a growing suburban community.
The largest town in Prince Georges
County is Hyattsville, which now has
population of more than 5000 and
is thriving business center. 1t is
directly dependent on Washington.
More than IS per cent of its people
are commuters and the others are
employed in community industries. 1t
is almost entirely a town of homes
and it's growth promises 10 increase
steadily
The site of the present Hyattsville
was once the plantation of the Hyatt
family. but the town owes is develop
ment to DIR. Charles Wells. a rela-
tive Of the Hyatts by marriage. who
realized it's suburban possibilities and
devoted his life to the upbuilding of
the community. The growth of the
town has come largely within the
past 30 years.
The Hyattsvile Chamber of Com
merce, with $50 members, is inaugu
rating an aggressive campaign to pro-
vide better transportation facilities to
Washington, secure the extension of
Rhode Island avenue, and do away
with the dangerous grade crossing
which now damages the southern ap-
proach to the town.
Historic BIadensburg.
Two miles above Hyattsville on the
pike is Bladensburg. The story of
this old town is more or less familiar
to every American schOolboy. Near
the bridge over the Eastern Branch.
just south Of the town. the Americans
1000 unframed and undisciplined men.
under Gen. Winder. fought i'm vain
to stop the attack Of the British on
Washington in 1914. The defenders
finally broke before the enemys fire
and Ross troops marched into the
National Capital
Bladensburg was chartered by the
Maryland Legislature in 1742. In
those days the river was navigable
to its wharves and the settlement
became notable tobacco port. Its
harbor is said to have been 40 feet
deep.
Mount Rainier and Cottage City.
both incorporated towns lying west Of
Bladensburg and adjacent to Wash
ington, are purely suburban. Their
history ia entirely the history OF the
of fo m hn.l CT
section Of Washington and finally over
the District Line. They are at the
end of Rhode Island avenue. which
furnishes the inhabitants a quick
means Of getting in the city. Both
are growing and have all city con-
veniences.
Just north OF Bladensburg is the
stone cross erected by Prince Georges
County to her sons who fell in the
World War. AT this point the
new Defense Highway to Annapolis
branches east from the Baltimore
Pike. This road is largely of con-
crete and taps rich farming country
which hitherto has been rather diff
cult of access by automobile. 1t is
largely a tobacco section.
First the road cuts through the
Landover election district, which is
adjacent to Washington but which
has been overlooked by suburban de
veiopers until two or three years ago
There is q concrete branch road which
extends about two miles to the village
Of Landover on the Pennsylvania Rail
road, where the post Office and gen.
eral> store of the section fs located
Along the railroad are several villages
of recently constructed bungalows.
Through Landover the road con-
s>lIf, fati
Popes Creek Railroad, a point of con
siderable historic interest. particularly
to Catholics. Near here was located
Whitemarsh. a Jesuit mission house,
from which the priests went out dur
ing the days Of persecution and said
mass in the specially constructed
chapels in the old manor houses.
Religious determinations were abol-
ished with the American Revolution.
At Whitemarsh now there is onl- an
ancient graveyard, of great interest
TO Catholic historians. A church was
set ur few miles away. al a village
named Rosaryville. which long was
attended bv members of the Domin
ican order from st. Dominic's
Church in Washington. Near Rosary
vile ia Mount Airy, the hunting lodge
of the Calverts.
An Old Tobacco Town.
The road continues to the old to-
bacco town of Bowie, the center of
rich farming section. where the Popes
Creek branch leaves the main line OF
the PENNSYLVANIA. Bowie, OF course,
is more widely known throughout the
country for it's race track. and during
the racing season is a household word
in all sporting circles.
The town gets its name from the
Bowie family, who were among the
earliest and most extensiv, land own
ers in the county and some OF whose
descendants still live in the vicinity.
It ir only about Is miles from Wash
incton. and, with improved roads will
become known to people of the Ma
tional Capital for its schools. churches
and business houses, an well as for its
horse rAcing.
Close to the Defense Highway is one