Evening star., 1928-12-16

CeenLn, 10 pay tAAc toS1 AAOSsAAAlaS.AS 49,
the accrued interest. The receipt which
Mr.. Adams gave, and which remained in
the hands Of Mr.. McClelland, was dur
ing the war added to collection OF
autographs and sold at fair held IN
this city for the benefit OF the nospital
service for $780,"
Although President johnson Is put
down as a Methodist, yet one writer
sums him I'D as a ''nondescrlpt IN ren-
gion and an Ishmaelite in politics. and
concludes with the statement: Wnat
church-going he did was what Lincoln
used to call in another connection
browsing around"
GEN. GRANT and President McKin-
ley attended the Metropolitan
Memorial M. e. Church at the south
west corner of G and John Marshall
place. The site for this well known
church was purchased In 1852 by menu
bers of Wesley Methodist Episcopal
corner stone was laid, though 1t was
not until 1869 that the Metropolitan
Memorial Methodist Church edifice
was dedicated. This church viii ever
be remembered by old Washing gtonians
for the music Of its beautiful chimes
and It's lofty steeple, which, Ike that
surmounting Trinity Church In New
York, once held the record for height.
Struck by lightning upon several oc-
casions, yet It still bids fair to remain
in place for sometime to come.
Old Foundry Church, which for many
years stood at the northeast corner Of
G and Fourteenth streets northwest,
was the church Of President Hayes, and
his known attention to his religious
duties prompted him to be present at
church nearly every Sunday~he was In
the city. This old church-or, rather
the original one which once stood here
was erected by Henry Foxall as "a
memorial Of the gratitude to God Of its
pious donor" because his gun foundry
above Georgetown had not been de-
stroyed by the British when they in
vaded Washington and burned the pub
lie buildings, and 1t was this reason
that also suggested to him the name
Foundry"
It was brick building 40 by so feet
with an entrance from Fourteenth
street. It was dedicated September 10,
1915, and remained as 1t was 1lrst
erected for many years, or until It was
remodeled and enlarged. About 80
years ago 1t gave way to progress" and
the site Is now covered by the Colorado
Building.
Writing Of Mr.. Foxall In the records
Of the Columbia Historical Society.
Madison Davis has this to say:
CAS- q citizen Mr.. Foxall was highly
appreciated by all who knew him. He
was naturalized In 1903, soon after he
came to Georgetown; subsequently he
became prominent actor in many un-
dertakings Of q public nature, In addi-
ton to his foundry business. He, was
a director in one Of the city banks;
was the owner Of a large bakery, the
superintendency of which was intrusted
to his son-in-law; was q trustee and
conspicuous stockholder In the George
town Importing and Exporting Goa
prosperous concern that owned four or
i've ocean ships, and did a business
with many parts Of the world; was the
owner Of quite number Of houses and
other property in Georgetown, among
which was Foxalls row; was q helper
to some extent In the building UP Of
the Capital City being an investor In
its unimproved lots, and from 1921 to
1923 he was the mayor Of George
town, and filed the Office with dignity
and credit. In all his enterprises, and
in every public position held by, him
he seems to have been actuated by 2
spirit Of shrewdness, progress ane
| philanthropy, and to have been gen.
orally beloved. He derived much Of hi
happiness, besides the good win Of his
| fellowmen, from activity. His course
was like that Of the little creek that
formed part of his manufacturing
plant-not a sluggish or mottonless
pool-but running stream, full Of
brightness and usefulness. During his
whole life In Georgetown no man was
| better known or better liked than he.
| His successful intercourse with the pub
| lie men of his day Is in itself very
strong testimony Of his general merits:
for he who can enjoy the intimacy Of
| the great, and On no occasion disgust
them by his familiarity or disgrace
them by serviIity, proves that he is as
\ perfect gentleman by nature as his
companions may be by rank"
| A BOUT 20 years ago, the writer, in
looking over an old graveyard just
to the north of the Georgetown end of
the p Street Bridge, came across the
grave of Mr.. Foxalls wife-probably
his first wife, It was close to the south
fence of the inclosure and the slab
which covered the entire grave was in
good condition.
NY recollection Is that It was an
early burying ground Of Dumbarton NJ.
E. Church and that somewhere along
about 1850 it had been turned over to
a Georgetown colored congregation with
permission to bury in the unoccupied
portion Of the Gods acre for keeping
up the other part. My opinion at the
| time I visited it was that If such an
agreement ever were made, it was being
diSregarded. Numerous old Washing
ton families were here represented and
one Of the early tombstones had been
taken from a grave and appropriated
| to that Of q colored person, by plaster
| ing over the inscription and painting
thereon the name Of the deceased whose
grave It then marked.
President Garfield attended the Ver-
mont Avenue Christian Church on Ver-
mont avenue a little north of N street
northwest. This sect was originally
known as the Disciples Of Christ and
was first founded in this city In 1843.
The church Garfield attended was q
frame structure which was first moved
back to Fourteenth street and subse-
quently torn down and did not later
become q barroom as has been said.
The corner stone Of the present church
was laid July 2, 1882.
Il +
IN connection with the writer's recent
story on Soldiers Home the follow
ing letter was received, and as It Is in
teresting and adds somewhat to the his
tory Of the place. it is being printed for
the benefit Of The Stars readers:
"2222 @ Street, Washington, d. C.
December 2, 1928.
MY Dear Mr.. Proctor:
II have read your interesting article
in todays Star which tells Of the
history Of the grounds Of the Soldiers
Home and note you probably do not
remember the property which belonged
to my grandfather.
I'm the early sixties my grandfather.
Robert SerrelI Wood, of Ossington,
Dorsetshire. England. bought 40 acres
Of land on Hardwood road. His prop