Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30

at later perlOQ IL was removed.
1.-The meridian stone was allowed to
remain until about the time of the
opening OF SixteenIn street EXTENDED
when IL was removed to its pres Mt
place, aC the southwest corner of -Four
tenth ana r streets northwest, and
where 1t Is used as a carriage step. This
disposition of an old and valued land
mark by the then county surveyor gave
rise to angry expressions of condemna-
ton by many of the citizens. The
precise spot should have been no.ed
when the stone was taken up, and then.
after the street was completed, the stone
should have been replanted below the
surface"
1T would be very interesting to know
just what eventually became of the
old meridian stone. after it ceased to
render service as a carriage step. 1t
would, indeed, serve a good purpose if
it could be recovered and be placed
somewhere near where 1t originally
stood. A bronze tablet in the park wall,
opposite the French embassy, tells of
this historic stone.
When the writer moved into this sub
division in 1887 It had improved but
slightly from the time he first saw it.
The standpipe which had been erected
about 1878 was then standing. and con-
tinued to remain in its position for a
number of years afterward. Wayland
Seminary, colored theological institute
had been erected in 1873-1874. as had
one or two modest houses and a few
more shacks. The ground still showed
corn burrows, and, indeed, for several
| years afterward the surface of the
earth plainly indicated that 1t had been
but recently used for farm purposes.
The Wayland Seminary Building
stood at the southwest corner of Fiji
tenth and Chaplin streets, which today
would be at the northeast corner of
Meridian Park. This institution was
founded in 1865. by the Baptist Church
for the education of colored preachers
and teachers. 1t was constructed of
brick, three stories high. with base
ment, mansard and lofty towers. and
cost $4,000. It was built entirely bv
colored labor. and in appearance was a
creditable structure for the mechanics.
About 1900 1t was taken down, and new
buildings were erected to take its place,
somewhere In the South, believe at
Richmond, Va.
Another structure, then on Meridian
Hill, which was of so much interest
as later to be removed to Rock Greek
Park. was the Joaquin Miller cottage.
erected about 1883 by the celebrated
Poet of the Sierras." Miller. whose
real name was Cincinnatus Helm was
living here and writing for a WASH
ington newspaper when he built this
log house, and here he was visited by
many prominent persons
In 1884 Eugene Field wrote an In
teresting account of a visit he made
to the poet and his log cabin on
| Meridian Hill. The building then stood
on Crescent street, somewhat to the
rear of the Meridian Mansions. 1t was
sold in 1887 to Richard c. Dubois for
$500, and rented in June of that year
to A. A. Adee, Assistant Secretary of
State, who resided there for some time
afterward.
1.-THE writer speaks from personal
knowledge when he says that the
salvation OF Meridian Hill is entirely
due to Mrs. John B. Henderson. In
1887 she and the late Senator bought
from A. P. Pardon and william C. HI.l
the property where the Henderson castle
now stands for SCI, 000 On April IL of
the following year permit for the erec-
ton Of the building was issued by the
building inspector. Immediately Mrs.
Henderson became interested in the en-
tire subdivision, and in the place OF
shacks along portions of Sixteenth street
she caused to be erected handsome en-
bassles for foreign diplomats. She is
Irresponsible for the magnificent Meridian
/ Park. opposite the home which will al
ways bear her name, and nearly all tile
improvements made in this neighbor-
hood during the past 40 years can be
traced to her activity.
As the writer has said, when he moved
to Meridian Hill. in 1887, no improve
ments were to be seen-no sidewalks. no
Potomac water, no sewers and no gas
and 1t was years before his neighbors
and he enjoyed what we look upon now
as the necessities of life. Indeed, for
time, the only drinking water which
could be obtained was from Quarry road
spring. several blocks off. 1t was real
pioneering in those days, when the
Fourteenth street cars stopped at w
street, especially during the Winter
months and in rainy weather. when It
was only with the most careful ma
neuvering that one could avoid being
almost submerged to his neck In mud.
There was no occasion for the ash man
then, since ashes were in great demand
for making walks. venture to say that
but few persons of the younger gener-
alton now living in this city ever saw
rain barrel. but, indeed, they were very
necessary things to have then in nearby
suburban Washington.
Though I moved away from Meridian
Hill % years ago, yet I frequently run
across some of my former neighbors and
talk over the old days when such incon-
ven1ences as mentioned made little diff
ference in our everyday life
Looking at 1t today. the changes
have, indeed, been marvellous. Even the
names OF the streets have been altered.
perhaps to make the place seem more
up-to-date. Huron street. on which l
| lived, Is now Fuller street: Erie. to the
SOUTH is Euclid: Superior, down which
ran Slash Run. is Kalorama; Columbia
avenue Is now Fifteenth street, Meridian
Is Sixteenth. Messmore is Mozart place.
Central is Seventeenth street, Prospect
street Is Belmont place and Crescent
place. Champlain avenue and Ontario
road retain their original names. Sore
ct the names of those living in this sub
division, recall. were Edward Blummer.
Samuel j. Haislett, John Seibel. Gus
Kneas, Benjamin F. White and his sons
George and John c. and his daughters
Jennie and Bessie. Mrs. Falkner and
her daughter Louise. James F. Ve1-
million. Charles Vermillion, Columbus
F. Sherwood. George w. Beall. Susan
E. Fuller and her son and daughter
| in-law. Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore F.
Fuller; Henry c. Lehman. ST.; Napo-
leon Plunkett. Harry Hunaker, Mr..
James and his sons Addison, Rich
ard d. and Clifton. Frank and William
F. Ogle, William L. James. Alfred L.
Leonard and John E. Rhodes.
\ y
DAVID CRANMER, a clerk in the
War Department, became a resi-
dent In 1902, when he moved a house
he had purchased, which stood in the
way OF the extension of Sixteenth street
above Columbia road He placed it on
lot at Columbia road and Seven
tenth street, where it still stands MIR.
Cranmer was enterprising. and, previous
to this, purchased from the District a
cnlOrad cnhnn1 rr,lninh HNoi