Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06


drawn and the doors are locked-the once well
known old tavern Is closed.
The land upon which Cabin John Hotel Is
built at one time granted by the King OF
England to Cecil Calvert, second Lord Balti-
more At that time the land was occupied
by Indian tribes, subject to the Chief Powhatan,
and, even today. Indian arrowheads from flint
rock are found in this vicinity.
BY whatever name the Indians may have
known this country or the beautiful creek which
runs through it, it remained for one queer and
mysterious character to furnish it with its
present cognOmen. Tradition in the COM
munity passed down from generation to gen.
Grafton especially by the families of the lock-
keepers on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, is
that about 1870 an eccen, ric old hermit, named
John, appeared and built q cabin on the
banks of this creek. his only companions and
associates being several large and ferocious
dogs Some years later, on dark, rainy night.
he and his dogs disappeared mysteriously
rs they had come.
For some time thereafter various persons
claimed TO have seen Johns ghost prOWling
around his cabin. At any rate, his presence
was impressive enough to warrant the creeks
being named for him-Cabin John Creek. But
the question remains undecided as to the
origin of the name. Some think that because
this odd character lived In a cabin, and MOTH
ing else distinctive could be learned about him,
he was spoken of John of the Cabin, and
later as Cabin John: others who have found
old county records showing the name of the
creek as Captain John, supposed the present
name to have been a corruption, first into
Cap'n. and afterward written Cabin" And
so matter who he may have been, whence
he may have come, or whittier he may have
gone, he has passed down into history.
MANY years later, one Joseph Bobbinger, a
native of AlSace- Lorraine, came to this
country and brought with him his enterprising
and thrifty German wife. Rosa Klein Bob
binger. They came into possession of a piece
Of this land built shack and set led on the
high hill overlooking the creek and the Poto-
mac River.
BY 1852 the initial work was begun on the
present Cabin John Bridge-known also as the
Union Arch This must have been in the woods
at that tine. because 1t Is said in some refer
enceS that trees we're felled and underbruSh
cleared"
About four years before the Civil War. when
the actual work of building the bridge was
started. Joseph Bobbinger employed a
stone mason. He had the temperament of the
artist-his joy was to place the stone as nearly
perfect possible so that the finished work
would be pleasing to the eye, and might por-
tray the dream Of the master builder. He took
particular pride in the knowledge that he was
one who helped to construct that piece of
stone masonry. long considered as one of the
wonders of the world. for, at the time this
bridge was built, there was only one other
arch in the world larger-the one over the
Adda tributary of the Pc, at Trezza, Italy.
&c. while Joseph. the true ar, iSan was ire
retrievably absorbed in his craft the practical
Rosa saw an opportunity for larger financial
returns and it was through her initiative that
Cabin John Hotel got is start, according to
II Dahl 80 ~f H.
sons of Joseph Bobbinger, and present owner
of the property.
HR OSA opened up small refreShment stand
and sold cigars. tobacco. candies and
drinks to the men working on the bridge" Mrs.
Bobbinger said; then she added pies and cakes
to her stock, and later served chicken dinners
to the engineers who came out to inspect the
bridge. Her reputation for excellent cooking
spread. and she soon found that her small
quarters would not accommodate her custom
ers. SO she and Joseph acquired more land and
built larger place, and their clientele in
creased they enlarged their accommodations.
They even engaged German architect to draw
designs for remodeling their building. and part
of it is an exact reproduction of an old Ger
man tavern
Except for badly needed coat of paint and
q few repairs. the rambling 40-room, frame
hotel stands today practically as it was then.
Its unique deSign-cupolaS, observation towers
and upper-foor verandas reached by outside
StairWayS-at once attracts the eye and impes
investigation.
There is a large banquet hail. capable of
accommodating about 100 guests at time and
in the old days it was frequently reserved for
conventions and other large functions.
There are also private dining rooms, quarters
for serving ice cream billiard and pool room,
and from the open-air cafe or dining room on
the second floor is afforded a panoramic view
of the river and surrounding country.
John L. Smitz, the headwaiter. was noted
character there. He spoke seven languages,
and probably found great use for them as the
embassies and legations were often represented
among the patrons of the hotel
In the rear of the hotel and supported by
brick columns is an octagon-shapcd tower,