Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago some Of the sections
Of the District that are now within the
Utopian Life in regarded as sep
Mount Pleasant. a fiesl on ,e0% of aSese
was Mount Pleasant, the region of the
heights north Of Florida avenue, then
Boundary street, and centertng on
Fourteenth street. In The Star Of
September 81, 1879, Is letter Of cor
respondence" from Mount Pleasant, as
follows:
las there are probably many persons
living within the limits Of the District
who are not acquainted with the beau
ant. q short letter Of description may
prove interesting. That part of the
District bearing the name Of Mount
Pleasant was originally the property Of
Lord Baltimore. which, after passing
through the hands Of a long line OF
ancestry. finally became the property of
old Anthony Holmead. the grandfather
Of william Holmead, . member Of
which family now owns portion Of
the original estate, lying east Of the
fourteenth street road. After q num-
her of years. when the vast estate had
passed through the hands Of various
portion became the property of S. P.
Brown, who Is now q resident Of the
village, comprising the land where the
present village stands. At that time
the property was used as the head
quarters Of Q detachment Of the Union
Army and northward Of Boundary
street. on either side Of Fourteenth
street, soldiers were encamped. a large
building on the west Of the road was
used as hospital. while q long line
Of defenses lay between Fourteenth
street and Seventeenth street.
1T was not until after all the mil
itary forces had been withdrawn that
attempts were made to improve this
vast property. In . short time the
place was laid out in streets by its
owner, Mr.. S. p. Brown, and was
duly named Mount Pleasant. The first
lots which were sold did not realize
much and only five were bought; but
ere long many persons desiring subur-
ban homes and attracted by the loca-
ton and healthfulneSS Of the place
bought lots and built residences. Dur
ing 10 years the village has steadily
roads and houses built. The villagers
are mostly Government employees and
nearly all New England people. Many
Of the villagers raise their own poultry,
keep their cattle, have a garden and
produce their own vegetables and keep
q neat flower garden, while some possess
fine fruit orchards. There are two
good stores In the village, which supply
the necessaries Of everyday life. To
post offlce has been established In the
village, one Of the stores answering that
purpose and the villagers get their mail
every evening,
"The village is we'll provided for in
the educational line by good sub
stantial schoolhouse which was erected
In 1872. It accommodates between two
and three hundred pupils. who are
under tutorship Of three good teachers,
with Mrs. Julia =. York IS supervising
principal. This subschool district has
school board. The grammar school in
the village has its competitive exam
nation Of candidates for the high
school In the city, two from this school
having last school year been success
full In acquiring the requisite per-
aThe village has Q neatly built hall
containing three rooms, which Is used
for church service, Sabbath school,
debating clubs. the Temperance Order
and balls and parties. The main room
win accommodate about 100 people.
During the Winter season many gay
and social entertainments are held
for the enjoyment Of the villagers.
"The scenery Ia and about the VII
lage and along Rock Greek needs but
little description, Is the skillful hands
of some Of our home artists have long
put upon canvas some Of the beautiful
views hereabouts. Many persons 60
miles away seeking lovely scenery and
picturesque landscapes, while q jaunt
along Rock Greek and . stroll over the
green hills around Mount Pleasant re-
veal to the surprised visitor beauties
unthought Of.
"During the Winter the villagers have
Q continual round Of festivities which