Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13


some folks still call it, has under
gone quite change in recent years.
just many other parts Of Wash
ington have done. OF course, with the Sunny
Southwest there are still to be seen many
beautiful spots here and there, and q number
Of the first families Of this section still reside
in the residences which once belonged to their
ancestors
However, Washington Is growing, and grow
ing fast, and much of the property once strictly
residential in the days of the old canal, and
even down to a more recent date, Is now fast
becoming business property, and many Of the
old residents, due to this cause solely, have
moved elsewhere, but still-whatever they may
be-look upon this part Of the city, where they
retain the most sentimental and tender ties, as
"Home, Sweet Home"
In addition to the private enterprises which
may be seen everywhere, but which especially
manifests itself along the river front the Gov
eminent has also become in recent years q
large holder of real estate in this part of the
city, and several blocks of dwellings will soon
be removed to make way for Federal buildings
for the Department Of Agriculture.
Down toward the Capitol other blocks have
been taken by the Government for the in
creased needs Of the Botanic Garden, and 1t is
even contemplated to greatly add to the Fed
eral holdings in this section, that much
of the area north of Maryland and Virginia
avenues may be held in reserve for public
buildings or perhaps added to the already spa
cious Mall Indeed in a few years time it
Is quite likely that the oldest inhabitant will be
unable to recognize 1.-The Island" for its future
bids, If possible to be even more beautiful than
the past.
OF course, when this time comes the old
families who still live in the area needed by
the Government must move elsewhere, and soon
their identity with this section, at least, may
be lost, and with this thought in mind the
writer has decided to record the names, so far
as he can, of the early settlers of Southwest
Washington and for the time being will confine
himself to the area west of Seventh street.
THOUGH there were some few houses scat
tered here and there south of the Mall
yet much OF that area was still under culti-
walton for several decades after the Govern
ment was moved here Mr.. Lambert Tree, one
of the most highly respected citizens of his day,
in paper read before the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants, in 1880, tells us that in 1920 when
he came to this city, the Island, or South
Washington, had but few residences, the larger
portion of the land being under cultivation,
and I have often heard in that section the
Negroes singing while engaged in Shucking corn
stripping tobacco"
Thirty-one years ago another old resident,
signing himself can Officer" in giving his recol-
lections Of this part of Washington, probably
around 1840 said:
when first knew South Washington it
was termed The Island cut Off as it was from
the rest of the city by the Tiber and its ex-
tension eastward to the Anacostia River. The
designation Island was popularity confined to
that part west of the James Greek Valley. 1t
was a place of gardens, fields cultivated in
wheat, corn, clover, etc. with winding roads
and but few well defined streets. There were
but three approaches to the Potomac-Sixth,
Eleventh and Thirteen and -half streets
uyoc NuifkN
locust trees entwined with trumpet flower
creepers, and the river at high water leaving
the banks.
THE river bank on Sundays was a popular
resort, where one might watch the arrival and
departure of the various steamers, Powhatan,
Osceola. Columbia, Phoenix, Joseph johnson
and others.
1.-THE social conditions prevailing at the period
Of which write were much different from
those prevailing now. Then the rich and the
poor lived together, and there was q tacit ad-
mission that the Lord was Father Of them all.
The humhlest man was not beneath the notice
Of his rich neighbor, nor was he permitted to
suffer when overtaken with adversely.
Cooking was done in the fireplace by open
fires. These were kindled by borrowing a SHOW
elful of Goals from a neighbor kept over night
by covering with ashes or made afresh with
finder, by means Of q steel and flint, the
latter requiring both skill and patience in their
use. For evening light we used whale oil in
lamps or else candles. The poorest people
could afford neither, and used the fire light by
which to knit stockings and seines, to pick
oakum, etc.
These were the days of minor industries
which have been crowded out by machinery
Many kept hog or two and cured their own
bacon, kept a few chickens, cured their own
herring and shad and raised few vegetables
lice was luxury unknown to the multitude.
f1IFT1