Evening star., 1930-06-01

ant recOHecClOnS the very name Oh
this pleasure resort, once located on
Seventh Street road-now Georgia
avenue-will awaken in the minds OF
our old residents, and especially those OF Ger
man extractionl
some of the writer's happiest youthful days
were spent not far from this amusement park,
into which he frequently gained admission upon
displaying a return check given him by some
kindly disposed man who was leaving the
grounds for home, after strenuous day OF
dancing shooting or bowling.
These little return checks, as many VIII re-
call would remind one being much like the
old street car transfers given to passengers by
the transfer agents who long ago used to stand
on several of our Washington corners for the
purpose of giving out transfers to passengers
changing cars at some particular junction Of
the street railways. Since then the style Of
transfers as we'll as the method of handing
them out has changed, but the little strips OF
heavy paper, or cardboard, no doubt are still
fixed in the minds of those who did not own
horse and buggy but who were forced to
depend on the old bob-tailed car.
However, when boy once got hold OF one
of these Schuetzen Park paSteboards it meant
that the whole gang of boys thereabout would
soon be In the grounds, for after the first boy
got inside safely he passed the check through
a crack in the board fence to another boy.
and so on until all who wished were inside.
Usually the boys got jobs delivering ice cream
to patrons of the place, and in this way picked
considered big money to a kid" SO years ago.
One can never forget the gala occasions OF
the Schuetzen Verein, when those having the
affair in charge would haul out real cannon
and bang it off for an hour or two on the
common just opposite the park. Seventh
street above Florida avenue was sparsely
settled at that time, and the farther out you
went the fewer were the residences to be seen.
The Schuetzen Park occupied the space about
between Hobart and Kenyon streets, running
haNIr fOlIr n hundred feet
really q good sized place, and, though there were
upon special occasions as many as several thou
sand paid admissions noted, yet there never
seemed to be any crowding in the grounds
OPPOSITE the park, good block away.
running south along Sherman avenue, was
old Reedy Branch making a deep cut into the
earth and winding its way enthusiastically into
Eighth street. while close to Seventh Street
road-now Georgia avenue-were four or five
gravel pits which supplied the District with
the gravel 1t needed for its street improve
ments.
These gravel pits probably were operated by
the Board of Public Works and could be seen
years after they ceased to be used and until
this area was built up some 20 years ago.
Beyer's Park then occupied the territory TO
the south now used as the base ball grounds.
and except for Lieut.. Johnson'S old home and
the Maryland House-and of course "Chinch
side Of the road near Florida avenue. OF
these only the johnson house remains
At the northeast corner of Brightwood and
Georgia avenues was then Koss' drug store,
and at an earlier date the Cross Keys Tavern.
north Of which were small buildings, including
the old second police precinct, above which
lived william H. Prince, and at 2124 nearly
opposite what used to be Pomeroy street, now
w street, was the residence and feed store OF
Jacob Killer, whose son Charles and daughter
RAJ he writer went To school with at the
Prescott building, q converted brick dwelling
near Howard University. Miss Barbara Killer
later married, and her charming daughter, Mrs.
Frederick G. Umhau, attends the meetings OF
the Society of Natives, where her husband Is
the treasurer.
Opposite the eastern side of the territory
known as Cow Town, and not far north OF
Corby's bakery, stood as a lone sentinel a brick
house, now used for frat" purposes by stu
dents of Howard University, and back Of the
bakery-still standing-was brick school Tor
colored children. Along the street leading TO
the university from Georgia avenue-above the
frat" house-were several nice homes, in one
of which resided Gen. Edward A. Balloch, who
lived to be quite old before he passed away
Nearby also lived Robert Proctor, whose son.
Alexander M, belongs to the Association Of
Oldest Inhabitants
CIxTH STREET HILL running south and
paralleling the university grounds, was
wonderful place for shedding in the Winter
time when snow was on the ground, and only
the frame buildings, which then constituted
the Freedmen's Hospital, prevented the sleighs
from going farther than Pomeroy street and on
for q block or so more.
At the top OF the hill were several nice cot
tages, in which lived John A. Prescott and the
family of my friend Albert s. Galley as well
as others whom the writer does not recall.
Nearer to the SchuetZen Park lived colony
OF prosperous German families principally
haltchers in the Center Market. including sew