Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06

seems to be doubtful The city di-
rectories at least down to 1885, give
the year as 1868, and from that
~ date on as 1869, but, whichever OF
these dates is the correct one, the club mas al
WAYS been one of the foremost in the District
as well as a worthy competitor for the racing
hOnors of the Potomac River and elsewhere
Originally organized under the name OF the
Potomac Barge Club, it had its actual begin
ming in the Summer of 1859.
In this connection. what will appear to many
as being an interesting news item, and truly
q historic one, is the following reference 70
the Potomac Club appearing in The Star OF
June Is, 1859:
"A number of our citizens have formed
themselves into q club under the title Of the
Potomac Barge Club for the purpose OF aquatic
exercise and pleasure. They have purchased
a beautiful barge of 40 feet in length with six
oars and finished and furnished in most superb
STYLE She arrived this morning at George
town, from which place the club will embark
in her this afternoon at 5 o'clock and proceed
to their new boathouSe at the Tenth street
canal bridge under the escort OF the Falcon
Boat Club in their beautiful barge, which has
so long been the champion and pride OF our
waters.
THE Potomac club barge was built by Mr..
A. Inffbarry of Philadelphia who is well known
as the builder of some of the fastest boats
which ply on the bosom OF the beautiful
Schuylkill River, where boating Is carried TO
such AN extent by its numerous clubs, COM
posed of some of the wealthiest and most in
fluential citizens of Philadelphia
I'VE are glad to know that some Of our
prominent citizens have turned their attention
to this pleasant and healthy exercise; for GER
tainly there is no city in the Union where this
exercise is more needed and can be so success
fully prosecuted as in this where there are
so many engaged in Sedentary pursuits and
where we have such a magnificent stream as
our broad Potomac. We hope soOn to see the
Potomac as numerously dotted over with these
graceful craft as may be witnessed any after
noon on the Schuylkill River, where they have
established a regular navy of rowboatS. The
ceremony of naming the barge will take place
in Georgetown
How strange it must seem to many, espe-
cially tor the newcomers when they read
that this first boathouse of the Potomac Barge
Club was located Eat the Tenth street canal
bridge" and yet even today many are still liv-
ing who can recall the old canal that slug
gishly flowed along street north and the
canal boats and other small craft that could be
daily seen unloading their cargoes at the
wharves erected along this water course, once
the old Tiber Greek. Indeed, there are others
still among us who, in their childhood days,
have taken the excursion boat for Summers
outing well up into the Washington Canal.
1t does seem odd, and yet it is fact, that
from Sixth street to the Potomac River, well
ND unto the Mall to the south, was once COW
cred by water, as well as was quite a strip to
the north of B street, which-between Thir-
tenth and Fourteenth streets-even extended
to include a part of the site of the beautiful
marble building of the District Government.
The Center Market, the granite building Of
the National Museum, much of the Department
of Commerce building and all Of the limestone
building for the Bureau Of Internal Revenue
rest upon ground which, during the early days
Of Washington was covered by the Tiber and
even afforded good fishing.
All of Ohio avenue from Twelfth to near
Fifteenth street, a part of Louisiana avenue
Grom Ninth to Tenth street, and nearly all OF
the block in which STANDS the old Fords Opera
House, might well have been bought at one time
with riparian rights Indeed, the old Mash"
Markets. the colored folks used to call it
got its name from the marshy locality in which
the original nondescript buildings were erected.
The early condition of this territory was
clearly revealed not long ago. when the con-
tractor was excavating for the foundation Of
the Internal Revenue Building. Numerous piles
and old wharves were uncovered, deep in the
ground and extending up almost to c street,
and it may have been even right here that the
Potomac Barge Club had its boathouse and
tied its barge in the days before the Civil War,
and, incidentally, no doubt the unaccountable
gap between 1859 and 1868 or 1869, can be
traced TO that great conflict, when our young
men were so greatly needed in the Army.
THERE are members Of the old Potomac
Boat Club still living some occupying the
highest positions in our community and else
where. serious break in the membership was
caused less than a year ago in the tragic death
Of William C. McKinney-or bill" Mckinney,
rs the boys used TO call hinl-one of the Oldest
and mostly highly esteemed members of the