Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28

new name and new owner, w. J. Lown, fsgh
mer employee.
1.-THE Mattingly homes, ON street, are dis
tinctly recalled, the fathers with a sons On
each side, and can see now the venerable head
of the family walking up the aisle of st. Domi-
MICS Church, long military cape enhancing
the dignity and devoutness of his appearance.
The writer's mother employed for many
years an old colored servant, Aunt Ann whose
family had been slaves of Mr.. Peter Hedgman
evidently from your article, the maternal grand
father of Judge Mattingly, and she never tired
of singing his praise.
Across the street was a select private school
taught by Miss Ann Willett whose brother was
at one time practicing physician on the
Island
"A few doors west lived another well known
physician, DR.. A. N. williamson North Caro-
hnian by birth, whose wife was direct des-
cendant of Sir Edwin Sandys conspicuous in
Colonial affairs of Virginia, who was respon-
sible for the first boatload of British maidens
brought to this country for wives for the
planters. 1t Is family tradition that these
lassies were picked on the streets Of London
It's true, for their physical qualities and good
looks.
fAnother physician on this same block who
had drug store on the corner of F and Four
and-a-haf streets was DR.. Bacon, regarded
as a faultless dresser, and whose wife, an esti-
mable Northern lady, was reputed as having
much wealth.
CON the south side of F street near Seventh
lived the family of beloved Presbyterian
divine, DR.. Bittinger, whose church, west
minister, was on Seventh near e. 1t was in this
church where J. Whit Heron and Kitty Part
ridge were married. On the corner of and
Seventh lived the Cowie family, one SON of
which, believe. gained some distinction in the
Navy. Next door was the residence of DR.
Hammett, descendant of Gov. Blackstone Of
: Maryland
Returning to street between Four-and-
haif and Sixth, just about midway the block
on the south side arose several four-story brick
dwellings, one Of which was occupied by several
unusual characters. One was man named
Chester Goodrich, who took considerable pride
In the possession Of melodeon upon which he
could play very well, when it suited him. PoOr-
~ clad, with no obvious means of a livelihood
yet after his death it was discovered that he
had left several thousands of dollars His
neighbors were two queer characters bv the
name OF Boswell, father and son, the former
the butt Of ridicule of the small boys in the
nelgnoorhood, who, at a safe distance would
shout Rainbow as he passed
Aside from the residential element of this
neignnornood the Arsenal, close by, drew Of
ncially many visitors of fame and distinction
Older residents used to tell of seeing the prince
OF wales, father OF the present King of Eng
land when he visited the Arsenal upon his flrst
Trip 70 America, during Buchanan's administra-
tion. social center in the early days was Is
land Hall, on street and Virginia avenue near
sixth Here many worthwhile entertainments
were held by different churches and orraniza
ions. one is recalled given in 1869 by Grace
Cnurch CDR. Alfred Holmead, rector It was a
musical and literary affair and when a uer
former was particularly pleasing bouquets of
mowers were thrown over the footlights onto
the stage, regardless of whether the artist was
known by the donor or not
ana thus one might wander on indefinitely
The Island is rich in its history of people and
places and looking back across vista of three
score years and more one born and reared
eneIe hoios IL something to be mentioned with
pride. LYDIA RuEv epOEE0pN
George Mason Hotel, Alexandria, Va
osas