Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26


Rev. Father Matthew'S for the use of st. Vim
cents Asylum, which that reverend gentleman
had founded. Soon afterward Mr.. Mcleod pur-
chased the tract of land at the northwest cor
ner OF Ninth street and Grant place, where he
erected and conducted for many years, the
Columbian Academy He died at the ripe old
age of 20 years in 1886
Some children feel they have an awful hard
time going to school, but If they had to be
present in school by daybreak. for a few months
AS they had to do sometimes during the
early dayS-they really might have a vigorous
kick coming, but that is just what school chill
dren once had to do in this city and elsewhere.
Mr.. Bryan in his "a History of the National
Capital" says of this noted educator:
He was the most individual figure of the
early days of education in Washington. For
80 years, or until his death in his eightieth
year, he conducted school that brought him
money and also reputation, for 1t was said of
him that he taught three generations of WASH
ngtonians. He had the impetuosity, the fire
and the kindness of the Celtic nature. His
was a forceful personality. In a community
where eight hours constituted the average
school day throughout the year, he was able
TO prolong it by adding from an hour and a
half to two hours, not alone in his school, but
other schools, impelled by his success, followed
his example. My school is open and in COM
plete order by daybreak throughout the year.
he stated in newspaper card the teachers
ready to attend the scholars as they enter,
ness by sunrise"
Mr.. Mcleod did, however, strain the point to
permit two weeks vacation in Summer and al
lowed the pupils to remain away from school
on recognized holidays
I IKE all the old schoolmasters of which we
have knowledge, Mr.. Mcleod was a strict
disciplinarian and relgiously that his cele-
brated motto, Order Is Heavens First Law"
was carried out to the letter, and many promi-
nent District people, including Gov. Alexander
Il. Shepherd who at one time resided at 7l3
Ninth street. opposite the school, in a little
brick house which stood back from the street
and which was removed when the Rialto Thea
ter was built obtained their early education
under Mr. Mcleod
Later on the school site was purchased by
William Gait of the well known Pennsylvania
avenue jewellers. Here he had attended the
Mcleod school, and here he resided for many
years. The older inhabitants will recall the
Gait home as being substantial frame dwell
ing with wings, painted white, which sat back
from the building line, and at each end of the
lot, facing Ninth street, beautiful magnolia
tree, similar in size to those recently trans
planted in front of the Public Library.
Columbus Mcleod, probably a son of John
Mcleod. also taught school in this neighbour
hood at one time on the north side of H be-
tween Tenth and Eleventh streets and later
on the east side of Ninth street. between G.
Leod school, Indeed this is an old school
nelghborhood, for in addition TO the early
schools mentioned, the late Henry E. Davis has
referred TO one On the east side of Ninth
street. between E and F streets, taught by Miss
Carrie Mast, daughter of Seraphim Masi well
known to many an old-timer.
Another one referred to by Mr.. Davis was to
the rear of the Methodist parsonage a little
to the north of the one kept by Miss Mast and
taught by Miss Lizzie Sendorff and the Acad-
Visitation al he
of Tenth and G streets, and of course Mrs.
Peckham's school on street. between Eighth
and Ninth streets. referred to in a previous
article were others.
The old Gonzaga College building was one
of the earliest educational institutions in this
vicinity and in the city, its three-story brick
building still familiar to many, having been
erected in 1916. 1t adjoined old st. Patrick's
Church on the east, the space now being COW
cred by business houses. 1t was not given the
name Gonzaga College until as late as 1858,
having first been called the Washington Lit
erary Institution when it was first opened as
a Catholic seminary in 1877 by George E.
Ironsides. After the latter gave up teaching
here, it was for a while used as a Jesuit novi-
tate and called the Washington Catholic Semi
nary by Rev. Anthony Kohlman Rev. Jere-
miah Keller being the principal teacher In
lS48 it again took the name Washington Semi
nary and 10 years later that of Gonzaga COL
lege, still one of Washington's foremost schools
of higher learning, though moved elsewhere.
The writer is told that one of the most re-
spected and beloved teachers at Gonzaga Col
lege during the Civil War period was Rev.
Father Mcclure
IN connection with the writer's story in which
reference was made to Mrs. Peckham'S
school, and at another time to the arrest by
Officer West of President Grant for fast 6riv-
ing published shortly before the close of the
old year, an interesting letter was received
from DR.. Llewellin Eliot of 4107 Sheridan ave-.