Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

Maybe the writer should tell why it was that
the cemetery did not have the date Of the
interment of Mr. Gilbert, for the facts disclose
a very excellent reason. 1t seems that Cedar
Hill Cemetery. which has very attractive set
ting was originally called Forest Lake Gene
terry, and for some reason or other when, many
years ago it came into the hands of the present
owners the original records could not be OBJ
tanned by them. However, time has supplied
the present cemetery officials with dates of
many of the earliest burials but this one hap
pened to be among the few not yet cleared up.
The superintendent, Mr.. Braedy, gentleman
who was reared in Rockville, courteously pointed
out the grave of Mr.. Gilbert, which was site l,
lot 81 section A. Aside from these few early
burals, the cemetery records today are in ex-
celent shape, and every interment in this
beautiful metropolis is recorded with infinite
care.
The statement that Mr. Gilbert served in the
House of Representatives might refer to the
New York State Legislature, since he did not
serve in the United States House of Repre-
sentatives toward the close of the Civil War
nor at any other time.
It is very interesting to look back at this
whole region even before it became Takoma
Park for it is hard to realize what vast changes
can take place in a territory OF this size In so
short space of time.
IN addition to the Bladens the Hagens and
the CockerilleS mentioned, Mr.. Clinton mem
tions the Jcnss. Naughton and Hodges farms,
one in the northern part of Takoma. He also
further Identifies the Bladens by saying that
they had market garden, and tells us that DR..
Cockerille was a Washington dentist He also
speaks particularly of Gen. S. S. Carroll and OF
the blacksmith shop of the Rapleys, over be-
yond the Sligo.
IN the early days of Washington the streams
= that were formed in the District of Column
bia, well those which entered the District
by way CT Maryland were far more enchanting
and majestic than they are today. The beau
tiful Tiber and its tributaries have long since
been converted into SewerS-that is. what re-
NAMED of them. Piney Branch suffered the
same fate, while the supply of Rock Greek has
been considerably reduced. Sligo Branch, or
Sligo Run, as it is also called, and which flows
through part of Takoma, still retains much of
its beauty, but even here its volume has been
greatly reduced and is becoming more so as
the country adjacent to it is being built up
and the water from the surrounding country
finds its way into sewers instead of flowing
into this stream. Hence it is net the same
Sligo the early settlers of Takoma knew it to
be, nor does it retain the same charm in
days of yore.
Maj Gist Blair, in his Annals of Silver
Spring" tells us of the road his grandfather
built for his grandmother along this stream.
fer the Blairs were of the earliest settlers of
this vicinity, and their property included a part
of Takoml Park. Mai Blair says:
My grandmother, Violet GiSt for whom
was named-a tall, strengthening cid lady
rode horseback every morning until a few DAYS
before her DEATH when she was 81. and her
spirit should linger along that winding road
way which follows Sligo Branch, now where
the Seventh Day Adventists have great ssni-
tarium. This was opened for her to ride horse
back through these woods long before the Civil
War and extended about seven miles. almost
entirely en- the Silver Spring property"
IN a recent volume of the Records of the
= Columbia Historical Society its president
Allen c. Clark. gives an interesting account
of the old mills of the District of Columbia
and Of especial interest is what he has to say
of the Sligo mill, now gone to decay. but which
was one Of the earliest industries in the
vicinity of Takoma. Regarding the mill prop
erty. Mr.. Clark says:
Articles Of agreement, May /. 1911. between
Ellie Williams and Daniel Carroll Of budding
ton and Charles Carroll of Bellevue show a
partnership under the firm name OF Williams
& Carols, to furnish in equal proportion
money to be used in manufacturing paper,
erecting mills, distilling grain into spirits,
raising buying and selling live stock; for the
purposes of said business to buying situations
for the necessary mills and woodlands to sup
ply the same with fuel.
THE firm bought the lands bordering the
Sligo. about Ala acres, in 1911 and 1912, and
at once built the mill The firm bought the
paper mill on Rock Greek, which will later more
fully appear.
large sums were required and to assist
W'icms in raising his share the CAROLS in
dorsed his notes to the extent Of SIS, 900. To
protect the CAROLS Williams executed a deed
in trust TO Francis S. Key and Henry Carroll,
1877
"An advertisement by Daniel Carroll of Dud-
dington, october 6. 1919. of the Sligo mill for
sale states it has variety of apparatus for
distiling. The mill was undoubtedly utilized
for other purposes than distillation. williams