Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

HE old canal leading out OF George
town looks very sleepy these days;
sort of friendless, so to speak. Rather
reminds the writer of a certain Sun
day during the World War when the
people of Washington wee requested
to leave their automobiles in the garage for one
day. In order TO cut down on the use OF gaso-
line that was needed for war purposes, and the
request was complied with almost to the maxi
mum, although it left our streets on that par
ticular Sabbath deserted and desolate-just as
though everybody had moved out OF town.
And so the canal seemed TO the writer as
he recently motored beside its course on the
old Canal road as far as the Chain Bridge. 1t
seemed entirely deserted; not boat to be
seen anywhere; everything quiet and subdued,
with not ripple on the water. Even the bros,
once so abundant here, seemed TO have aban-
doned the place and gone hither to enjoy
more cheerful surrounding. Maybe In few
years-who knows-the old Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal will be a thing Of the past, perhaps filed
in and entirely obliterated, leaving only the
memories of bygone days and of its once pic
turesque charm.
But then, maybe, as we grow older we become
more observant and critical-it would seem that
way, at least, for upon this occasion even the
majestic Potomac above the Chain Bridge did
not look the same, but rather reSembled more
Rock Greek in the days we used to go swimming
at Big Rock and other places now within the
area Of the Geological Park. OF course, there
was nothing strange about its contracted con-
dition last year during the drought, but 1t did
seem unusual this Summer since we have had
at least fair amount of rain to swell its
volume.
But after all, this part OF Georgetown has
undergone unmistakable changes. Even Holy
HILL" well known to many OF our West End
residents, has changed considerably. and many
of those who lived there half a century ago
have gone to the Great Beyond or, If living,
have moved elsewhere.
COME time ago friend Of the writer's gave
, him list containing few Of the names
Of the early residents of this part Of George
town west Of Thirty-fifth street to the college
wall, which includes Ahern, Addison, Beckett.
Birch; Collins, Crawford, Corbett, Cook, Conan,
Callan Ceaser, Coleman, Cole, Conner, Dono-
van, Daley, Downey, Donahoe, Driscol, Dyer,
Flanagan, Fife, Foley, Findley, Philpott, Gross.
Gates, Hogan, Harper, Hurley. Horrigan. Har-
rington, Hughes, Hines, Ready, Jones' Kelley,
Keane, Knott, Krouse, Hagerty, Moore, Moul-
den, Maher. Murray, Nancy, McCauley NC
Intyre, Mccarthy, Mckinley. ODonoghue,
OBrien. Ofiutt Polk Sowthey. Sweeney, Splain,
Sullivan and Tracy.
One of the biggest propsSty holders west
and to the north Of the Canal road at the
time Of the cession Of the land for the City
Of Washington was Gen. James M Lingan, who
by bond Of conveyance dated July is, 1903,
transferred to Truman Crown, an irregular
size piece Of ground bounded on the north by
the Reservoir road, on the south by the Canal
road on the east partly by the Ridge road and
on the west where the Old road, or Reservoir
road almost come together Crown whose full
name was Samuel Truman Crown, lost his hfe
in the reconstruction Of the Falls Bridge, COM
monty called the Chain Bridge. In December,
1912, and three years later we md his widow,
Mary Ann Crown-who subsequently married
Noah Stinchcomb- her interest TO
G,raifh uvhn n trJlGtAN
for the estate Of Gen. Lingan. who was killed
by a mob in Baltimore in 1872
On July %, 1853, this tract Of land was
decided to Samuel Crown, son OF Truman
Crown by william Hunter and his wife, Sally,
and here Samuel Crown Lived for many years
and died in 1879 II was he who gave the
alarm of fire when the Post once building m
street was burned, December IS 1886
Thomas Crown, brother to Truman Crown,
built sections 80 and 40 and Al and AZ Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which included IN
an "a sections.
~ course one of the best known early own
~ ers Of property along the canal was
Henry Foxall, the foundryman, who made his
first purchase from Francis Deakins and wife
on December 4, 1900. Later, in February. 1904.
he added to his holdings q tract which he
purchased from John Templeman and wife,
and still later he added an adjoining farm
which he secured from Thomas Tinotson and
wife, April /, 1915, the year he sold out the
foundry to Gen. John Mason Of Analostan
Island, who continued to operate the business
until the time of his death in 1849.
What remains Of this old foundry Is located
between the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and
the Potomac River and about half o mile above
the Aqueduct Bridge. Tradition has It that
cannon were made In this foundry Tor the
Revolutionary War, but history tells us other.
wise and since Mr.. Foxan did not commence
manufacturing war material here ut least until