The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-15


pleted well under way.
short time ago James r. Garfield, of
President James A. Garfield and president of
the Roosevelt Memorial association, announced
that Anaostan island, in the Potomac river,
q tract of so acres in the heart of the National
Capital had been purchased by the association
as the site for national memorial to Roosevelt
and it will be presented to the nation to be
used as a public park and to be incorporated
into the park system now being developed along
the Potomac by the National Capital Park and
Planning commission.
Bridges will connect the island with the main
land on the north at Roslyn and on the south
near the Virginia end of the new Washington
Memorial bridge. Ultimately the association in
tends to erect on the island an appropriate
monumental structure, which will be designed
by John Russell Pope, architect of the associa-
ton, and built under the supervision of the
National Fine Arts commission and the National
Capital Park and Planning commission. Such
memorial set in so large an area, isolated by
the river from the life Of the city yet easily
accessible, will be unique.
Analostan island lies due west of the White
House, between the Francis Scott Key bridge
and the Washington Memorial bridge, with
in the territorial limits of the District of Column
bia. In its location, its physical conformation
and its heavy growth Of timber it is the most
picturesque area in the district which has
NAMED undeveloped. The land rises slowly on
the northern end and sharply on the southern,
some so feet, to a wooded plateau comprising
approximately 20 acres, with clear view toward
Arlington, the Lincoln memorial and the lower
reaches of the Potomac Toward the north the
Key bridge, with the towers of Georgetown uni
versity beyond provides an interesting and
pleasing feature; toward the west are the slopes
of Arlington toward the east, tongue Of
wooded land beyond a small bay now filled in,
cuts off completely the industrial plants which
line the waterfront of Georgetown. The island
gives an impression of wild country peculiarly
appropriate as setting for a memorial to
Roosevelt.
In the plans for the development of Washing
ton the island is regarded in a sense as a gate
way to the wild territory along the river which
was the scene of President Roosevelt's favorite
tramping trips 1t lies in fact directly oppo-
site the mouth of Rock creek. The island is
largely solid rock and provides therefore, ex-
cellent footing for any structure which might be
designed for it.
The National Capital Park and Planning COM
mission has for several years hoped to secure
Analostan island for the nation and its pub
lished plans show the island as feature Of the
development of the George Washington Memorial
highway which is to run from Mount Vernon
to Great Falls. portion of this highway is
practically completed and will be dedicated in
connection with the Washington bicentenary,
which is being celebrated this year.
Analostan island has had a romantic history.
1t has borne many names-My Lords island,
Barbados, Anacostian island, Mason's island,
among others. 1t was originally the property of
Lord Baltimore. and after several transfers in
1777 passed into the hands of George Mason of
Gunston Hall, one of the signers of the Declare
ton of Independence and the author of the Bill
of Rights. George Mason in his will gave it to
his son. Gen. John Mason who built a brick
manor house on it whose ruins covered with
ivy and myrtle still survice to tantalize the
fancy. General Mason's son, James Murray
Mason, captured on the Trent" with John Sill
dell, born there After the Civil war the
island was used as pleasure resort where
pienics, fairs and occasionally fitting tourna-
ments were held. but for generation the island
has been undisturbed, returning to wild state
of brambes and volunteer timber