Evening star., 1932-04-17
First Corner Stone of the District

Jones Point in the following order:
rHst, tine town sergeant second, the Hon.
Daniel Carroll and the mayor; third Mr. FL
hcoCt and the recorder; fourth such of the
aldermen and common council as were not
Free Masons; fifth, the strangers sixth, the
master OF Lodge No. q with Mr. David Stuart
Mt his right and the Rev. James Muir at his
left followed by the rest of the fraternity. in
their usual form of procession lastly the
cftfzens-two by two. when Mr. Ellicott had
aseertained the precise point from which the
nrSt iine OF the District was to proceed the
master OF the lodge and DR.. Stuart assisted
by others of their brethren placed the stone
after which deposit of corn, wine and oil
was made upon it. and the following obserya-
oionS were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Muir:
$50 May this stone long commemorate
the goodness of God In those uncommon events
which have given America q name among the
nations. Under this stone may jealousy and
seifishness be forever buried. From this stone
may superstrncture arise whose glory whose
magnifcenoe whose stability uneuualed hither-
To. shall astonish the world and invite even
the savage Of the wilderness to take shelter
under its roof"
The company partook of some liquid re-
freshnents. and returned to the place
whence they came, where a number of toasts
were drunk, and the following which was de.
hVered by the master of the Lodge was re-
eeived with every token of appreciation:
Brethren and gentlemen:
May jealousy, that green-eyed monster be
buried deep under the work which we have
this day completed never to rise again within
the Federal district
ON July 9, 1886, the portion of the District
presented to the Federal Government by
Virginia was ceded back to that State
To-day, So years after it was ceded back to
its original owners, there is still a dispute over
the boundary line On March ID of this year.
Representative Howard w. Smith of Virginia
member of the House District Committee
introduced b1ll in Congress providing for the
appointment of a commission, to definitely fix
the boundary line the Virginia shore of
the Potomac. The question in dispute Is
whether the boundary is at high or low tide
Much of the land which was ence below water
is now valuable improved property. Net only
are private titles affected but the question
of jurisdiction for the trial of criminal and
civil matters is uncertain.
AS the years rolled by, the 20 historic land
marks OF the District line were defaoed broken
carted away by yandals or DESTROYED by the
elements. When the lighthouse was built at
Jones Point in 1855, the foundation walls were
laid around the most important of them, the
frst one laid covering 1t completely.
In 1914 little band of patriotic women
was called together at the suggestion of Mrs
George z. Conway, then chairman OF the
preservation of records of the Daughters of
the American Revolution. A paper was read
by Mrs. Conway, and it was then that the
arduous task of retaining and restoring the
first historic landmarks of the Federal district
was undertaken. committee was appointed
OF which Mrs. Conway was made chairman.
An endless amount Of work and expense was
required Of the Daughters of the District
Maryland and Virginia. The late Mr.. Fred T..
Woodward was the first person consulted as he
had previously located one of the markers en-
his property and had spent much time trying
in vain to locate the remaining as Then, too,
engineers were consulted, commissioners coun-
seled and every available record searched Col.
William w. Harts, then superintendent of Pub
lie Buildings and Public Parks gave the
Daughters many valuable suggestions and help.
Among the prominent Daughters not pre-
viouSly mentioned, who gave much of their
time were Mrs. A. Barker, Mrs. C. BrlHmha ugh
Mrs. r. Greenewalt Mrs. W. e. Grimes Mrs
Charles Richardson, Mrs. q. r. Smallwood and
Mrs. r. Vandergrift
Today, after an the markers excepting one
have been located, beautifully coored map of
the Federal District, outlined by its markers.
hangs upon the walls OF the District of Cdl,sp-
bia room Of Memorial Continental Hall. Is it
any wonder that those who sponsored the
restoration of the first landmarks OF the
Federal District are proud?