Evening star., 1932-03-27


when the. people from everywhere
are f1ocking to Washington to take
part in the George Washington BIZ
centennial or to witness some one Of
its events TO doubt many will find
especially attractive the quaint buildings Of
Georgetown, nearby Alexandria and Bladens-
burg, since all Of these places date back for q
considerable number of years.
Bladensburg, for Instance, was established by
act of the Maryland Legislature in 1742, and
it had been settled before this date Some Of
its cid homes Enthusiastically of Colonial
construction. Alexandria. once part OF the
District of Columbia, but retroceded to Virginia
in 1846, was originally known as Hunting Greek
Warehouse, where early as 1880 warehouses
were built upon the land of Simon Pearson by
direction Of Gov. Gooch for the inspection of
tobacco. Later it became Bellhayen, and
finally its present name was adopted.
Georgetown, which became a part Of the
District OF Columbia, in accordance with the
act of Congress approved July Is. 1870, was
of the frst settlements in Frederick
County Nd, before Montgomery County was
formed, and, like Bla6esnburg. was settled
years before 1t became a town by legislative
enactment, in 1851. A trip to the West End
to the west of Rock Creek-win surely repay
any visitor to the Federal Capital
Some time ago the writer sat at q banquet
with distinguished Washingtonian who had
In course OF conversation the question arose
as to what were the most interesting things IN
the District of Columbia and the writer men,
toned In order-not of course, including the
Capitol and White House-the original STAR
Spangled Banner" in the National Museum,
Fort Stevens, at Brightwood, where Lincoln
stood under fire, and the grave Of John Howard
Payne in Oak Hill Cemetery, in Georgetown.
DUT there are many things and places In
- old Georgetown of interest, historically and
otherwise. Some old mansions said to date
back to the eighteenth century which really
look their age, are still standing. part Of
the old canal that once joined the one at Sew
enteenth street and Constitution avenue, Sleep
lily bides its time when it may be purchased
by the Government and filled in and become
q grand boulevard, has been suggested and
urged.
Georgetown lost its legal identity as such
back In 1895, when Congress enacted in sub
stance. that it should no longer be known by
that name but should be known as and con-
stituted part of the City Of washington, the
Federal Capital. But to those born and reared
there, and to all early Wsshingtonians, though
born east Of Rock Greek, it will always be
known and referred to by the name 1t bore
for more than q century. Indeed. it is q great
old town, and although We OF this side Of the
creek have often in the past facetiously re-
ferred to it, yet We cannot do so any longer,
for dear old Georgetown stands out today Is
one Of the most picturesque parts Of the Ma
tion's Capital, and its cid buildings, old FAM
lilies and traditions are enchanting to the poet
and fascinating to the historian.
OF course, the placing of the Capital On the
banks Of the Potomac helped to bring i'm
portant people to the, District Of Columbia
before the Government moved here I'm 1900,
and as Georgetown was 0. well developed town
at that time, many settled there to mingle with
the older families Of that place; to erect addi-
tional mansions and to join in the social life
Of the village.
\h/AsHNGToN. the first President. knew
w Georgetown very well He passed
through there in 1755 with the Braddock expe-
dition on his way to the Battle of the Monon-
gahela, in which Gen. Edward Braddock lost
his life, when his command was badly cut up,
and indeed would have been anihilated had it
not been for the skill and intrepidity Of WASH
ington,- then provincial major. OF this his
adopted son, George Washington Parke Clistis,
says: "Ihe enemy knew him well, from their
having felt him severely the year before at the
affair Of the Meadows, and the provincial
military being far more obnoxious to the
French and Indians than the European troops
from the craftsmanship of the rangers and
their intimate knowledge of the modes of
forest warfare, the fire of the enemy became
singularly directed against the devoted young
warrior, whom they afterward termed the