Evening star., 1933-04-09

probated May !. 1894.
1t directed that his executors sell this particu-
lar piece of property which was evidently done,
for we next find title in John Bowling, whose
will in turn was probated June 9, I'LL, and
who also directed that the Widows Mite be
sold. 1t evidently bought in by Thomas
Fletchell of Prince Georges County, who In his
will pFobated August 2, 1717 willed 300 acres OF
the 500 to his son Thomas. and the remainder
to his wife for life, remainder over to said son
Thomas So if there is anything to this story.
it must have happened prior to 1860. which
would be u years before the birth OF George
Washington who is supposed to have signed
the treaty, and Furthermore, the Handbook OF
American Indians of the Bureau OF American
Ethnology, does not give this chiefs name
"Mannacasset"
THE Commodore Porter House on Meridian Hill
] was there in 1920, as probably the closet
neighbor to Columbia College and then its
neighbors of little later day included the Eslin
property the north side OF Columbia road,
about opposite Mozart place, and the Little
home near Nineteenth street on Columbia road,
then small frame dwelling on the east side
of the road, about opposite this familys later
residence still standing. The Stuart home
stead where now stands the National Baptist
Memorial Church, the Stone residence at Thir-
teenth and Clifton streets, the Holmead resi-
dence which stood back from the northwest
corner of Fourteenth street and Park road,
Ingleside to the west-now 1918 Newton street,
the old residence occupied by Thomas Blagden
and his estate known as Argyle, the Schneider
home (now part of the Garfield HospitaD
and probably few other homes Of more
modest type dotting the farms here and there,
for this was all farm land for number of
years after the college buildings were erected
on College Hill
Even the conditions south of Florida avenue
were typically urban at that time, and later,
many will recall who have seen washington
grow by the magic wand of Boss Shepherd and
who knew it second rate town even before
Mr.. Shepherd successfully pulled it out of
the mud.
Probably up until 1885, or even later the old
farm house of Robert Peter stood on the south
side of Florida avenue between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets. In 1927, it was bought from
the Peter heirs by Jacob Broadbeck whose
garden surrounded the dwelling. When it
owned by Mr.. Peter the assessed value
$3.50. and in the 30s when it was owned by
Mr.. Broadbeck. the assessment had increased to
twice that amount, and he was also assessed
$50 for house he owned in the block to the
east The Peter -Broadbeck house was owned
by F. Mohler in l840. In 1880, James Moore
was assessed $500 piece Of property he
owned on Fourteenth street between and T
streets, and nearby on the west side Of Four
teenth street, was Pearce's Summer Garden.
In 1887, Col. Benjamin Ogle Tayloe bought
the block between Fourteenth and Fifteenth,
w street and Florida avenue, and put in charge
Of 1t colored family named Brown who had
\ garden the place. Near the west end Of
the block was a spring from which the water
flowed to Slash Run, old stream that
open IN :-e city probably as late the early
S0s ami Al its source on Meridian Hill until
abc'.t 1890.
About 1842 William Murphy bought this
block from Mr. Tayloe and took the
gardening end as a business. His home was
on the southwest corner Of Fourteenth street
and Florida avenue and many will recall the
delicious water they have partaken Of here
q warm Summers day, from the well just in
side of Mr. Murphy's gate The writer, who
recalls this neighborhood with fondest memo
ries, believes that of the Murphy girls a
school teacher, married a Mr.. McClosky. for
many years q printer on The Star, but who
died around 40 years ago. In 1880, George T.
Murphy, farmer. residing at Fourteenth
street and Florida avenue and was probably
the of the William Murphy who bought the
property about 1912.
Fourteenth street road, as this thoroughfare
was generally called even down to the begin
ming of the present century, practically
unimproved for at least that same length of
time after the college came to this part OF the
District. Immediately preceding the Civil War
above Taylors Lane road (now Columbia road
was the farm of j. P. Kraft which extended
along Fourteenth street to Perces Mill road
NOV Park road.
During the great conflict between the States
Columbian College was turned into a hospital
in July, 1862, and, together with several frame
buildings erected to the north of the college
buildings, was called Carver Hospital Nearby
to the east, the Stone residence was also i'm
pressed for the wounded, and farther to the
north was Mount Pleasant Hospital on the
Holmead estate
In her time experiences . nurse Mrs.
Rebecca r. Pomeroy says Of Columbia College
Hospital: THE hospital was situated on