Evening star., 1933-09-10

NM proved July 16. $780, and
" amended March g. 1851, there
were already two town sites
laid out within the present boundaries of the
city east of Rock Creek. One, south OF the
Capitol in the vicinity of the United States
Engineers headquarters, was known as CAROLS
burg and the other, not far west OF the White
House was known as Hamburg or FunkstoWn,
a part of which is well known to olo-timers
as Foggy Bottom. Carrollsburg-laid out IN
177o-the writer has already discussed at length
in these columns giving the names OF the
catlv lot owners who were among the first
settlers Of Washington. The plat OF Hamburg
was recorded at Upper Marlboro, Md, October
o. It'll and both towns, therefore, came into
existence, at least on paper, prior to the war
CT the American Revolution.
Hamburg was laid out by Jacob Funk, and
for this reason is frequently referred to in
carly records as "Funkstown." Funk purchased
the tract of land, consisting of about 130 acres,
~ 1765, from Thomas Johns At a considerably
earlier date in 1864, when a part of Widows
Mite it was acquired by John Langworth Ap-
parently when it was first laid off into 287
lots Funk did not Immediately record his
plat as evidenced by receipt given by him
three years before this was done. incidentally,
this receipt, in describing the property, con-
tanned the interesting information that 1t lay
between Rock Grick and Coos Grick," the
last name being the designation by which Tiber
Greek was also known, and by which 1t was
facetiously referred to by Tom Moore. the Irish
poet when he visited this city in 1904
A map Of Hamburg. in the Library OF Con-
gress shows five streets and an alley running
east and west, and from the river, northward,
they were: Water street, Front alley Second
street, Third Raven street, Fourth street
and Fifth street. The streets running north
and south would remind of Philadelphia.
for We find such names as High street. Arch
street Market street Persemon (Persimmon)
street. Walnut, Locust, Mulberry and Rock
streets. Front alley 80 feet in width, and
the streets varied in width from 60 to 80 feet.
"A /HEN the present site for the Federal city
w had been determined upon just what to
do with Carrollsburg and Hamburg was prob
lem President Washington early realized the
Importance of obliterating these towns entirely,
in order that they might not interfere with the
plans being drawn by Maj. L'Enfant Fortu-
nately although many Of the lots had been
sold and hence the title was vested in many
different persons. yet few, if any structures
had been erected in the subdivision. With
Csrrollsburg. the lots appear to have fallen
into the hands Of spectators. but with Ham,
burg. the names of the title holders would
largely indicate the opposite conclusion
Gen. Washington's concern in the town site
Of Hamburg is conveyed in several letters
written upon the subject. On February II,
1891 he addressed letter from Philadelphia
to william Deakins, jr, and Benjamin Stod-
dert, in which he said:
The Maryland Assembly has authorized a
certain number of acres to be taken without the
consent of the owners or making compensation
as therein provided. This will be principally
useful as to the old lots Of Hamburg. How
ever, by purchasing up lots or as many as we
can, We shall be free to take on the terms Of
the act, so much of any other lands in our
way and consequently those whose propretors
refuse all arrangement I will, therefore, beg
the favour of you to take measures Immediately
for buying up all the lots you can in Hamburg,
on the lowest terms you can, not exceeding the
rate of 25 pounds the acre.
Il leave it to yourselves to dispatch a pri-
vate agent for this purpose, to treat with the
pcoprietors wherever to be founder to do it
by any other means which, in your discretion,
shall appear not too expensive, and which may
not excite suspicion of their being on behalf
OF the public. I am, etc..
In September 1888 the President purchased
four lots in Carrollsburg, and later. in order
to show no partialty as to any particular sec
tion of the city, purchased square numbered
21 said to be in Hamburg, which he refers to
in his will saying:
.'Actuated by the principle already mentioned.
I give and bequeath to George Washington
Parke Gusts. the grandson of my wife and my
ward and to his heirs the tract I hold on
Four Mile Run in the vicinity of Alexandria
containing 1,2OO acres more or less, and my
entire square, No. 81, in the City Of Wash
ingtOn"
THIS square is between Twenty-fifth and
] Twcnty-sixth and D and streets north
west, il the block Immediately west of the old
observatory grounds, and was most likely ad-
,jacen. to Hamburg since the western boundary
. OF the town was probably at TWenty-th1rd
street. The eastern line ran approximately
between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets:
no fhcr,, 1iy1a urQS