Evening star., 1934-01-28

army are known to have passed through
Georgetown about the same date. and some
might have stayed over night. The French
Sanitary Corps. most likely, also passed through
Georgetown.
The Daughters of the American Revolution
are planning to mark the site of this old ford
crossing Rock Greek, which Is one Of the few
authentic local sites having to do with the
soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
I YONS' MILL was on the north side Of
l. Rock Creek across from the eastern bound
ary of Oak Hill Cemetery, and Adams Mill
referred to in the deed to the Hines property
IS Johnson's Mill, and which was known by
other names as well-was located ON the
creek not far to the right of the Calvert
Street Bridge. In the early days it belonged to
the owners of the estate, which included
the Holt House. the Office building of the Ma
tional Geological Park
In 1900 the land upon which 1t stands
no doubt. the surrounding land itself-was
transferred by Benjamin Stoddert to william
Mackall. who. in turn, in 1903, conveyed to
Jonathan Shoemaker apparently the mill prop
erty alone. Shoemaker sold to Roger johnson
In 1909, and the latter to John Quincy Adams
tn 1925. When DR.. Henry Holt bought the
mansion and grounds in 1s43 it was known
IS jackson Hill" There were no trees then
surrounding the house, and these Dr.. Holt
planted at about the time the purchase was
made.
The house Is quite likely more than 100
years old, for it IS said to have been occupied
At different times by Presidents John Quincy
Adams, Andrew Jackson and Martin Van
Buren,, before DR.. Holt moved there The
latter was born in 1909, and his name appears
In the city directory of 1880 "Dr. Henry c.
Holt Jackson HILL Columbia road" At this
time he was evidently farming the land, for
Henry Holt and Charles D. Holt, probably sons
of the doctor, were at this time also living at
the same address, their occupations being Riven
as farmer"
Within the memory of many, there were
swimming holes in Rock Greek in this vicinity,
where the boys delighted to 60 in the Summer
time to swim, and each place, Of course, had
its particular name, such as Shady Bottom
Ten-foot Hole, Soldiers Greek, Sycamore, Big
Rock, Little Rock and others. There was
rivalry then among the boys of the different
parts of Northern washington, just as there
was at an earlier date throughout the District,
and each boy carried his trotting ticket as q
means Of protection, but even this, sometimes,
availed him very little, and when the going
was rough, he was fortunate if he did not
have to go home in q barrel.
Washington Heights, which embraces much
of the territory lying to the west of Columbia
road, from Florida avenue northward to CAL
vert street. of the best sellers in
its day. The original tract was sold for $4,000
at the close of the Civil War, while, about 20
years later, William Walter Phelps paid
$4,000 for the same property, ard few years
later proved his financial astuteness by selling
1t to = syndicate. headed by J. B. Winner, for
$257, 500.
Building operations became rather brisk
about this time, and by 1891 It was reported
that $500 900 had been expended In this sub
division in erecting homes and from this time
on the early Washingtonian saw his famous
blackberry field grow into . city Of magnificent
residences