Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-02
Washmgton'S
Active Life
Had Strongest
ASSOCIATIONS in
the old City
Where Church
Attendance
Has Custom
of the First
President

woman is a long one. 1t begins as
follows:
ITO the Memory Of a
FEMALE STRANGER,
Whose mortal suffering terminated on
the 4th day of october, 1916,
Aged % years and months.
This stone is erected by her discon-
solate husband. in whose arms she
sighed out her latest breath, and who,
under God, did his utmost to sooth
the cold dull fear of death.
How loved, how honor'd once avails
thee not,
To whom related or by whom begot;
A heap of dust alone remains of thee
It's all thou art, and all the proud
shall be-"
A LEXANDRIA has had its troubles
"a as we'll as its successes and pleas
ures. On January l8, 1927, a fire de-
stroyed from 80 to 100 houses, and
no doubt many valuable records. but
it still has so many historic places
that those lost at that time are not
IllSScO llONt 4OI llICLC 40 oIAlA
Point. where the first corner stcEe of
the District of Columbia was placed,
April Is, 1871; Gadsbys Tavern, the
Fairfax House, Yeatman home. Wash
ingtons headquarters (old City Tav-
ern). old Friendship Fire Co., Masonic
Lodge Room, Tennyson Inn, Ramsay
House, John Dalton's home now the
Ann Lee Memorial Home), the Mar
shall House and ever so many other
places of note.
During the War of 1912, left with
out any protection, it surrendered to
the British, who took away with them
all the tobacco, flour and other stores
that had not been secreted During
the Civil War 1t was occupied by
Union troops, and the reminders OF
that conflict would alone fill volumes
The bursting of large gun aboard
the U. S. S. Princeton of its shores
during President Tyler's administra-
ton. was a serious disaster. but
brought that President a bride. When
the Wawaset burned, many years
later, several AleXandrians aboard
we're lost. including number of the
Griffin family. who repose in the
Methodist Protestant Cemetery.
An old landmark on washington
street, which bears the sign of spark
plug company, and which, according
to reports, is soon to be modernized
into an apartment building. was orig
inally used for the manufacture Of
bleached and unbleached muslin. It
was likely erected sometime SUISSE
quent to March II, 1847, the date the
Mount Vernon Cotton Manufacturing
Co, its first owner and occupant,
was incorporated by the General
Assembly of Virginia.
During the period of 1861 to 1865, 1t
was used for war purposes, and though
the manufacture of cotton goods was
resumed following the Civil War, yet
the results were not sufficiently re.
munerative, and after the plant was
bought by Robert Garrett. it was
closed, to prevent competition with
his factory at Savage, Md. For awhile
it was used by the Portner Brewing
Co.. and more recently for the manu-
facture of spark plugs.
A building which has the appear.
ance of age. and which stands on the
west side of the main road between
Washington and Alexandria, near Del
Ray, is generally known as the Poor
House, having previously been used
for that purpose for many years. It's
early history is not clear, though 1t
appears to have been a mansion In
its day. At an early date. the ground
at least was owned by Richard H. Rob-
ertS and wife, who transferred title to
William Duncan, and later T. B. Pinn
and wife transferred it TO the City
Council of Alexandria and by 1t to
the supervisors of Alexandria County,
Va.
1t is evidently part of an old estate,
for nearby are buried John F. Smith,
whose death is recorded In the
National Intelligencer of January 20,
1925; Rebecca, the wife of John r.
Smith, died May 4, 1910, and on her
gravestone is inscribed: t'
"All that come my grave to see, %
AS am now, you soon may be, -
Repent and turn to God in time
For was taken in my prime" ~
The earliest date on the stones in
this little plot (Which Is taking care
Of itself. and you know what that
means) Is 1907, and the stone is to the
memory of "a loving wife and kind
mother" -,