Evening star., 1936-08-09

proximity of Columbian College. This
small remaining section is on the
Fourteenth street side Of what was for
many years the residence of Justice
John M. Harlan Of the United States
Supreme Court. The fiat top has
given way to a rustic one, but below
this remains the original wall.
A r THIS day no one will deny the
almost superhuman vision Of
Luther Rice in placing Columbian
College out in what was then, and for
nearly half century afterward, prac.
tically a wilderness. Indeed. when
the first college building was completed
in 1921, the only residence in that
vicinity was Commodore Porter's
home, which was about in the center
Of Sixteenth street extended and about
on line with what was until recently
the French Embassy. According to
Boschke's map, surveyed during the
years 1856 to 1859, the only entrance
leading to this old mansion was from
the northwest and by way of Taylor's
lane, now Columbia road.
To the north as early as 1903 was
the Holmead's race course, where some
of the most celebrated races of that
period took place. An idea of the
magnitude of the affair at that time
is contained in letter written back
home by member Of Congress, dated
November 8, 1903, in which he says:
"Washington, November 8, 1903,
1.-THE horse races for the season
have begun this day within the Ter.
ritory Of Columbia, and I have been
on the turf to behold this great and
fashionable exhibition. The ground
on which the coursers try their speed
is about miles from the Capitol
Hill. For several weeks this time has
been anticipated with great expecta.
ton. People from far and near
throng to behold the spectacle. Par
ticularly from the adjacent States Of
Virginia and Maryland a multitude
Of spectators were assembled. The
races, though beginning today (Tues.
day), are to continue until Saturday.
80 keen was the relish for the
sport that there was a serious wish
Of a number of the members to ad-
journ Congress for few days. Hav-
ing worked so faithfully on the
Louisiana business, they said 1t was
high time to rest a little. The Sen.
ate actually did adjourn for three
days, not on account Of the races,
you will observe. but merely to admit
fA ha of kanir
chamber, which had fallen down
few days before. The House Of Rep
resentatives met and adjourned; but
you must not suppose this was done
to allow the honorable gentlemen to
show themselves on the race ground;
you are rather to imagine that no
business was in due state Of prepa-
ration to be acted upon. And so.
there being nothing to do, these gen.
tlemen went to the place where the
entertainment was TO be held. to while
away the morning and enjoy few
hours pastime.
my mornings work having been
dispatched, I went to the place of
rendezvous. Gen. Baily, Judge YER
planck and Mr.. Hausbrouck rode in
the coach with me. Not only the
gentle and the simple we're there, but
almost all the great folk, including
officers Of Government There we're
great number Of ladies, who mostly
sat In the carriages which brought
them. Several Of the reverend clergy,
too. were at this exhibition Of the
speed Of horses"
TIP TO the period of the Civil War
land in this vicinity was still
under cultivation, and nearby Was the
Stone Hospital, later known as Calu-
met Place, where Gen. John A. Logan
lived and died; Carver Hospital and
Mount Pleasant Hospital we're also
not far away. During the 80s there
were quite a number of families re-
siding on Fourteenth street extended,
from Florida avenue north to Park
road, among whom were John G.
Judd Of the firm Of Judd s. Det-
weller, who built residence, about
1884, on the west side of the highway
about the intersection with Columbia
road. Not many months later Gen.
David G. Swain, the Judge advocate
general Of the Army, erected a home