Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-11
tied there. The place is named for
him

him.
THE map of E. G. Arnold. Of
1862, representing the Notifications
around Washington. shows Bladens-
burg. but does not show Hyattsville.
AS has been said, family named
Hart appears to have lived approx
mately on the original town site at
the time this map was drawn. The
map also indicates the presence there
of six dwellings or structures-three
on either side of the railroad track
which would account for some of the
old buildings still standing.
However, three years later, there is
unmistakable evidence that the place
was then called "Hyattsville." for it
is so marked in large letters upon a
map. the original of which is stated
to have accompanied the report Of
Brig. Gen. Richard Delafield. chief
Of Engineers, U. S. Army, to the Sec
rotary of War. dated October 80. 1865.
This map does not mention the name
Hart" though it docs show that there
was a store and post Office where
now stands the town celebrating its
jubilee and its nearest neighbors-
between the railroad tracks and the
Northwest Branch-to have been Van
Wick, DR.. Dare, w. Gibson and Bar
clay. The Agricultural College to the
north is also indicated, and close by
DR. Wharton and Jackson, and mile
farther on, Forney and Mrs. Marion,
the latter, maybe, the widow of Thomas
Marion, the first to fill the Office of
Third Assistant Postmaster General.
ing what is now the Ager road,
and which recently changed hands.
was then marked as the home OF j.
Diggs. It was Dudley Diggs. who gave
a home and the comforts of life to Maj.
Pierre Charles L'Enfant. designer Of
Washington, when he was in need,
and it was here that the French en-
gineer died and was entombed, and
where his body remained until more
recent years, when it was transferred
to Arlington National Cemetery.
The old Adelphi Mill, still standing
on the Riggs road, where it is crossed
by the Northwest Branch, was then
in the name of Mrs. Logan, apparent
iy a widow. having been bought in
1889 by George w. and Ann Logan.
Indeed, there are still landmarks
around Hyattsville to attract the at
tention of those interested in old FAM
lilies and historic places. However, in
the incorporated limits of the town it.
self there are probably a very few
buildings that we're there when Mr..
Hyatt decided to move from Bladens-
burg.
1t might be interesting to know that
the writer has it from no less an au-
thority than E. A. Fuller, who con-
ducts the Hyattsville Independent, and
who has been helpful in giving in
formation for this story, that the
reason assigned by Mr.. Hyatt for NOV
ing from Bladensburg was the sale
there Of too much hard liquor. At any
rate, he never allowed it to be sold
IA I1y hIlN ~ Is SdIu llIdD HULL.
ing stronger than beer is sold there
now.
ONE house that was undoubtedly
standing-at least in part-when
the town was founded, and. perhaps
even century before that time, was
the dwelling on the property known
the Ravenswood, or the Mansion
House Lot. now occupied by H. Win
ship Wheatley. former president of
the District Bar Association. a native
of Washington. and a member of an
old local family, dating back several
generations.
This old building of brick and stucco
has been considerably modified and
improved by Mr.. Wheatley since he
purchased it. about 20 years ago, but
there is sufficient Of the original
structure remaining to indicate it's
erection at a period when the Con-
stitution was still in its infancy. The
old wooden joist, hewn and shaped
with the AK, is evidence of its great
age. An old cistern on the premises,