Evening star., 1936-04-26
N PARK ASSOCIATED WITH TWO WARS OF NATION
HAD WATER SUPPLY
Originally Part of Port Royal and Once
Owned by Revolutionary Oficer-Used
as Camp Ground in Civil War Days.

in conducting the water to designated
points, constructing reservoirs and
fountains at the public offices and in
closing and planting trees in "Foun-
tain Square"
According to an old-timer, there
we're few streets in the vicinity graded
then. the Fourteenth street side of
the square being included. but with
the erection Of Franklin row on K
street between Twelfth and Thir-
teenth streets, which occurred about
this time. some street Improvements
we're made, and the grades necessi-
tated an embankment, for the level Of
the square was several feet below, and
much Of 1t was marshy. Indeed. 1t
may be said that it was mostly virgin
soil.
TT was we'll known to the boys of
the 40s as the public lot. Early in
the SOS it was filled up to the grade
and ceased to be an eyesore."
The water from the Davidson
spring, to the northeast Of Franklin
Park. and a flow Of water from a
spring in the neighborhood of Tenth
and M streets formed a considerable
stream in the early days Of the city,
as it flowed down Thirteenth street
to H, where 1t went enthusiastically
to the old Masonic Temple at Ninth
and streets. where it picked up an
other large spring and continued on
its course southwark, emptying into
the old Tber at point between Ninth
and Tenth streets, where now stands
the Department of Justice building.
At an early date the water from
the Davidson springs was piped to q
reservoir near the middle of Thir-
teenth street between I and X streets.
from which it was distributed. In
! time, however, after the introduction
of the present Potomac water system,
1t was covered over and completely
lost, and did not come to light again
until early in March, 1928, when 1t
was uncovered by the workmen Of
the District Water Department. It
was constructed of brick and was
about Is feet wide and 10 feet deep.
THE spring from Franklin Park
which furnished water to the
White House was piped through the
alley running north and south. i'm
snediately to the south of the park
The large spout, before referred to,
vas to the north of the fountain
which at one time helped to beautify
this reservation and to make it more
attractive. Indeed, in days gone by
nearly all of our large parks contained
fountains which played daily during
the Summer months, and it would not
be bad move to replace at least
| some OF them while changes are being
made. The fountain in Franklin Pack
had basin 80 feet in diameter, and
there were also several drinking foun-
tains, and the grounds were planted
with a pleasing variety Of ornamental
trees and shrubs, or. to quote the
National Capital Parks: "It contains
more than 400 trees and shrubs, rep
resenting rs distinct species, and con-
tributes an interesting touch of nature
to downtown Washington"
Perhaps the larger spout or spring
cannot be located today, but in 1881,
| in addition to designating it as being
to the north of the fountain, 1t was
said to be between two iron and stone
covers built in the arch constructed
over the spring.
DURING the Civil War Franklin
Park was taken over by the Army,
and here temporarily encamped the
18th New York Volunteers, COM
manded by Gen. Daniel Butterfeld.
1t was during this time that it became
necessary to carry out the court mar
tial's decree in the case of Pvt. Michael
Lanahan, convicted of killing his su-
perior officer, Sergt Brennan, Com
pany A, I'd Infantry, U. S. A.. on
October %, 1862, at the camp on
Georgetown College grounds, and in
which Franklin Square played an
incidental part.
"Lanahan, having been court-mar-
tailed, was adjudged guilty of the
charges preferred against him. and
was subsequently sentenced to be
hanged on Monday, the 9Th day of
January, 1862, at such hour as the