davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-08-08

in the land lying west of the North
west Branch, to the District of
Columbia and Montgomery County
lines, in the general vicinity OF Green
Hill" were William Metzerott, P. P
Gross, B. L. and w. B. Jackson, L. H.
Browns store. johnson, John Powell
Albert Charles, John Steiner near
another old milD. Andrew Powell,
George Neitzey, Robert Brown, James
Brown, Garfield, John Joy (manager
for Mr.. Riggs. Thomas Brown, j. E.
Ray Albert Gleason. William Sibley,
Thomas Miller, Mrs Morrell, John
Morrell Lewis Maurath, William r.
McChesney, Amos w. Souder, Thomas
Murphy, John Miller. John T. Barnes,
Washington E. Nalley, John Miller,
James Miller H. Hiden, Daniel Mehrl-
ing, Arthur Cosack and John Sauls-
man.
IN SEEKING information about the
Cecil Plantation, the old estate
OF the Davis family. the writer con-
cluded this was probably the land
surveyed for Col Henry Darnall in
1888, and called Girls portion, or that
it was carved out of the vast Carroll
estate. The Darnall tract, according
to early records. extended from Rock
Creek, eastward to O. H.. P. Clark's
farm, 3ss miles. and we are told
"the Ashton and Sligo Turnpike passes
through the estate. and that the
Brookville and Washington turnpike
crosses it." The Blair estate. known
as Silver Spring was included in
this survey.
Sligo Branch apparently passed
through the Davis property. and the
writer found that, in 1878. the follow
ing persons owned property between
this stream and the Burnt Mill road
to the north, and from the old Ashton
and Colesville turnpike, to the east
to the Prince Georges County line to
the west. namely: Olive P. Clark
Mrs. Clark. Montgomery Blair, Colum-
bus JOY, Charles Montgomery. Samuel
Filius, William Beall. Frank Gettings.
John Montgomery. Samuel R. Priest
and Benjamin Davis.
At this same period from the south
side of Sligo Branch to the District
line were the following property hold
ers: William H. Thompson. J. L.
Dorsey. Charles Stewart. Washington
Bonifant. Hy. Notion, N. Tyler, Ben
jamin Schuder, Montgomery Blair,
Samuel Fenton. C. H. Breshear, Will
liam Talbot, Perry Collins, Mrs. NJ
Blair. Thomas Jones and Daniel
Mehrling.
The way Washington is developing
in every available direction makes it
most interesting to those who are old
enough to look backward for just a
few decades over this whole region.
and in this respect Takoma Park is no
exception, for it is really hard to real
ize what vast changes have taken
place in this area in what seems to
be only brief space Of time.
A CCORDING to Guy Clinton. who
has written of the site Of Ia
koma Park before that town was laid
out, in this neighborhood lived the
Bladens, the Hagens and the Cock
erilles, and there were the farms Of
the Jones, the Naughtons and Hodges.
Evening star., 1937-08-08

the level, and the walls, which time
we'll intact. Above the walls there was
originally superstructure OF wood,
covered by hip roof containing one
full story and an attic beneath the
sloping shingle roof and the ridgepole
The Rambler" the writer's prede-
cessor in writing these stories for The
Star, who died February IL, 1928, and
whose real name was j. Harry Shan
non, visited this old mill in the Spring
Of 1914, and then met H. r. Freeman,
who was residing in an old brick house
nearby. The interview between The
Rambler" and MIR. Freeman brought
out the following interesting COM
ments:
That he was born there in 1857
and had lived there all the years
since. His father, William H. Free
man. lived there all his life, and his
grandfather, Thomas Scheckles, lived
there before him. He said that he
understood that the mill was built
about $50 years ago. The date of the
erection of the mill had been rudely
cut in the stone of the foundation,
but a long while ago it had been 50
mutilated by some boys from the Agri-
cultural College that it could not now
be deciphered.
HE had learned from his father,
who got it from his father and mother,
that an English family named Scofield
moved into that part OF the country
a good many years before the Ameri-
can Revolution and built the brick
house on the hill, the stone house op-
posite the mill, and then the mill. 1t
was operated as Scof1eld's mill. Then
another English family by the name
of Logan acquired the property, and
the place was long known as Logan's
Mill. The property was next taken
over by the Riggs family. and some
time before the Civil War it came to
be known as Riggs Mill The milling
business in that part of the country
began to languish with the develop
ment of the great milling industry in
the West, but the mill continued to
struggle on for existence until a few
years since"
IN 1890 there was a Mrs CaAandra
Chew, living in Montgomery
County. who had two daughters and
four slaves. At that time there were
also residing in the same county
Abraham Sheckles, two John Sheckles
and two Richard Sheckles. Samuel
Sheckles was then resident of Prince
Georges County, as were Joseph
Schoolfield. his wife, six sons and
two daughters. Any Of these might
have been related to the early settlers
around the Adelphi Mill mentioned
by The Rambler"
Naturally, there were not a large
number of residents in this part of
Montgomery County when operations
at the Adelphi Mill were at their
height, but at the time of the Civil
War the population of Bladensburg
district, in which it was located,
showed a decided increase, and by
1879. according to Hopkins plat book,
considerable population was noted,
and We find residing near the mill,
or owning property in that neighbor-
hood, John Tomey, William H. Free
man, Columbus Chew and George w.
Riggs, and those who were interested
Evening star., 1937-08-08

please, Is this the way to Pumpkin
town."
"Pumpkintown? Nav, that's miles
back"
Mrs. Motorist looks daggers Ut hus-
band.
Back where?"
Back the road you come along.
1t amt much-just few signs at q
crossroads. There's nag station
long the railroad apiece back In the
woods and a store bout half a mile
down the road. Can't miss it."
"Oh, ho!" says John. 80 you've
been to Pumpkintown before! Know
all about 1t. Know all about the
road. I told you there was a sign
at that crossroad"
you certainly read It cock-eyed,
then. 'Pumpkintown-42 milesp Hah!
Forty miles out Of our way, just be-
cause you're 70 darn stubborn you
won't stop and ask. Always the wise
guyl"
And 70, FIR. far into ths night.
Evening star., 1937-08-08

maybe . coke or q drink Of water" :"
THE devil We willard let 60 O.
me, darn you-dont you see, you
idiot-that we've been 1872 miles from
Washington and Pumpkintown Is only
1856? Look at the speedometer! Look
ut i'll"
An unshaved, unkept man in over
alls and greasy felt hat strolls from
behind the house, walks to the back
of the car and sticks the gas pump
hose into the tank opening.
Hey, there" Mr.. Motorist calls.
Eve don't want any gas"
"Whatcha want, them"
"Go on, now, ask him." says
Mrs. M.
"You ask him. You've got your
voice raised 30 high he can hear you
better"
VERY well, then, I'll get out. And,
what's more I won't come back"
"Oh, for goodness sake. ask him
and get It over with"
Nrs. Mo1erHt: Gan you tell ~,
Evening star., 1937-08-08

night OF November 6, 1908, when tho
school had occupied the structure but
few months, the entire plant was
wiped out by fire, one Of the most
costly conflagrations Takoma ever
had. New quarters were soon begun,
and the following year one wing of the
present administration building was
erected.
This institution had its beginning
in 1893, when Prof. Bliss opened his
electrical school in the Warder Build-
ing, at the southeast corner of Mint n
and F streets northwest, where stood
in the early days the home of Georea
c. Whiting, for whom a Masonc
lodge in this city was named.
At first there was a small class o,
but 20 students, mostly from the Cen
sus ONCE. From this building the
school moved to 2l9 G street, where
it remained until it moved to Takoma
Park.
Among the more celebrated grad
yates OF this school was the late C.
Francis Jenkins, who graduated in the
second class. From the very first
this inventive genius believed ma
chine could be produced which could
project a life-size picture.
His facilities were limited, but he
soon built small machine in a
washstand. while the school was still
being conducted at the Ninth and F
street address. Soon afterward, the
machine being perfected, he was able
to throw upon the wall Of the school
iife-sized motion picture of
dancing girl. His inventions became
fundamental to the industry and his
patents most valuable.
Another institution which has had
much to do with the development Of
Takoma Park is that OF the Seventh
day Adventists, who in the Summer
OF 1903 purchased some 4s acres OF
laDH tbrp,,uh u-hi
Evening star., 1937-08-08

whom I was named-A tall, strong
looking old lady-rode horseback every
morning until few days before her
death, when she was 80, and her spirit
should linger along that winding road
way which follows Sligo Branch, now
where the Seventh-day Adventists
have great sanitarium. This was
opened for her to ride horseback
through these woods long before the
Civil War and extended about 7 miles,
almost entirely on the Silver Spring
property
For years the old Sligo Mill was one
OF the landmarks Of Takoma Park.
From 1924 to 1926 it was rented to
Charles King Tubman rented it
previous to 1881. when it was rented
by Faw. In 1888 Pearce Pumphrey
rented it, and John Briscoe Davis
leased it in 1889, and until l845, and
likely afterward.
ONE Of the earliest and most i'm
portant improvements made in
Takoma Park was the sanitarium
erected there in 1889, OF which The
Star said:
One of the most important OF the
many Improvements now under wav
the sanitarium soon to be erected
by r. C. Flower of Boston.
Its location will be on the higher
grounds in the northern end of the
park. and so situated that the Sligo
Will wind around the foot OF the ele-
Vation on which the main building
will be placed"
In 1903 Prof. Louis Denton Bliss pur-
chased the North Takoma Hotel prop
erty. containing $50 rooms. This build
Ing was erected in 1892 and after it had
been remodeled and equipped to suit
the purposes of the school, it was oc-
cupied and work begun there as a
residence institution for the Bliss
Electrical School Houever n, +ho
Evening star., 1937-08-08
DOMESTIC CLASHES ON TOUR
Family Disputes Over Routes Be Taken Are Ended Usually
After Time Lost Has Mounted to High Figure and Tenn
pers Are Keyed to Breaking Point.

THAT sign back there said 1t was"
What did it say?"
ITO Pumpkintown-42 miles"
Il didn't see any sign"
We'll, it was there all right"
Don't you think we better stop and
ask"
ASK WHAT"
1T this is the way to Pumpkin
town."
Now, listen. dear. I know where
I'm going. Take 1t easy. Were per-
fectly o. K"
We'll, just the same, think we bet
ter ask"
Now, what's the use Of stopping
when KNOW we're on the right
road?"
John gives the pedal another push
and the speedometer mounts from 40
to As to so.
"Oh, John. not so fast. We may
be on the wrong road and going miles
out of the way"
Silence for total elapsed time Of
80 minutes.
John. -"
"What?"
please ask"
Good Lord! Ask what? Anyhow,
there's no one to ask, unless you want
to call out to that clump Of trees. They
were here when you came along this
road last. They'll back me up"
Nov, John, I won't have you talk
ing to me that way. I Just know this
isn't right and we're going to be late
for dinner and the children will be
cross and we won't get back till way
after dark"
At THIS, Mr.. sure-Thing turns on
the radio, loud. His motive is
understandable, but his mistake is
grave. After the closing bars of some
particularly noisy swing music, which
the wife abhors, anyhow, there comes
the Announcer's voice:
This is Station WRVA, Richmond" J"
Mrs. Motorist pounces.
Il knew it! knew it! You fool!
You've got us hudreds Of miles some
where In the wrong direction. We
couldn't hear Richmond II we were on
the road to Pumpkintown. You can
only get Baltimore and Washington
over in that direction. Now, stop, and
do as say! Ask some one how to get
on the road to Pumpkintown. Well
probably have to 60 all the way back
to the last crossroads, where you
THOUGHT you saw some kind Of sign
Probably your old sign-if there was
one, and don't think there was, said
Pittsburgh or Philadelphia or Pump
kins for Sale"
For the Lords sake, Jane, will you
shut up! I know what I'm doing"
Down goes foot on gas pedal and up
goes speedometer to SIS, to 60.
A solitary individual is seen several
hundred yards ahead, hoeing in q
tobacco field. Mrs Motorist bolts for
ward Is II struck by an electric cur
rent.
John, stop! Stop, do you hear me?
Stop! Don't you see that man up
there. We can ask him."
Mr.. Motorist slows down to 20.
Evening star., 1937-08-08
By William 4. Bell. Jr.

Divorce lawyers join at this season
the merry company of automobile,
automobile accessory and gasoline
salesmen and others to whom the call
Of the open road is a ringing Of coin
When John Motorist takes the wife
and hddies (the little dears) for
ride in the country, all roads lead to
Reno, and 1t is . patient man or
woman who can detour the rough
highway OF marital dissension, once
the family automobile is beyond the
city limits.
All may be sweetness and light In
the home, but once a couple has for
saken their abode for the high road,
let Harmony beware. A wife,
mother. q sweetheart or a maiden
aunt may not be back seat drivers in
the sense that they seek to regulate
speed, to dictate destination or to give
advice on the handling Of the car.
They may not even demand a turn at
the wheel, for which the author, no
suffragette. offers profound thanks.
But let problem Of direction arise a
doubt as to route, and there will be
savage words.
No one knows quite why it is, but
q woman In an automobiles is woknan
in doubt. Signs mean nothing, maps
mean nothing, printed instructions
mean nothing. She is always sure
that you're going the wrong way, and
she wants to stop at every third rev.
olution of the motor to ask directions.
The male motorist, on the other
hand, believes he Is omniscient
When doubt creeps into his mind, he
smothers 1t with another stab Of his
foot on the accelerator Gases it to
death with carbon monoxide, and goes
blithely on his way-often the wrong
way. He simply will not pause to ask
. question. However much of a
Caspar Milquetoast he may be other
wise, behind the wheel Of a car he Is
Q creature of splendid and foolhardy
self confidence.
So here we have a case Of ire
sistible force meeting immovable OBJ
tect, and the result Is spontaneous
combustion.
"ToHN." begins Mrs. Motorist, some-
what timdly, this doesn't look
like the road to Pumpkintown. I've
been over 1t before, and I don't re-
member any Of this. That filling sta
ton We Just passed-the one with the
tourist cabins-there's no place like
that on the PumpNntown road"
"Oh, we're all right" says Mr.
Know-it-all Probably that station s
been put up since you came by last. !"
well, that was only month or so
ago. 1t couldn't have gone up that
quickly-just couldn't have. There
may have been a filling station along
here. but 1t seems to me it was a red
one. This ones white. Yes, I'm
sure It was a red one"
maybe they painted It,"
Nov, John. don't be funny. I tell
you I know the road. and this isn't
It."
Evening star., 1937-08-08

"Aw, he won't know anything. None
of these dumb farmers can tell you
anything. Anyhow, he's too far away
couldn't hear U.s."
You do as say this Instant"
The speedometer drops to 30. The
man In the field is drawing abreast
Mrs. Motorit thrusts her head
through the window. Her prospective
informer Is so yards from the road
side
"oh, mister!' she screams, "'zis the
way to Pumpkintown Pumpkin
town Pumpkintown?"
CHE raises a finger, jabs 1t forward; +;
raises querulous eyebrows as if the
question were addressed to some one
foot away. Her words are flicked
away by the rush of air past the car.
The farmer glances up, returns to his
hoeing.
Wonder what she's yelling about?"
he thinks.
"John I'm not going any farther
unless you stop this car and ask di-
rections. I'm going to get out right
here. You went past so fast that
man didn't even hear what I was
saying. Now, listen to me. You can
stop the car and let me out. Wait q
minute. there's a house up ahead, or
filling station or something. Drive
up and we'll ask"
There won't be any one there.
They're all out in the fields Farmers
don't just stay around the house all
day waiting for people to ask them
silly questions. you know"
Il don't care. It's not a silly ques-
ton, and you stop this darn car.
This is the last time I'll ever go for
drive with you. Why, wouldn't
even 60 around to the corner drug
store with you driving. You'd have
US up somewhere on the north side of
the city"
With reluctance million times
greater than that Of the schoolboy
creeping like snail unwilling to
school," John pulls alongside . frame
structure that u filling station, resi-
| dence and store. There Is no one In
sight.
BLOW the horn, John"
what for? I don't want any
thing"
Mrs. Motorist reaches over and
gives the horn . punch, wishing 1t
were her husbands nose. No re-
sponse.
II told you 50. They're all away.
Or asleep"
The motor Is running and John
begins to engage the gears
Nov you wait q minute! don't
care If there's no one here. I'm
getting out. You don't give any one
half chance"
MR. MOToR1sT opens the door
and starts to get out. John
grasps her wrist and pulls her back
to the seat. She struggles.
Jaw, pipe down, and get back In.
The breese1l cool you OF. Well be
In Pumpkintown tn minutes and
I'll buy you . champagne cocktail or
; maybe . nice strawberry sundae O.
Evening star., 1937-08-08

settle here as history so notably
records. OF course, Cecil County, in
the northeastern part OF the State, Is
named either for some member Of the
Cecil family or for Cecil Calvert, Lord
Baltimore.
In glancing over the first United
States census. for 1890, but two heads
OF families Of the name Cecil were
found then living in Montgomery
County, Md. these being Archibald
Cecil and Kinsey Cecil. At this time
the former was married and had two
sons under l6 years of age and two
daughters, while Kinsey Cecil was
married and had one son under l6.
At this time there were also living in
Frederick County William Cecil, sr.,
and William Cecil. jr. John Cecil was
then living in Queen Anne County.
A s TO the Davis side Of the Cecil
and Davis families the family
Bible records the issue of James Davis
and Anna Cecil as being Thomas Tru-
man Cecil Davis, born March 10,
1900 John Briscoe Davis, born Janu-
ary IA. 1902; Philip Sabret Cecil Davis,
born October IA, 1906: Eliza Davis
born January 10. 1909; sabret Cecil
Davis, born August 20. 1911; Hezekiah
Davis, born September 6, 1913; Sam
uel Cecil Davis, born February,
1916, and Benjamin Davis, born May
%, 1918.
Among the Davises recorded as
living in Montgomery County in 1870
are Griffith Davis Ephraim, Forrest,
three persons by the name Of Charles
and Baxter, jeremiah, William. John,
John ", Joseph, Levi, Lodowick, Mary,
Norris Nathan, Robert, Thomas and
Walter Davis.
Benjamin Davis, who lived In the
little log house which originally stood
near Carroll and Garland avenues,
died IS or 40 years ago, when what
was left of his farm. except the ceme-
terlal plot, was sold to Mr. Thomp-
son. who removed the little house to
Greenwood avenue. where it now
stands near the old apple orchard
which once belonged to the Davis
family. Later 1t was weatherboarded
over the logs. and remains In this dis
guised way today.
Early in his life Benjamin Davis,
who was born in 1918, as stated. was
a miller at the old Riggs mill. which
is still standing on the Riggs road
and generally known by that name
though it is more correctly the Adel-
phi Mill. 1t is a picturesque old struc-
ture and received its supply OF water,
when in operation years ago. from the
Northwest Branch Of the Anacostia
River, which crosses the road at this
point Today this stream compares
with Rock Creek. though it was much
larger a century ago-and so was
Rock Creek.
Sometime ago the writer referred to
this old mill, but since it is Just as
interesting now as it was then, he has
no apology for repeating himself in
this. story, Indeed, it is we'll worth
trip out there to see, and will be
readily recognized by the State marker
which reads:
"Adelphi Mill
This old grist MILL built in the
Summer of 1895, probably by two
brothers, 1ssacher and Mahon SEQ
field. In 1911 the mill was also used
for wool carding. The millers cottage
Is Of the same period"
THE mill Is about so feet front by
so feet In depth. It is one story
under ground and two stories above
Evening star., 1937-08-08
By John Clagen Proctor.

IN THE early days there were many
private burial plots in and around
Washington. which were here
L when the Capital was moved to
this location in 1900, and some of
these could be identified for a con-
siderable number of years afterWard.
One of the most notable of these was
the Burnes' graveyard. which stood on
the south side of H street, between
Ninth and Tenth streets, about where
is now the Fintcraft Building. and
here was the famous Van Ness
Mausoleum until 1872, when 1t was
removed to Oak Hill Cemetery.
However. although so many of the
early burial places hereabout are
known. still, occasionally suspicion OF
an unknown one bobs up, as was re-
Gently the case when an excavation
was being made in downtown Seventh
street, and human skull was un-
earthed. In this case there was no
record Of burial place in this par
ticular location, and 1t is quite prob
able the skull was brought to this
spot from some nearby graveyard. or
it might have been just part of
homo specimen.
But once in a while hitherto un-
known graveyard does show up. and
proves very interesting, as one the
writer recently investigated in re-
sponse to a letter addressed to the
Editor of The Star, in which the
author said:
Being constant reader of The
Star ever since 1 can remember and
quite interested in unusual and quaint
things and doings or customs of by
gone days. my eye caught this little
clipping I am inclosing with my letter
In Thursday or Friday evenings Star
It is interesting to me, because I
have In my care an old family burial
plot dating back many many years
in the past, and all the markings OF
the graves have been done in the
manner mentioned in this clipping, by
my ancestors. I am making this
sort of pastime or hobby, if it may
be called that. When l came into
possession of this piece of ground, it
was covered with old brambles and
honeysuckle. weeds and, indeed, most
everything had covered the entire one
quarter acre; with great care and lots
of work I have made it over into
pretty nice park I thought maybe
Mr.. John Clagett Proctor might be
interested. I read his writings every
Sunday and they are quite interesting
to me, I have the deed to the property
and other information should any one
be interested and would like to call
and see me. Most sincerely,
-. A. DAVIS,
1901 Prospect avenue.
"Takoma Park, Md"
The clipping referred to by Mr..
Davis, as taken from The Star follows:
MARKING OLD GRAVES"
"There is burying ground near
Webster, Mass, in which the graves
are marked with field stones; large
ones indicate old men and the small
ones young men"
WHEN the writer called on Mr..
wv Davis, whose home and cemetery
are at the corner of Prospect and
Greenwood avenues, at the extreme
north end Of Takoma Park, Nd, he
found q man much fascinated by
the work he has been doing--in beau-