Evening star., 1937-06-27
Bp John Claeeff Proctor.

VNltOT 10 tlle CITY, WOulQ naturally
wonder why such an inappropriate
name was used for what is fast be-
coming one Of the most attractive
parts OF the Capital.
But 1t was not so always, by any
means. for there are still living in
the District OF Columbia many thou
sands Of Washingtonians who recall
this part OF the city as having once
been one of the least attractive and
undesirable spots In the Northwest
section, principally because OF marshy
land, which caused malaria, and be-
cause Of the offensive fumes from the
gas house-a close competitor, years
ago, with Patsy Mann in the manu-
facture of noisome odors.
At an early date there were some
very nice residences built in this part
of the city, known as Hamburg or
Funkstown at the time the Capital
was laid out, and later, also, as the
first ward, for voting purposes, when
the people of Washington had some
say as to just how they should be
taxed But this part OF Washington,
particularly for the reasons stated,
did not develop very fast, and, as the
land was cheap, it attracted a class
OF people who built small homes and
many shacks. Like "Swampoodle,"
Cow Town" Holy Hill" and other
old sections Of the city Of fond men,
ory, here was always to be found a
special species of goat that fed on tin
10
yoologist classifies certain animals ac-
cording to the nature Of the food they
live on, as herbivorous, carnivorous
or insectivorous, but into just what
classification the scientist would put
the can-eating group the writer is
willing to acknowledge he does not
know, though he avoWs there were
such animals in his boyhood days
or at least there appeared to be.
a N EARLY writer on Washington
history expresses his views on
"Foggy Bottom" saying:
This locality, embracing the low
grounds south of F street north, and
extending from Seventeenth street
west to Rock Creek, was, anterior to
the draining of the grounds, noted for
It's unhealthfulness, as will be remem-
bered by many of our old residents.
The "Foggy Bottom" chills were suf-
ncient to deter most persons from
settling in that region, and little or
no business was done there, except
BY the duckers and fishermen who
occupied the tenements erected near
the river. Until few years past,
probably not more than score Of
houses dotted the southern portion
of this locality, and its desolated ap-
pearance looked as if it might be the
abode Of
Friends. ghosts and sprltes,
Who haunt the night.
"Within a few years past this To-
cality has been greatly improved by
drainage and quite a number Of fine
houses occupy the former sites OF the
old frog ponds and marshy places
which the boys were wont to explore
in pursuit Of frogs, catfish and mud
turtles. The incessant croakings OF
the frogs at night in this section OF
the city and its lonely and desolated
appearance often furnished material
for marvellous stories Of ghostly sights,
etc, which, with the superstitious sur
roundings of an old fortune teller who
lived for many years in this locality,
served the double purpose Of the old
woman in gaining support and Sc
curing the confidence Of her GUS
toners.
But although "Foggy Bottom may
have had its terrors for many resi-
dents of the city, yet Edwards and Way
thought it a good place to build a
glass manufacturing plant, which they
did as early as 1909, and which was
one Of the earliest in the country. In
deed. 1t is almost impossible for the
present generation to visualize Wash
ington as 1t was a single century. or
even half century, ago, so great have
been the changes during that time.
Regarding the glass factory, an old
timer left behind this statement for
us to read:
"TH1S factory stood near wharf
where, some IS years ago.
ships of considerable burden were
accustomed to anchor. The channel
has been filled up by the deposit of
sediment brought down the river. and
new one has been formed on the
Virginia side. This part of the city was
originally called Hamburg and aft
erwards Funkstown,' from an old
Dutchman who was ambitious of hav-
ing his name (Funk) transmitted to
posterity. He moved to near Hagers-
town, Md. and had his ambition re-
warded by giving his name to the
small village of Funkstown. Near a
rock in the river west Of the factory
Gen. Braddock is said to have landed
with his army. on his way to the West
1t was called by the old citizens Brad
docks Rock, and the place near 1t
Braddock's Landing"
But there were few very fine resi-
dences erected in the first ward, in
cluding the mansion erected by Col.
John Tayloe in 1900 which is still
standing at the northeast corner of
New York avenue and Eighteenth
uSCI, tllC vail 1SSSS leStOSIlCe, WHICH
formerly stood on the site now occu-
pied by the Pan-American Union
Building at Seventeenth street and
Constitution avenue. Another we'll
known building in this area, located at
1901 F street, was erected in part in
1928, and is best known as the old
Carroll home. because it was for many
years the residence Of William Thomas
Carroll, clerk of the Supreme Court
Of the United States.
Mr.. Carroll was not directly the
owner OF the property. it having been
decided by Mrs. Carroll's father, Sam
uel Sprigg. sometime Governor Of
Maryland to trustees for the use
Of his daughter Sallie, who married
william T. Carroll about 1926 Car
roll died July 13. 1868, and the trus-
tees for Mrs Carroll transferrei the