Evening star., 1938-02-06
, By John Clagen Proctor.


4 a ago, yet for many years the
city was so sparsely settled that the
people largely depended upon the
names given certain localities-gen-
orally by common consent-in order
to md any particular person or build
ing. And this was easily done after
the locality was reached by simply
inquiring for the one you were look
Ing for, since all the residents of a
given community knew one another,
and any dwelling wanted could cas-
lily be pointed out or its location de-
scribed.
The present system of house num-
bering went into effect about 1868,
and this took the place of a system
that came into existence about 1854,
and prior to this signs were placed
on the houses at certain cross streets
to direct those not familiar with the
city. But to those who had lived
here any length of time Burchs Hill,
Foggy Bottom, the Island, the Navy
Yard, Capitol Hill, the Six Buildings
and many other locality names meant
more than house numbers.
However, so far as the present or
younger generation is concerned, these
old names, now quite obsolete, can
mean but little, and were We to ask
any one but an old-timer the location
of Hells Bottom, Swampoodle or Cow
town we would most likely discover
their unfamiliarity with early Wash
ington history.
The two first-named places we're
within the old city limits, while Cow
town was beyond Florida avenue,
or Boundary street, as this thorough
fare once was called. Grant avenue,
now Barry place, was probably con-
sidered as its southern line and it
extended north for thousand or more
feet. On the east it was bounded by
Seventh street road. or as we now
call it Georgia avenue Its western
line was Sherman avenue, except
for a small section of Barry place
that extended to Florida avenue.
COWTOWN was not large place
nor was it entirely built up when
the writer first knew it, and in recent
years many of the buildings which
formerly stood on the Georgia avenue
side of this section have been re-
moved for the Banneker Swimming
Pool and Community Center. And so
it can be seen that the place mas
been greatly changed from what it
uas in days gone by, when it vas
about as independent community
as there was in the District of Co.
lunbia.
Here every home owner had one or
i more COWS and as many pigs and geese
as they could afford to keep. and as
for dogs and goats it would have taken
some one with a tabulating machine to
have arrived at the correct number.
There were many horses, too, in this
community. for where few peddled
their milk by hand, the vast ajority,
with very large routes, were compelled
10 rely upon teams.
People who lived in CoWtoWn were
generally as law abiding as any of our
citizens, but when the occasion arose
khey did know how physically to pro-
tect their own interests. and never
hesitated to do so. In this connection.
It was always an interesting day-and
that day was a frequent one-When
Poundmaster Sam Einstein swooped
down on the animals running at large
IN this neighborhood. They then for
got their loyalty to government and
1t was generally case of may the
lest man win"
Up until 1871. when the territorial
form of government went into effect,
Che Levy Court looked after the well
fare of the County of Washington,
which included Cowtown, and until
that time animals were permitted to
run at large-under certain restric-
tions, Of course. After Gov. Cooke
came into Office, however, things took
on different turn, and animals were
not permitted to run at large anywhere
within the District.
This idea of justice did not strike
the residents just over the border line
as being right or fair. and every time
Einstein put in an appearance he had
to fight every inch of the way through
usually stopped by the old station
house on Georgia avenue, little north
Of the base ball park, on the opposite
side OF the street. where he secured one
or two mounted policemen for protec-
ton. In this way he usually carried
OF wagonload of animals which their
owners or some of their neighbors were
unable to prevent being captured. But
1t was not unusual for the poundmaster
TO have his head cut by flying brick
or bottle, nor was it out of the ordinary
II few arrests were made for resisting
the majesty Of the law.
AT THIS period the city itself was
not overly blessed with good
streets, and the county was consider
ably worse of. Before Sherman ave-
nue. was brouhgt to its present grade
1t was rather a step hill, as one can
see by the cut made alongside the
hospital property. This avenue then
terminated at Barry place and did
not run through to Florida avenue
= as 1t does now. In wet weather it
was very muddy, and teams had
much difficulty in negotiating the
grade. Upon one occasion the writer
recalls seeing a wagon with load
OF hay stuck to the hubs at the bot
tom of the hill It was intended for
some one living near the top of the
hill, perhaps Owen Shugrue, who had
q number of cows and conducted an
extensive dairy business with the
help of Mrs. Shugrue, who did most
of the work.
When the wagon became stuck
there were but two horses hitched to
, 1t, but gradually sympathizing by
ISLANDERS added to this number from
their own stables until six or eight
horses were strung out in a line, al
ternately jerking and tugging away
working as some people do, without
any concerted action or cooperation.
Seeing the mess that neighbors were