Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-22
LandO Owned
By District
MaSOnS
Writer Cites Its
Possibilities as
Recreation Area
By John Claeen Proctor.
By John Clagen Proctor.

kdluGc oyllQlCdlC W OCNCiOP l CulPlC
Heights, the title to which is now
held by the Masonic Grand Lodge
of the District, remeins to be seen
1t does seem, however, that this
beautiful tract of land extending to
the north and east from the north
east corner of Florida and Connec-
ticut avenues, should be taken over
by the Government and turned into
park or recreation center while
the opportunity stu exists, instead
of waiting until it might be too late
According TO recent real estate
atlas, this tract of land contains
928 acres of land and includes what
was once very fine home that
stands on an elevated point OF
ground overlooking the city. in a
vicinity once suggested as a site for
the White House, Early known as
a part of Widows Mite" the first
trace of this grant OF land the writer
found was in the will of James
Langworth of st. Johns, Charles
County, Md. which was probated
on August l8, 1860 Mention was
made of his wife, Agatha, to whom
he left one-third of his estate dur
ing her life and all lands should
she survive the testator's children
given as William, Join, Mary and
Eliza
To his son John he villed 300 acres
on ST. Clements Bay and his rights
to $40 acres vet to be taken up.
Though not yet given the name
Widows Mite, there is no doubt that
this grant, later patented BY John,
the son. in 1864, as the record shows,
soon afterward was transferred to
his brother William. The latter. in
his will. drawn February 7. 1893. and
probated May l. 1924. disposes by
name of this identical piece of
property.
Ordered Sold.
William Langworths will gave to
his wife. Ann. plantation called
Mills Marsh and 10 daughter,
Agatha. 240 acres known as High
park Eliza. another daughter, was
given 100 acres called Barbaries Ad-
dition. and Mary. a third daughter,
and her heirs received the residue
Of land in st. Marys County. To
Sarah Brown he gave some personal
property, while the residue OF the
estate, real and personal, wife IS
dover excepted, went to his three
daughters in equal parts. He con-
Guided by directing that the 600
acres called Widows Mite be sold.
The executor of the will was his
father-i law, Thomas Hussey. A
memorandum attached to the will
decreed that certain personal prop
erty belonging to his deceased wife,
Mary and which was given to her
by her mother Mrs Hussey. should
not be appraised with his estate. 1t
having already been given to his
daughters by their mother. The will
was witnessed by Walter Ross, Mary
Dorrell and Charles Charles.
The will of the testator in the
foregoing document was obviously
carried out, and Widows Mite was
quite likely sold to John Bowling OF
ST Marys County. Nd, in whose
will We next come across this tract
of land.
Other Owners.
Bowling's will was drawn on April
80. III. and probateu on June 9
following. To James Martin and
heirs he gave High Park. in st.
Marys County. To sons William and
John he gave all other land obtained
by him by patent certificate or deed
In ST. Marys County. Son Thomas
was given two tracts known as
Chorley and Chessmen, ON the south
side of Myrie Branch. Mr.. Bowling
designated his wife Mary as execu-
triX and gave to her the residue OF
Chorley and Chessman and Charleys
Addition during life, to revert to his
son Thomas upon her death. He
directed that 600 acres of Widow S
Mite be sold for the benefit of the
estate. His personal property was
bequeathed to his daughter Mary
and to James Haddock, priest, and
he directed that should his wife die
during the minority of the children,
Capt. Benjamin Hall should have
charge of Thomas and that James
Hagan should have charge of the
other children. James Hagan, Will
liam Simons and Thomas Hagan
signed the will as witnesses.
Again, Widows Mite was sold, &C
cording to the instructions OF the
testator. and Thomas Fletchen was
the likely purchaser. although he
did not live long to enjoy it. for we
find him disposing of il by will drawn
July II, 17l7. and probated August
2. lit. Here 300 acres of Widow
Mite went to his son Thomas and
heirs when Thomas arrived at the
age of q years. The remaining 30C
acres went to the testators widow
for life, with the remainder to the
SON. John Bradford, James Riggs
and William Rentshaw signed as
witnesses.
Holmead Patent.
Naturally. Temple Heights was not
all of the Widows Mite tract. which
according to Hugh Taggart, was
shaped like a parallelogram and ex-
tended from the river at the ole
observatory grounds in a n0rtherly
direction, with a greater portion OF
1t included in the City of Washing
ton. w. B. Bryan is more specific
and said that 1t occupied that por-
ton of the City of Washington which
lies to the northward from the Nava
Medical Hospital, a. Twenty-fourtf
and E streets NV 1t extended
through the city in comparatively
narrow strip to Florida avenue, be.
yond which it extended from about
Seventeenth street to Rock Greek.
When the District of Columbia
was acquired for the seat of Govern
ment. the patent of James his
Park granted to James Holmead
on July g. 1928, embraced the Temple
Heights area. no doubt still earlier
known as the Widows Mite. In
1909 it was purchased by Col. Michael
Nourse, brother of Joseph Nourse
register of the Treasury. who was
responsible for the moving of that
department to Washington from