davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-10-05
Districts Oldest Church

ed by Nineteenth, Twentieth, and
Boundary streets, and was used as a
burial place as far back as 1794, the first
interment therein being that of Mr. Rob-
ert Smith, member of Boston family,
whose burial took place May 20 of that
year. His remains were inferred in the
extreme northeast corner of the ground.
and probably when only small portion
of the square had been set apart for use
as a graveyard, 1t being the free gift of
Anthony Holmead for such purpose
I'm the subsequent allotment of lands
in the city the remainder of the square,
falling to the Government. was added to
that already used for burial purposes. For
years the square was not inclosed and
at one time the mail stages running be-
tween this city and Baltimore passed
directly through the grounds. Subse-
quently there was common post and
rail fence placed around it, and bars
were put up on either side of the road
way through it.
Within its bounds there were inferred
the remains of people of all colors and
nationalities. and the records snow that
quite number of Indians (names not
given) were here buried. The northeast
section of the ground was first used for
the whites, and there were divisions for
the colored race in the southwest por-
ton of the ground, and for soldiers who
died during the War of 1912 in the south
east section, and to this section many
bodies were brought from Camp Hill
(Where the Naval Observatory now
stands on which hill large body of
troops was encamped during the latter
part of that war. In the northeast sec
ton of the ground was inferred the body
OF Patrick McGurk, the first man execut-
ed in this District.
Family Ouarrels
"McGurk In 1902, lived on F between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets north
west" according to an early account.
by trade he was a bricklayer, and
was very much given to intemperance.
Sometimes he would go home intoxicated
and quarrel with his wife. On one oc-
casion he went home in this condition
and beat his wife severely, she at the time
not being in a condition to bear such
brutal treatment. The result was that
twin children were still-born, and Mrs.
McGurk died soon afterward. McGurk
was arrested and committed to the
jail-then a two-story building, a por-
ton of which now forms the stable
attached to Sproh's restaurant. This
stable is in the alley between Four-and-
a-half and Sixth streets and c street and
Louisiana avenue He was tried and con-
victed, the principal evidence against him
being the declarations of his wife-for
there were no witnesses-and the case
was taken to the Circuit Court, which
caused a delay in the execution of the
sentence.
"At the time appointed for the execu-
ton gallows was erected at the foot of
Capitol Hill, between Pennsylvania and
Maryland avenues. The Capitol grounds
were not then inclosed, but scattered
over them were large number Of forest
Evening star., 1941-10-05
By John Clageft Proctor.

Quite frequently we are told that this
church or that church is the oldest house
Of worship in Washington, and if those
who make this statement are referring
to the city as designed by Maj. Pierre
LEnfant, their assertion may be true.
But If the statement is meant to include
the entire District of Columbia, then the
pioneer church would be st. Paul's Epis-
copal Church, better known as Rock
Greek Church, which had its beginning
In 1719 when Col. John Bradford pre-
sented 100 acres of land which now
forms the glebe and cemetery of Rock
Greek Parish.
Soon after this gift was made, frame
chapel was built, and though Col. Brad
ford had failed during his lifetime for
mally to deed the property to the vestry,
yet this was subsequently done by Mrs.
Bradford, the widow of the donor, and
her son, John Bradford, Jr., and due
recognition has been given the elder
Bradford through monument erected
lust inside the main entrance to the
cemetery, dedicated to The glory OF God
and in memory of John Bradford, our
great benefactor who gave to the church
this glebe of 100 acres, AID, 17l9.'
After the old frame church had served
its usefulness for more than half
century, or until IT'S, brick building
was erected, presumably upon the same
site, and this was remodeled in 1853. A
disastrous fire that took place on April
6, 1921, little after 3 am, almost
entirely destroyed the ancient church,
leaving but the walls and bell tower
standing. The loss is said to have been
between $4,000 and 100000. 1t was
soon restored as we see it today.
Evening star., 1941-10-05
From A Reader

That The Star reaches out far and
wide, and has charm for its former
residents, is shown by the following let
ter recently received by the writer from
Benjamin Martin of the law firm Of
Benjamin & Richard Martin, Muskogee,
Okla, in which Mr. Martin says:
Dear Mr.. Proctor:
"I have read with much interest and
pleasure your article in The Sunday Star
of September IA, 1941. Early in January.
1892, as boy In my latter teens, went
from my home on large plantation in
the deep South to Washington with the
hope of finding work and thereby en-
abling myself to go to school at nights,
which I succeeded in doing.
after graduating from the Spence
rian Business College of that city, I
attended and graduated from the law
department of the Columbian (now
George Washington University, with
the degree of LII. B. The graduation
exercises were held in the National
Theater, a picture of which appears with
your article, and the diplomas were de-
livered on the evening of June g. 1897.
IT, Immediately thereafter, came to
Muskogee, then Indian Territory, now
Oklahoma, and have ever since prac-
ticed law at this place.
THE first performance Of play which
1 attended was in the Albaugh's Grand
Opera House early in 1892. AS recall,
the play was The Old Homestead
your article and the pictures shown
have brought to my memory very pleas
ant recollections of my five and half
years residence in Washington. and my
struggle to get start in life."
Evening star., 1941-10-05
By Famous Artist

OF particular interest in connection
with this old church is its historic
cemetery, where many noted Washlngto-
mans are buried, and where many works
of art serve as memorials and mauso-
leurns, notably the memorial erected by
the late Henry Adams to his wife. This
monument, considered one of the finest
works of art of the world-famous artist
Augustus Saint -Gaudens-is always re-
ferred to when this cemetery is men,
toned, because of its mysteriously velled
female figure in bronze, depicted in a
mood of deepest meditation, with
serene and peaceful expression. The
hexagonal platform that supports the
granite benches which face the shrouded
figure was designed by Stanford White.
Though this memorial is generally
known as Grief" yet no record can be
found where either the artist or MI.
Adams ever bestowed this name upon
the memorial. Indeed, it is said that
Saint Gaudens is said to have declared
that he gave no name to it, but that II
he should call it anything it would prob
ably be The Mystery Of the Hereafter.
Henry Adams. in line with this same
thought, is said to have once declared,
"I call it The Peace of Cod
Beside the Kaufman Memorial by
William Ordway Partridge, and the
Ffoulke Memorial by Gutzon Borglum,
there are many other works OF art In
this metropolis.
Evening star., 1941-10-05

inferred the body, conveyed 1t back and
deposited it again in the graveyard
whence it had been removed. Upon this
being discovered. great excitement arose
among those who had friends buried
there, and they determined, at all haz-
ards, that the body of the murderer
should not rest there. Taking advantage
of an opportunity when the other party
was off guard. they dug a grave in the
next square east of Holmeads burial
ground, near a little branch that runs
through thicket of brushwood and
thorns-a perfect quagmire-so as to
turn the water over the grave, and then
buried it again. This occurred in 1904.
during the administration of President
Jefferson. Years afterward, a colored
man in the employ of the late William
ONeal, while engaged in digging a post
hole, came across the remains of the
coffin which had contained the body of
McGurk. Subsequently it was admitted
by some of the Hines family of the first
ward that they we're of the party who
removed the remains They were op-
posed to allowing them to rest in the
ground adjoining the grave of a female
member of their family who had died a
short time before.
There are in the record book nearly
5000 entries, but it is probable that if
the list were complete the total number
would exceed 10000 from the first down
to March 6, 1874, when the last inter-
ment was made. As the grounds were
filled up so were some of the graves
with several bodies, and the walks were
even encroached upon for grave sites.
1t Is stated that a few years since the
sexton. then a colored man, sold a por-
ton of the ground in which soldiers OF
the War of 1872 are buried to the
U. A. S. of Zion and Sons and Daughters
of Salem, colored society, and that a
number of interments of members of this
organization were made upon the re-
mains of the soldiers beneath"
Checking from the records of Rock
Creek Cemetery, the writer noted % re-
movals to section K in this graveyard,
and many of these graves, which are
arranged in crescentic form, are marked
with the original tombstones.
Evening star., 1941-10-05

of John Bradford, 1Dho gaze
the 100 acres Of land no1D Oc-
cupied by Rock Creek Church
and Cemetery.
as Capt. James White-did, for a pen
sion was granted to him June 10, 1888,
and he was still drawing it at least six
years later
The senior James most likely had a
number of children. but only two need
to be mentioned-Capt. James, before
referred to. and Zachariah.
Capt James White must have believed
in marrying early and often, for we
find he had three wives, and raised a
family by each. His first wife was Mary
(BealD White. by whom he had
Burgess B., Addison and Mary Drane.
Though he had five children by the sec
ond wife, yet he failed to record her
name. but fortunately did not forget the
following children: James, Samuel,
Robert, Zachariah and Eliza Ann.
Harriet Osborn, of an old Montgomery
County family, became his last wife, and
outlived him by many years. He passed
away in 1926 and she not until 1873.
Their issue included Archibald, Eleanor,
Lydia, Harriet and Elizabeth Roberta
Their offspring was numerous.
Addition Made
The old White mansion on Longfellow
street, like many old District homes,
has been remodeled perhaps upon more
than one occasion. At very early
period a part of the present structure
replaced the original log house, and at
a more recent date an addition was
made, giving it its present lines and
appearance.
Today we look upon our present fore
most men as wonderful people. but upon
reflection one is prone to wonder how
the historian in time will rank them
with some of the men who rest in this
old cemetery. Three of the mayors OF
Washington, for instance, who are
buried here. include Peter Force. Walter
Lenox and Matthew G. Emery, the last
to serve in this office and Alexander R.
Shepherd, one of the Districts two
governors.
Indeed, here is where scientists finan-
ciers, politicians, farmers, merchants,
mechanics, laborers, clergymen, soldiers,
publishers and literary men all sleep
together, and will remain so until the
last trumpet shall sound, when all dis
tinction will have been forgotten. But
now, while memory still fingers, how
interesting it is to peer into the vault
Of the Blair family and see the crypt
where is inferred Francis P. Blair, editor
of the Globe who was Andrew Jackson's
right-hand man, and his son. Mont
gomery Blair, who was Llncolns POST
master General, or see where are buried
William Window, once Secretary OF the
Treasury, and Hugh Mccullough, who
served twice in this Office; George w.
Riggs and Elisha R. Riggs, bankers;
David Burnes, one of Washingtons origi-
nal land proprietors, and his wife and
daughter, whose remains were trans
ferred here after having, been lost for
many years until they were found when
Twelfth street NE. was extended In
Brookland Yes, and many, many other
once able and distinguished men and
women, too.
Evening star., 1941-10-05
Earliest Grade

Interments in this cemetery are said
to have begun in 1719. but if so, it would
be hard to identify graves dating that
far back, and the earliest marked grave,
of original burials, is that of Eleanor
White, who died August II, 1875, in the
8Oth year of her age and the 60th year
of her marriage, and just few feet away
from this slab we find the last resting
place of Mrs. Whites consort, James
White, who died March 8, 1901, aged
86 years. These graves are right in front
of the church.
There is every reason to believe that
James White was originally OF Prince
Georges County, Md, and that he lived
IN that part of the county which in 1776
became Montgomery County, and sub
sequently part of the District of Colum-
bia. He was very large owner of land,
which he either received direct as a
grant from the crown or by way of in
heritance from his father, whom some
give, supposedly as Robert White, who
married Ann Burgess, while others give
his fathers name as Zachariah. Either
guess, however, is hazy.
In 1875 James White married Eleanor,
whose grave is in Rock Creek Cemetery,
and they are believed to have taken up
their residence in the White homestead,
then a log house which occupied the
identical spot where later was placed
the present dwelling which faces the
city, and occupied the south half of the
block between Georgia avenue and Thir-
teenth street and Longfellow and Mad
ison streets.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-06
Low Priced BARGAINS

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Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12

felt in red and other bright col
ors 10 contrast gayly with the
green, and use red cord or groS-
grain ribbon for the lacings.
It's the work of a moment 10
trace your designs for the hearts
and flowers on TO heavy paper.
You then cut these designs from
the paper, pin 10 felt and cut
as many hearts and flowers as
you'll need.
Perhaps you'll want to make
the belt first. Cut and sew to-
gether two pieces of material,
long enough TO almost meet at
center front. Shape so the belt
in back is about 2 inches wide
and in the front about 3 inches.
Work three eyelets at each
side OF front with buttonhole
stitch. applique designs in place
and insert lacings.
In much the same way you
make the bag-uSinR four cir
cleS, two Tor the 'front.' ana TWO
for the back.
Suspenders are double, too,
with a double thickness cross
strap sewing between the two
straps in front. Then, IL you
like, you can also make little
Tyrolean coin purse!
Making your own accessories
this way. you can afford so many
and such smart ones! Our 40
page booklet, Dress Accesso-
ries You Can Make" gives APP
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for Tyrolean set, tells how To
make velvet evening hood and
bag, gay skating hood and init
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and many more!
Send FIFTEEN CENTS in
coins for this pattern to The
Detroit Times Home Institute,
1Z25 Times Square. Detroit,
Mich. Please write plainly your
name. address and title OF
booklet.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12

Perhaps a friend has done you
} courteous service. Naturally,
on must acknowledge the gift
br message. Just as naturally.
n your heart you undoubtedly
know that you should write n
hote OF thanks. Your friend
MAS kind and thoughtful. and
he sign Of this kindness and
houghtfulncss brought you
pleasure.
II you are a right-thinking
person. you write that note Of
thanks at once. If YOU aren't,
|ou let lazineSs enter, super
icial excuses OF. ] never could
write a good note Of thanks. or
haven't the right kind Of
letter paper.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
Leave Food Over7
)EAR MRS. BEECKMAN:

DEAR MRS. BEECKMAN:
i. Is IL considered correct to
leave some portion Of food on
your plate?
2. Should one eat the lettuce
leaf or leaves under ones salad
served at dinner?
WONDERING.
]. II isn't necessary to leave
anything on your plate.
?. BY all means eat the let
tuce, If you wish to.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
Twin Cards
DEAR MRS. BEECKMAN:

DEHft Mis-, bEENhMAIN.
VIII you please tell me
whether il is correct TO send a
twin birthday card TO twin boys,
16 years of age? If so, what
would be the correct way TO adj
dress the envelope? M.
/ am sure that each of these
young gentlemen would prefer
TO have a card Of his own. So
as a greater compliment, I sug-
gest that you send individual
birthday cards, in separate en-
NelopeS.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
Good Manners

DEAR MRS. BEECKMAN:
When my escort and / are
with a group OF people in a
restaurant, would IL be con-
sidered correct for him to dance
with another guest at our table?
III.
OF course! If you and he are
with a group of people who like
TO dance, naturally he would in
vite the other girls in the group
10 dance with him.
Distributed by King Features syud, Inc.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
Try Anyway

Now perhaps it's true that
YOU aren't good at writing let
tiers. AT least you can get out
your pen and ink and a piece
Of letter paper and write, Thank
you so much for the beautiful
roses you sent me on my birth
day, or il was so kind OF YOU
TO send me the basket of fruit
when / was ill, or You were
very kind 10 send me such an
understanding message when
my brother died. IT was great
comfort 10 all OF us. or You
were very generous 10 speak to
Mr.. Abbott ABOUT the position
for me, and appreciate your
goodness.
Even II you don't write more
than a sentence or two OF ap-
probation the thank you will be
yours, written in your hand
writing, which will mean some
thing personal and gracious TO
the receiver.
Surely you won't be willing 10
admit that you're the kind of
person who can't write or won't
take the trouble 10 write a
simple little sentence Of thanks ?
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
Acknowledge Gilt With
Personal Thank You Card
BY MRS CORNELIUS BEEeKMAN
Authority ON Good Manners

H0 SEND a ready-made card
Of thanks is socially unfor-
eiveable. You should avoid
bending a card OF this kind 80
you would avoid plague. Why =?
Let's see.
A kind friend has sent you
Eift-- flowers, candy, a book,
that the friend hopes
|NiIl give you pleasure. Or a
Generous friend has sent you
message of understanding OF "A
kerrep that has GENE to -Feti.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
That's That

SO YOU rush of to the sta
toner's or the corner drug store
md buy a printed. ready-made
,ard of thanks. You may even
ny to ease your conscience by
)uying an expensive, engraved
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12

walnut Finish
Wood Tone
Fibre Board
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
Wearing Hat7

DEAR MRS. BEECKMAN:
Does the hostess wear a hat
when she is having a bridge
luncheon at / o'clock at a public
place such as roadside inn or a
hotel? w
Yes.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12

one. You mail it-and that's
that
You could have written a
warm-hearted little note OF
thanks in a tiny fraction OF the
time II took you 10 20 and
select the card!
Your friend receives the card.
Think of his OF her reaction.
It's the unkindest cut OF all to
receive few words in cold
print in return for a kindness,
generous gesture Of any kind.
40 the printer says he was glad
10 receive the preSent--how
NICE
Not a word Of your thanks
the words aren't yours just be-
cause you signed your name 10
them.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12

Detroit Sunday Times, October y, 1941
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12
MACINE! A
FIREPLACE, Only
Walnut Finish a N MA
Wood Tone w
Fibre Board MW Cd ~

Always envied your neighbor or friend with
hrepace1 Here's your chance get a beautiful
imitation. It will give your living room a brand
look. And the price is only s24e /. at
Federars Accessories shown nor included AT this
price.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-26
ThiSSpOYting
 World
Observation And Such
BY JOHN A. CLUNEY

Fs not beesme he gets than i've ingg per game that north end this evening 70 pcn quo Six in behalf Of the Hamilton Pafk Ou Ie the east nders just had 70 nave someOne 70 Rauey gold braid, and 4 technique on me otn viii probably wind up maning cons WVn active competitor 70 long, VII propapy stop ienfv verbal the St. Thomas needle gang wno can handie"
 tS AewH Yanke contract will be drafted into the baseball captain MaBnaF has caught Coech he s "hOt" for the Brooklyn
 viii have sharp Tor the D test wltn no tcnnee oH than eleven times no matter
 hew calls Brooklyn A C. workout Friday O;5O a
 sEsDa Everybody cut else Zyc-Dav: locks yem worth yeI go Tor SlSO which rngd
 MCey Detret Ray also the card
 snl worth while watching
 ars George Woods has shipped from Scranton Pennsylvania farm team of the Red Box club has Eeudd pitched Onehter against Bghampon good idea to have the able college pitcher better bates gradually which VIII get nn ms pig league record warrants it. Joe Deyens again next Sunday to pitch Milford They tell guy with plenty of scratc Sunday in Jocs behalf
 Walter Hurley and George Register o weaver e aFtf0gd Frederick w. Stone athletic pf1ze which given Diligence his SudieB Bpmanshp Tn victory ard school coragcboth physical and fOa leadership influencing teammates and fellow students to standards" Hurley end n football and 1oo men the tournament last and Register for baseball students State champion Holly
 Mandy his title yesterday without playing out the 18th idea how Sam snead felt when he New the eight the final hole Mandy had strokes and s in trap though his opponent the Mandy picked Up and bOWed d the tourney the nineteenth hole.