davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-08-16

when copious supply of spring water
originating there, was found useful for
piping to the White House for domestic
Congress appropriated $1,000 for pur-
chasing part of this square, and in 1882
a further appropriation of $4,000 was
made for the same purpose.
In January, 1906 the water from the
springs in Franklin Park was declared
by the health officer, DR.. D. C. Wood
ward, to be deleterious to public health,
and the springs were accordingly con-
demned, though there was much adverse
comment at the time.
During the Civil War the park was
taken over by the Army, and here en-
camped the 18th New York Volunteers,
with its guardhouse, frame building
about Is feet square, on l street between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets.
Surrounding the park, at the north
east corner of Thirteenth and 1 streets,
once resided President James A. Garfield
when a member of Congress- and he no
douN often strolled through the grounds
and admired the old-fashioned walks
that existed until recently, and the
shrubs, and refreshed himself on warm
summer evenings beneath the shade of
the trees, many OF which were then
large in size.
Where is now the gasoline station at
the northwest corner of Thirteenth and
K streets, was once the Mexican Lega-
ton. The large stone-front building at
1921 K street was built by Senator John
Sherman, who was Secretary of the
Treasury during the administration of
President Rutherford B. Hayes. When
Senator Sherman bought the ground,
upon which he later erected this man
sion, Mrs. Sherman thought she was
moving out into the country, and so
expressed herself.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary Of War
during President Lincoln's administra-
tion. resided at 1925 K street from 1851,
and later when in the cabinet of Presi-
dent Andrew johnson. He died there
in 1869. 1t was there that Secfetary
Evening star., 1942-08-16
BY Edith Gaylord,
Wide World,

They're suckers, and proud Of It.
Women who scan the skies to report
airplane movements have an unglam-
orous Job.
They don't look like stole angels of
mercy at hospital bed They can't
indulge knack for the kind of mild
Irritation that sells War stamps They
don't even have uniform in which to
strut their patriotism.
They just stand outdoors for hours
and look at the sky. They haven't sense
enough to come in out of the rain. When
even birds are flying blind, the women
huddle into raincoats and let their
fancy coiffures drain like scrubbing
mops.
At one post near New York City the
women are entirely responsible from 6
I'm. until pm.
Their chief, Mrs. Mary Turner, re-
Evening star., 1942-08-16
BY Angelo 'Herndon.

The life OF Frederick Douglass Is
symbol of the highest hopes and deepest
aspirations OF the Negro people for free
dom. BY his fearless and selfless devo-
ton to the cause Of freeing the slaves,
he helped to make America conscious OF
the fact that true democracy is not the
exclusive privilege Of any one race or
group, but the right of all men OF all
races who would fight and die for it.
Born slave on the Eastern Shore OF
Maryland In February, 1917, it was not
long before Douglass became aware OF
the cruelties Of the slave system. AS
child, his single purpose was to flnd the
answer to the perplexing question: why
am I q slave?" Such a presumption III
variably brought down upon him the
terrible wrath and violence Of his slave
master. But Douglass never retreated.
~Knowledge, he reasoned, UNITS child
to be a slave. 1t cannot be that l
shall live and die slave" ana ne olo
not live and die slave!
Liberty! Freedom! The mere thought
of the words burned deeply in his soul
like a flaming torch Words? But how
precious! BY law and deed these were
the exclusive rights of the superior
white slave masters. Law and custom
placed him on the same level with horses
and cattle. His humanity was made ex-
tinct by the sordid idea Of property-his
manhood lost as chattel.
Yet Frederick Douglass could stand on
the banks of the Chesapeake Bay watch
ing the white sails OF ships as they moved
of to sea, with such disturbing thoughts
as these running through his mind:
You are loosed from your moorings,
and free. I am fast In my chains and
am a slave! You move merrily before
the gentle gale, and l sadly before the
bloody whip. o, that were free
.. Alas! betwixt me and you the turbid
waters roll. Go on. 90 on. 49,.
Evening star., 1942-08-16
Old Swimming Holes of Rock Creek and the Tiber

road later the Pierce Mill road, and now
Park road, led to Linnaean Hill, the nur-
series of Joshua Pierce, and to the home
and mill OF his father and brother, Isaac
Pierce and Abner Cloud Pierce.
Isaac Pierce is said to have been born
In Chester County. Pa. on April 8. 1756,
and to have been the son Of Joshua and
Ann Pierce, of English extraction. Nov
ing into Montgomery County, Nd at an
early date, he married Betsy Cloud,
daughter of Abner Cloud, the miller,
whose mill is generally known as Fades
mill. Isaac Pierce bought his first $50
acres of land in 1900, and gradually
added to this until he owned at the
time Of his death, in 184l, upward of
1000 acres.
The home OF Joshua Pierce, brother
to Abner Cloud Pierce, is still standing
and In good state of preservation. 1t
is of stone and is at the northwest cor
ner OF Klingle road and Rock Greek, or
Beach driveway, and before 1t was trans
ferred to the Government in 1890 it was
the home of Pierce Klingle, nephew of
Joshua Pierces wife.
Joshua Pierce is celebrated as being
one of the leading nurserymen of his
day. Indeed, he conducted the first
general nursery in the District. His
Rock Creek property, containing 81 acres.
he received from his father, Isaac Pierce.
the deed being acknowledged October 10.
1923, and recorded October II, 1923, the
consideration being natural love and
affection" and the accompanying de-
scription places the beginning at the
mouth OF Piney Branch and running
north"
Joshua Pierce also owned consider
able property in the northern part of
Washington, said at one time to amount
to about 81 acres, and for many years
conducted his nurseries on squares be-
tween R and S and Fourteenth and Six
teenth streets NV. The Washington
Evening star., 1942-08-16

"Gentlemen: Again must have re-
course to your columns to inform the
officers of our city of a portion Of their
duty that they have shamefully neg
lected. I allude to the indecorous prac-
tice boys have of bathing almost under
the windows Of our dwellings. A notice
before from my pen Of the Tiber's be-
ing place of great resort for them
has been, it would appear, wholly un-
attended to. Not only Fourteenth Street
Bridge forms the spot for their pleasure.
but they have lately extended their float
ings as far as the Center Market. Is
there not some law to prevent this in
dency? 'Tis hoped that a speedy stop
will give US no room for further COM
plants"
However, although there may not have
been an ordnance on the subject at that
particular time, yet the subject was COW
cred by the Act Of the Corporation Of
Evening star., 1942-08-16
Skywatchers

marked that at first some wore their
pretty clothes and high heels.
They soon got over that" she said.
"It was wrecking them and their
clothes"
Mrs. Turner is widow with two
sons. The 20-year-old is about to 20
into the Army. The 13-year-old Is beg
ging to be allowed to serve as a spotter.
But that's too young, we think" said
his mother. I'VE use high school stu
dents over 16 on the to am. shift,
but we don't like to leave such respon-
sibility on any one younger, unless they
are on shift with an older person"
Despite the several hours daily Mrs.
Turner spends at the observation post
she'd rather tell you about the other
women. For instance, one Is a lawyer
In New York City. She commutes. She
looks after her family and home. She
insists on Sunday morning 6 to am.
duty.
Teachers take early morning or late
afternoon shifts. Other women whose
Jobs are local arrange longer lunch
hours once week for their spotter
duty. Housewives have replanned their
schedules OF marketing washing and
cooking to At the service hours. Young
mothers find some one to look after their
infants for couple of hours.
"Of course, It's changed our lives"
says Mrs. Turner. 1T, isn't always easy
to give the time when you've demands or
worries at home. Bridge? I believe +
did play that game a long time ago. Not
now"
On duty the women don't talk much.
They might miss hearing a plane, par
ticularly when weather Is such that
planes can't be seen. Radios are banned
because of sound distraction.
We've quit letting them bring knit
ting, too," says Mrs. Turner. When
women knit they CAB. And II they CAB
too much they'll miss the planes"
Her post is convinced of the impor-
tance of the service. One foggy day the
spoilers heard a formation Of planes
overhead. They flashed the report to the
filter center. Later they we're lauded
by the fighter command as the hrst OBJ
seryation post to spot the formation
which had been sent in from tho sea
to test when and how accurately 1t
would be reported. Supposing 1t had
been.
Unless they report "unfriendly planes"
moving in, no United States fighter
planes would be sent aloft to intercept
a possible enemy raid.
Near this post Is q woman Who hasn't
time to be a spotter. But they tell you
about her because every night of the
long winter months she made coffee at
2 am. and sent it to the men on duty
She lives in very modest home with a
husband and three children to look after,
The spoilers disapprove the adage that
women can't work together successfully.
Try to talk to one about what she's
doing, what sacrifices she's making, and
in two sentences she's telling you about
what wonderful job one of the others
is doing. There isn't sign of hair.
pulling.
Most of them, too, find time for other
community work. They serve in local
Red Cross unit projects. they sell War
bonds and stamps, they work for phil
anthropic organizations, they learn
home nursing.
Evening star., 1942-08-16

Washington Of July n, 1861. which reads
as follows:
1T is not lawful for any person or per-
sons to bathe or swim in any of the rivers,
creeks, or the Canal, in the jurisdic-
ton OF the Corporation, at any Tina
between the hours of six AM. and eight
PM. Of each and every day, except In
the following named places, viz: In
Rock Creek; in the Potomac River be-
tween Fourteenth and Twentieth streets;
In the Tiber, north of K street north, and
in the Anacostia, east of Fifteenth street
east. Any person violating this law shall
forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars
for each and every offence, and failing
to pay such fine, or secure 1t to be paid,
Evening star., 1942-08-16

Hospital for Foundlings, at Fourteenth
and s streets, marks about the center OF
his early city properties, and exists today
as a monument to his beneficence. His
birthplace is given as Philadelphia, Pa.
and the date about 1875. He is buried
in Rock Greek Cemetery, and on his
vault is inscribed: Joshua Pierce, April
II, 1869, aged "a years; Susan A. Pierce.
January 10, 1861. aged ST years"
Beside Big Rock, there were number
of other swimming holes in Rock Greek,
including Little Rock, Snaky Bottom,
Sycamore, Soldiers Creek, one down
toward Kalorama and, no doubt. others.
Tiber Creek
But prior to the Civil War and before
the swimming places mentioned became
popular, there were any number of
small streams and branches in which
the boys Of those days could cool them
Evening star., 1942-08-16

system could only be destroyed by the
use of the ballot box During this
period of appealing to the moral sense
of the people against slavery, Douglass
duties consisted of travelling throughout
the North and East, speaking at meet
ings and conventions organized by
friends and sympathizers.
British Helped Him
While visiting London where English
men collected money with which to pay
the ransom for his freedom upon his
eventual return to America, Douglass
Evening star., 1942-08-16

selves OF. The largest of these was the
Tiber. This creek had several sources
before joined together in the square
bounded by M and and North Capitol
and First~streets NE. and somewhere in
this immediate vicinity was Logans mill.
certainly one of the first mills in this
part Of the country. At first 1t bore the
name Motley Young MILL" and subse-
quently the names Casanave, Fenwick
and Pearson, all prominent names to
those interested in local history.
1t was George w. Logan who last
operated the mill before it was aban-
doned during the Civil War period. and
he is recalled by the late DR.. Joseph T.
Howard in his poem on Tiber Greek, in
which he says:
~Persue the humble bee, or odMdy bIt-
terfy,
That fed upon the foapers that orew
hard by,
Steal bath in Looan's Pond that
then did fo,D
Where M street non intersects tho
railroad B. & o.
A quaint old man Dns Logan. his
seeming joy
Was the t, epidation his coming caused
in man and bog.
As doltish on his nag, to him faithful
and true,
Home,Ddrd he sduntered, perhaps a
little blue.
But not ours the task to critically
scan
The little eccentricities OF this eccen-
trio man"
At the period DR.. Howard refers to-,
Iogan's mill was in a strictly suburban
section. Though the complaints regard
ing nude bathing in this section were
numerous, even similar complaints from
urban sections of Washington were not
infrequent, and in the summer OF 1888,
in the National Intelligencer, we find
this complaint:
Evening star., 1942-08-16

the venture could not succeed. This
came as terrible shock to him. A
disciple Of William Lloyd Garrison, and
fully in accord with his doctrine that
the Constitution was pro-slavery docu-
ment. Douglass, for the first time was
compelled to make break with the
very friends to whom he had always
looked for advice and direction.
Failing to convince the Garrisonians,
he moved to Rochester, N Y, out of
motives of peace" where he began the
publication of the North Star. Through
his paper he continued to espouse the
Garrisonian non-voting principle which
called for the -slaveholding States
to dissolve the Union with the slave
holding States.
The North Star received the support
OF such eminent men as Chief Justice
Chase, Horace Mann, Joshua r. Gid
dlngs, Charles Summer, John c. Palfry,
William H. Seward, Gerrit Smith, the
Rev. Samuel J. May and many others
In America and abroad. After four
years, Douglass changed the name of
his paper from The North Star to Fred
erick Douglass Paper, lin order to dis
tinguish 1t from the many papers with
Stars in their titles
Changed Views on Constitution
Douglass showed a singleness of pur-
pose and clarity of vision which were
rare In his time. The experience with
his paper and the Intimate knowledge of
slavery, gained at first hand, perhaps
gave him an advantage over most of
his contemporaries. He understood that
1t was necessary to abolish the system
OF slavery, not only because the Negro
slaves would thereby gain their freedom,
but because America could not grow and
develop into free land as the Found
ing Fathers had intended.
Thus, it can be understood why he
later changed his views with respect to
the Constitution being a pro-slavery
document. The Constitution, as he now
understood it, was a warrant for the
abolition of slavery in every State of
the Union Although the Republicans
based their platform of 1860 on limiting
slavery to the slave States where it then
existed, Douglass threw his support on
the side Of Lincoln because he felt that
Evening star., 1942-08-16
Fought Against Slavery Give Democracy True Meanne

Through carefully laid plans, and with
the assistance OF friends, Douglass
escaped from the land Of bondage, and
arrived in New York September 3, 1888,
as a free man and fugitive. Three
years later he made his first public ap-
pearance at the Nantucket Anti-Slavery
Convention, called by William Lloyd
Garrison and his friends. Thus began
his career as an agent for the Abolition
ist cause.
At the meeting he addressed, his
Abolitionists friends always introduced
him as fugitive slave" piece Of
Southern property" that could speak.
But when narrating his experiences as
a slave, Douglass never limited himself
to a mere statement of the facts.
George Foster, John A. Collins, and
others, urged him to stick to the facts.
Well take care OF the philosophy"
But Douglass could not follow such in
structions. He was now growing in
knowledge and needed ROOM ut did not
entirely satisfy me to narrate wrongs;
l felt like denouncing them. I could
not always curb my moral indignation
for the perpetrators Of slaveholding vii
lainy long enough for circumstantial
statement of the facts. :"
1t was not enough for Douglass to have
his own freedom. He knew that the
emancipation of all the slaves and the
safety of America could not be made
secure as long as men remained COM
placent and Indifferent to the corroding
influences OF the slave system. Thus
Douglass life, which Vice President
Henry Wilson once characterized as "an
epic which finds few to equal it," was
essentially the life of a genuine demo-
crat. He understood that the freedom
of the slaves could be effected only by
the closest alliance with all those striv-
ing for universal democracy. For this
reascn he encouraged and supported
every movement which sought to achieve
this aim Every foe that could be won
against slavery was another triumph for
justice.
The slave system itself-this was the
thing that had to be destroyed. AS a
direct attack upon the system, at first,
Douglass supported the Moral Suasion
crusade led by the Garrisonians, in op-
position to Gerrit Smith. Myron Holly
and william Godell, who held that the
Evening star., 1942-08-16

decided upon new plan which he
thought would further enhance the cause
of Abolition. The matter of an Aboli-
zionist paper was discussed with his
English friends who readily provided him
with funds for such a purpose. But to
Douglass amazement, when he returned
to America, he found William Lloyd Gar
rison and many of his friends In Boston
opposed to the plan.
They maintained that no such paper
was needed: that Douglass was more
useful as a, lecturer; that he was better
fitted to speak than to write. and that
Evening star., 1942-08-16

shall be committed to the Workhouse
for ten days, unless the fine and costs are
sooner paid"
Franklin Park
But to return to Franklin Park, where
the children seem to be allowed to bathe
these warm summer days, and where
their veteran elders can sit in the shade
OF the trees and begrudge the kids of the
opportunity that once was theirs, but
which will never come again.
Indeed this beautiful park was not
always as attractive as 1t is now, nor, as
matter Of fact, was it originally in
tended as park or public reservation,
since. when the city was first laid out
into squares and the squares into lots,
this block was looked upon as residential,
was given the number 249 and the lots
sold by the Federal commissioners to
private persons And thus it laid, un-
improved for upward OF half a century,
Evening star., 1942-08-16
THERE WERE GIANTS II
THOSE DA VS."

This ia the gath OF series Of articles
shout nen and women who worked. fought
and died that America misht live; men and
women who made America great by con-
tribytinS their own greatness to country
which was founded and has ENDURED don, on the h,
principles Of life liberty and the pursuit OF
18th article in the series will appear next
Sunday
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-03-13

end with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. f. Pruitt
Mrs. Seth Hurley has returned
home after spending sometime with
friends and relatives in Baltimore
Md.
Miss Betty Lee Hall of Silva, Va,
spent Thursday night with Miss Rose
Marie Taylor.
Mrs. Alice Hurley left last week
for Baltimore, Md, where she has OBJ
tanned work.
Mrs. Spugel Vessels IS spending
sometime with her sister, Mrs Dolly
Hill at Chester, Pa.
Mrs. Wallace Baily and son, Pax
ton have returned home after spend
ing the past week with Mr.. and Mrs.
Graydon Tull, at Cape Charles, Va.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ennis of Wilmington,
Del, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sharp
and children, Carolyn and Harry, of
Montchanin, Del. spent Sunday with
Mrs. Sharp'a mother, Mrs. George
Mason and Mr.. Mason. Miss Carolyn
Sharp remained to spend two weeks
with her grandmother
Mrs. Jane Hancock and son Richard
of Pocomoke City, Md, spent Sunday
afternoon with Mr.. and Mrs. George
Mason.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Crowley, Mr..
w. c. Tull, Miss Barbara Brown and
Mr. Roger Brown motored to Will
lards Nd Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs Leslie Mason and
daughter, Dora Mae and Mr.. Byard
Chelrix of Wilmington, Del, spent
the weekend here. They were ac-
companied by Mrs. H. w. Mason who
has been visiting in Wilmington, Del.
Corporal George E. Young, Jr.,
of Fort Meade, Md, was a dinner
guest Sunday at the home of Mr. and
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-03-13

bulk and in storage, if it proves nee
essary to handle bulk and stored po-
tatoes.
The base price at which Maryland
potatoes will be supported in this pro
gram is announced at $1.5O per hum
dred pounds for "round white" var
ieties grading U. S. No. on the
Eastern Shore.
While current prices for potatoes
are said to be favorable, they were
relatively low during the 1941-42 per-
iod of harvest. Without price support
it is thought there is a probability of
severe decline in potato acreage which
might result in an acute shortage Of
potatoes in 1912.
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-03-13

lowing methods; J. Purchases for
relief distribution by the Agricultur-
al Marketing Administration; distri-
button; distribution to low-income
families through the Stamp Program;
a. Diversion to starch, livestock feed,
and other products under ANA pro
grams; and, 3. Loans or purchases
by the Commodity Credit Corpora
ton.
Department officials point out that
the potato price support program is
not aimed toward expanded produc-
ton in 1912, but rather to assure the
full planting of the allotted acreage,
which is the same as in 1910 and
1911. Low prices for the last few
years, it is stated, have caused a con-
siderable reduction in the acreage
planted to potatoes, but due to high
yields per acre production has been
adequate.
The price support will be provided
in each of the major producing areas,
at scheduled base prices, for pota-
toes grading U. S. No. 1 or better,
sacked, f. o. b., in carlots. Appropri-
ate adjustments will be made for
marketable potatoes grading IS per-
cent u. S. No. 1 and for potatoes in
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-03-13

Mrs. Lora BIimer.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Brown, Mr..
and Mrs. Clarence Merritt, Mrs. Tel
la Dooling and Mrs. S. b. Merritt at
tended the funeral last Thursday of
their grandmother, Mrs Nancy Jones
at Wilmington. Del Mrs. Jones, our
towns oldest citizen, age 102 years,
went on a visit three weeks ago to
her sons home in Wilmington, Del,
where she was taken i'll and died on
Sunday March 1, 1912. Funeral SER
vices were held at McCroy's Funeral
Home on Washington St, Whining
ton, Del, and interment was in the
Silver Brook Cemetery there. Active
and honary pallbearers were made up
of Mrs. Jones' grandchildren and great
grandchildren. The deceased is sur
vived by four sons, George of Will
mington, Del; Selby of Stockton,
Md; Timothy Of Franklin City, Va;
and William of Chincoteague, Va, 80
grandchildren; "a great grandchild-
rem; 10 great great-grandchildren.
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-03-13
Greenbackville

Mr.. and Mrs. Bill Davids Of Phila.
Pa, recently visited Mr.. and Mrs.
James Chapman over the weekend.
Mr.. and Mrs. Forrest Chandler and
daughter Tommy of Onancock, Va,
and Mr.. and Mrs Winfield Hammond
of saltwater, Pa, spent Saturday
with Mr.. and Mrs. w. S. Hammond,
Sr.
Mr.. and Mrs, Joshua Andrews and
daughter and Mr.. Elwood Merritt, of
Girdletree, Md, spent Sunday with
Mr.. and Mrs. leila Dooling.
Misses Ruth and Lorraine Brimer
of Wilmington, Del, spent the week
end with their parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Lora Brimer. Little Payton Cherrix
also of Wilmington, Del, is spending
sometime with his aunt and uncle,
Mr. and Mrs. Lora Brimer.
Mr.. j. w Davis is spending this
week with his son, Mr.. Ohio Davis
in Wilmington, Del.
Mr.. and Mrs. Willard Northam of
Newport News, Va, spent the week