Evening star., 1943-06-13
BY John Clagett Proctor.

Many years have come and gone since
Washington's elderly residents went to
a picnic at Kalorama woods or nearby
to Littes farm, and maybe to one or
more of the many other outing places.
then regarded as way out in the coun-
try, but now in strictly settled sections
of the city. But many an old-tlmer
can still see in his minds eye the once
beautiful natural scenery Of these places,
fortunately denied.
And this is only too true of Kalorama,
once celebrated picnic grounds, es-
pecially in days following the Civil War.
where Sunday schools particularly held
their summer outings, an event many
a child of go or 10 years ago looked
forward to with enraptured anticipa-
ton, since enormous cans OF ice cream
and barrels of lemonade were among the
principal attractions, not to omit the
high rope swings, attached to the lofty
oaks then so abundant in this part of
Of the District, Immediately north OF
Florida avenue and west of COLUMBIA
u,
Creek
And then, there were the large omni-
buses which carried all hands to the
grounds. a picturesque sight in itself,
since this conveyance was never drawn
by less than two horses and sometimes
by as many as four. Indeed what fond
recollections and smiles the recalling of
these old days must bring as one lives
over again and again those good old
days of long ago which can never return
again.
Widows Mite.
At very early date, Kalorama be-
longed to Anthony Holmead, an English
man and one of the original proprietors
of land selected for the Federal Capital.
1t was he who erected the original
house about 1850, on commanding
eminence. The site of this building was
on the north side of S street near
Phelps place.
At first the tract was called Widows
Mite. and as such was granted in 1864
to John Langworth. 1t then contained
some 600 acres and the part south of
Florida avenue and within the city lines
was later given the name of James,
His Park" the name under which it was
held by Holmead when he agreed with
the other proprietors to transfer, under
certain conditions, their lands to the
Federal Government
Originally, Kalorama was called Rock
Hill by Mr. Holmead, but this name did
not quite suit Joel Barlow later
owner, and he changed it to Belair, but
later on, after considering the number
of places then bearing that name, he
decided upon the name Kalorama mean
ing fine view In the beginning it
was spelled "Calorama"
In 1894 or l795. Holmead sold the
mansion house and about 40 acres of
land to Gustavus Scott, who had been
made one Of the commissioners to super
intend the erection Of the public build
ings here. His career was an honorable
one. He was a distinguished lawyer,
and during the period OF the American
Revolution rendered valuable service to
the cause of Independence He was a
member OF the Association of Freemen
of Maryland, which decided in july,
ITS, to throw off the proprietary power
and assume provisional government.
Later he assisted in framing the con-
stitution of Maryland in 1916 and sub
sequentlV served in the State Assembly
and in 1874 was sent as a delegate to
the Continental Congress.
Although his political career was as
resident of Maryland, vet his birth
place was in Prince William County.
Va, his father having been a Scotch
Episcopal clergyman who settled in that
State in 1880 While Commissioner
Scott was attending Federal affairs in
the new Capital. strange as it NAV
seem, his own personal bond. upon one
occasion. was required from the State
of Maryland for money lent the Govern
ment to complete the public buildings.
AT kalorama.
Being a son of Scotsman. he nat
urally inherited some of his fathers
Scotch thrift, and as evidence of this
he is said to have adapted to his own
use as kitchen doorstep the rejected
keystone of the then new K Street Bridge.