Evening star., 1944-11-19
Col. Maurice Pinch0Uer, one
Of Washington's early
"crdnkS."

COt. WUuTZCe FIHCIODeT, one
Of Washington's early
"crdnks.
comprehensive plan for the redemption
of the Potomac Flats, how to increase
local and national revenues, the proper
way to construe enactments by Con-
gress and common law and a project to
promote the commerce of the country
and a scheme to solve the problem of
aerial navigation, for which all he
needed-lke most men of his kind
was money
Watson died In December, 1885, when
residing in the roon1ing house over John
Blighs saloon, 2l8 Twelfth street NV.
The 'Birdman' ~ -y.e
One of the oldest men to reside in
the Mount Pleasant area was Allen B,
Hayward. He was very fine man and
was perfectly sane, and yet be preferred
house In the treetops to one on the
ground. And for this reason he be-
came known as the Man in the Trees"
and the "Birdman.
The site for his first house was in
the trees in the grounds on the west
side of Sixteenth street about opposite
where part of old Piney Branch road
terminates at this thoroughfare and
snort distance south of the Piney
Branch Bridge. Mr.. Hayward, who
erected this unusual house in 1884 and
which he called Airy Castle was
Grand Army man and found his habita-
ton agreeable and profitable 1t was
not mere whim of this one armed
ClVll War veteran, for he was really
seeking pure and fresh air as a health
cure, evidently believing that he was
threatened with tuberculosis,
AT flrst the structure was a small one
put as the curious crowds came out in
the country to see the Man in the
Tree an admission fee was charged
ana the GAR veteran was soon able m
add to his home and in due time IN
move away. This time to the Forest
Glen area, where he erected a similar
castle" though more pretentious and
conmodious
IL may be interesting to note that at
the time the first Airy Castle" WAS
oullt Sixteenth street had not been ex-
tended to Piney Branch and the road
llseH paralleled to an extent the pres
ent Sixteenth street extended north of
Piney Branch Bridge.
DIR. Mary Walker
A woman who certainly deserves tn
ne put IN the unusual class is DR.
Mary Walker. woman who resided IN
thls city for so many years following
Ihe civil War to such an extent that
stle was almost regarded as a resident
Her masculine attire naturally attracted
attention.
An Idea OF her dress may be had from
description of her appearance at
President Arthur's first New Year re.
ceptlon. IL was said she wore a black
nroadcloth frock coat and pantaloons
and carried high black silk hat in her
lett hand, while in her right she -four
lshed a slender cane" An Irish girl, the
writer used to know when she was about
~ years OF age, was thrown in contact
Win Dr. Mary. Several others were
also there at the time, but the doctor
was doing all the talking and WAS ask.
Ing many questions of the young miss.
TO which she invariably answered Yes
SIT After she had answered thus a
nall dozen or more times, the doctor
became exasperated and said: "Cawn't
you see I'm lady?' And the young
girl, to be consistent. replied: Eyes, sir!"
And it was always afterward "Yes, sir"
for she seemed to be unable to realize
that 1t could be possible for any one but
man to wear pantaloons.
Her 'Slugeine Match
DR.. Mary Walker was q regular M. D.
and practiced her profession before and
after coming to Washington. During
the Civil War she rendered valuable
assistance to wounded soldiers, and
later, when she took to the lecture plat
form, even extended her tours to Eu-
rope. Unfortunately for her, however,
no one seems even to have taken her
seriously. and If she ever accomplished
any good In her dress-reform crusade
1t never was noticeable.
One OF her platform remarks was:
Long dresses are killing women" But.
oh. my! WHAT would she say Of the
dresses todI