Evening star., 1945-12-09
Along Old Piney Branch Road
BY John Clagett Proctor

BY John Clagett Proctor
There are sill many persons residing
IN Washington who can recall the time
when Piney Branch was a stream OF
considerable size, and when Piney
. Branch road was way out in the country
and which, so years and more ago, pro-
vided one of the most delightful runs
for bicyclist, when that sport was quite
a craze. This, of course, was prior to the
extension of Fourteenth and Sixteenth
streets to Brightwood, for then there
were but two roads running from the
city to this village of indefinite area, one
OF these being Piney Branch road, the
other Georgia avenue.
Like all the early roads around WASH
tngton, Piney Branch road was laid out
to provide the easiest grades for haul
ing, and to cost as little as possible for
grading, the result being its serpentine
course.
Dates Back Before 1856
According to one Of the most accurate
maps of the city, this road was in exist
ence at least as early as 1856, and prob
ably dates back considerably before that
time, though at the time of the date
mentioned it only went as far north to
where it intersected with Georgia ave-
nue. Later it was extended to Takoma
Park.
1t was more picturesque road than
the Seventh Street pike, probably be-
cause it was more winding. OF course
1t was made up of hills and valleys, and
was well wooded along the sides, and
this added to its attractiveness. One of
the steepest and longest grades between
the city and Brightwood was known as
Blagden's HILL and many a prudent BIZ
cyclist thought it better to walk up this
hill than to tire himself out by riding it..
During the winter months, when
snow was on the ground, this hill made
an especially good one for shedding, and
the young folk came from miles around
to participate in this delightful and ex-
hilarating sport. Particularly was this
so of the people of Mount Pleasant, who
always turned out upon such occasions
in large numbers.
The Old Road Today
Little of this old road now remains
between Mount Pleasant and Bright
wood. We first find 1t at about Oak
street where 1t takes northwest course
until 1t reaches Sixteenth street, where
1t bears the name of Spring place. From
he 70 oI c%r
obliterated, but from that street on it
continues northwardly, paraleling Six
teenth street to the east until it enters
Colorado avenue formerly Piney
Branch road between Hamilton and
1ngraham streets. A small section In
Brightwood, but not of the original road,
still bears the old name, as it does far
ther on to Takoma.
To the north of Mount Pleasant was
then, as nov, Spring road, running east
and west, but in its present improved
condition, it has almost lost its identity.
On this road toward Fourteenth street
lived Mrs. Sendenberg, near the Shirleys,
they being close neighbors to William
]. Rhees, who owned an estate called
the Oaks. Mr.. Rhees was for many
years the chief clerk of the Smithsonian
Institution, served on the School Board
and wrote much of the history of the
public schools for the District of Co.
iumbia. He was also one Of the founders
here of the Young Mems Christian As
bociation.
Capt. Joseph T. w. Halls place was
Just east of the junction Of Fourteenth
street road and Spring road, to the west
Of which lived J. c. Lewis on his Is
acres, called Tip Top, which extended
from the Lehman tract on the south,
srossing and ending at Piney Branch
on the north. Nearby was Mr.. Lewis
bluestone quarry, then much in demand
for building purposes and from which
the long wall at the first gate of the
Soldiers Home, extending along the
road below Gen. SCOTS statue, was
built. Capt. Hall was a son-in-law of
Mr.. Lewis and was Civil War veteran,
and today sleeps in Arlington National
Cemetery beside his wife.
An old wooden bridge formerly occu-
pied the site of the bridge which now
spans Piney Branch, or what little is
left uncovered of this stream, for large
sewer now conducts it along most of its
course, and the beauty of the valley is
necessarily lessened to certain degree.
L'Enfant's Description
LEnfant, in his original manuscript
plan of Washington, dated 1871, gives
Piney Branch as Pine Greek, and says
that the water "if necessary may supply
the city, being turned into James Whites
Branch" which indicates its copious
volume at that time,
It had two main arms which formed
The main stream between the Marshall
Brown farm, east of Georgia avenue,
and what is now Brightwood Park. The
main arm to the left, looking north, had
It's source to the southwest Of, and close
by, the Metropolitan Branch Of the
Baltimore q Ohio Railroad, and near
where Is now the Takoma Park station.
This arm Of the branch was increased in
volume by number of smaller streams
nowing In to it from the west and not
tar from Georgia avenue. The main
arm to the right had its beginning
somewhere in the vicinity of the Sol
diers' Home. and 1t, too. picked up a
number of smaller streams before it
3oined the main body Of water.
The James Whites spring referred to
BY L,Enfant existed up to about 20 years
ego. It stood near the northwest corner
q Georgia avenue and Ingraham street
end was covered in and piped to the