Evening star., 1946-01-20

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Southwest corner of Sep
enth and H streets in 1891.
how interesting place this old barn
was, particularly during the winter
months, when the weather was very
cold, and especially during snow
storm. Today the motormen and con-
ductors are protected from the ele-
ments, but not for many years when
horses were used for motive power, and
then, at times, both men and horses
suffered intensely. Indeed 1t was not
unusual to see the drivers faces covered
with ice and snow when they reached
the end of the line at r street, though
they were dressed with the heaviest
kind of clothing, their boots even being
heavily wrapped in burlap bags to keep
the drivers feet warm. And the poor
horses would be turned in after the
trip covered with lather, and one could
see the moisture rising from their bod
les as they were being led to their
stalls. 1T was, indeed, case of cruelty
to animals but an unfortunately neces-
sary one, and one the early inhabitant
will never forget.
Original Second Precinct
Seventh street at Florida avenue was
the gateway to the city, and in the
northwest corner OF the carbarn was
the first place prisoners were taken
prior to the police station being 10
Gated block north on Seventh street,
and then designated the second pre-
cinct.
BY 1872 the police precincts had been
reduced from 10 to eight, with 1t.
Gessford in charge Of No. /, 1t. john
son, No. 2; 1t. Skippon, No. 8; 1t. Hur-
ley, No. 4; 1t. Austin, No. s; 1t. Greer,
No. s.; 1t. Kelly, No. Z, and 1t. Noonan,
No. 8.
The writer remembers the original
second precinct station house. which
stood for many years opposite the base
ball park on Georgia avenue, and which
indeed was not torn down until about
two years ago. 1t was erected as large
frame dwelling by Mrs. Tomkins A
picture of this early station house, taken
in 1920, gives its number as 2O42 Georgia
avenue
1t. James Johnson, who was appointed
on the police force late In 1O61, shortly
after the first men were taken on, was
in charge Of this station, according to
the City Directory, at least as early as
he 90
moved into the adjoining brick house
to the south, about 1885. This latter
house, 2o4o Georgia avenue, is still
standing.
A Georgia Avenue Station
Though quite lad when 2o42 Geor-
gia avenue was being used as station
house, the writer vividly recalls seeing
the policemen occupying this building,
and the long rail in front Of the station,
to which the mounted policemen tied
their horses.
At one time, we are told, this precinct
was the largest in the city, and the
men patrolled more territory than did
the officers of any other precinct, and
that during the exciting period of the
Civil War the area it looked after en-
braced all of the district beyond the
boundary and west of the Anacostia
River to Rock Greek and the writer
feels satisfied that at one time a part
of the city south of Florida avenue was
also included in its boundaries.
Some Of the men then serving with
1t. Johnson whom the writer remem-
bers were Hamilton K. Redway, j. N.
Fffield, Thomas Markward, Joseph T..
Morgan, Julius B. Slack, Oficer Brown,
F. w. Pfaff, James E. Heffner, Oficer
Sullivan, Daniel Slattery, Benjamin r.
Rhodes, Norman H. Cole and William
H. West, the last named and Oficer
Brown being colored members of the
force. West was one of the most gen.
tlemanly policemen the writer ever
knew. Very fond of good horses, he
always had the best, and any one who
made him "eat the dust" as the boys
back in the bicycle days would say, was
going some"
Boundary Street
Boundary street (now Florida avenue)
was macadamized in the early '70s and
was one Of the best stretches Of road
within the District. They had their
speeders and their speed regulations
then, just as they have today, and they
had their crazy drivers then-just as
they have today. The man with fast
trotter or PAGER, before the advent of
the automobile, was just as reckless and
needed just as much watching as the
careless and inconsiderate automobile
driver does at present. However, the
difference then was that only people of
means had horses and buggies, while
now there are many cars that can make
mile a minute - more or less - and
owned by persons of limited means. No
doubt the traffic conditions would have
been just as bad then had there been as
many horses and buggies as we have
automobiles now, and with the same
population. Indeed, it might be success
fully argued that the conditions would
have been even worse.
1t was then against the law "to drive
any horse, mare or gelding in or on any
street, avenue or alley OF this city at a
pace faster than moderate trot or gall
lop, or to make any attempt or trial of
speed between two or more horses" If
any one was injured during a violation
of this law the driver was subject to q
fine Of $40 and incarceration in the
workhouse for not less than 80 nor more
than 80 days.
Florida avenue moved a 0rGat ter,r,ta .