Evening star., 1950-01-30
More Memories of Colorful Days
Aboard Potomac River Side -Wheelers

~'~o ~s-'>A 1o VAASoAS
To the Editor of The Star: i
The letters from Mrs. A. D. S. Pray of
Norwalk, Conn. and Mrs. Jeanne Sheriff
Sharf OF Washington, in reference to the
Potomac river boats of the COS, bring back
nostalgia memories of those days.
The river traffic had marked effect on
the business of the Southwest section of our
great city. AS a child the Sunday school
excursions of Dumbarton Avenue Methodist
Church are well remembered. Some sum-
mers they went to Lower Cedar Point or
Blackstone Island. On occasions the steam
er Il think the Jane Mosley') would call
at the foot of High street (now Wisconsin
avenue) to take on the Georgetown passen-
gers, previous to the stop at the 7th street
wharf.
AT this time there were two boats in the
ferry service between here and Alexandria.
II l remember correctly. they made the trip
each half hour.
In the early COS we boys went to Camp
Salanagundi for two weeks each summer,
at Colonial Beach, Va. My companions were
Dave Reynolds, Tom Fleming, Ollie Probey
and Denny Sweeney. The cots would be
hired from Mr.. Shut, who was in business
for many years on M street NV, near
Thirty-f street. The camp consisted of
two tents, one for sleeping, the other for
OIL stove cooking. A canvas fly covered a
table. for our meals, between the shelters.
Steamboats, Round the Bend
1t was glorious sight to see the Wake
field" steaming to the wharf, early in the
morning. We were of the opinion there
could not be more beautiful steamer.
The ST. V. Arrowsmith" was also very
popular. She had very business-like look,
sat low in the water and appeared as if
she could carry large load of freight
The "Mattano" would end her run at
Colonial Beach and lay up overnight in
Monroe Bay, just back of the beach,
Some seasons the George Seary'' would
make passenger runs of five hours to the
beach. Leaving Washington at am. she
would dock at the upper wharf" nearer the
hotel than the freight wharf, where the
river landing boats would stop.
The John w. Thompson" was another
steamer on the run. There were several
officers on the steamers by the name of
Posey, all fine men,
AT the time large number of Washing
tons substantial families had summer homes
at the peach. DR.. Evans, a prominent den-
list, the Weavers, the Fearsons and other
names I cannot recall. Other popular re-
sorts were Coltons, Piney Point, River
Springs and st. Georges Island, all in
Maryland.
Recalls Fifty-Cent Dinners
~AV Villas PCAioo CilClc was d SCedmSQlp line
that ra nto Baltimore, the boats leaving
here two or three times week I believe
their names were Sue" and 'Northumber-
land" can we'll recall the marvellous din
erS, served family-style, for fifty cents
hard to believe in this age.
About the turn of the century the Charles
Manchester was very popular in its runs
to Mt Vernon, Marshall Hall and the moon
light trips to Indian Head The latter was
quite thrill to me, as I used to take the
young lady. who has now been my wife for
40 years. to the upper deck
At the time of the Jamestown Exposition,
1907, the N. g. w. steamboat line ran a day
boat, the Jamestown, to Norfolk. This was
grand trip, showing the lower Potomac in
all its beauty.
The coming Of automobiles, trucks and
improved roads made the residents of the
tide-water counties less dependent on the
steamer for transportation and supplies.
Many thanks to the writers for bringing
back such pleasant memories.
''s''s EDWARD s. SMITH.