Evening star., 1951-10-21


going on an excursion on the side
wheeler boat Mary Washington
occurred on July 4, 1876, just rs
years ago last summer. and one will
recognize from the date that the
vessel was then quite new The trip
was made to Mount Vernon Springs,
long since off the map as an excur-
sion resort. but which was then just
south of the wharf at Mount Vernon
and only separated from that estate
by cove which makes up at this
point. AS an excursion place it soon
gave way to other and more popular
resorts, the old pavilion, with it's
weather-worn timbers. could fer
years be seen from the passing boats,
until it finally toppled over from its
own weight.
Since the entire saloon deck was
one large pavilion, dancing on the
Mary Washington was the princi-
pal attraction. and such square
dances as the quadrille and the Ian
GERS were enjoyed by the excursion
lists. The polka, the schottische and
the waltz were also among the dances
OF this period the waltz being the
only one still with us today.
Another place. quite popular, espe-
cially as a Sunday school resort,
was Occoquan Falls. The Mary
Washington was peculiarly adapted
to shallow water, and it was in
variably Of great interest to see the
long trail of mud left in the wake
OF the steamer as she churned up
the creek bed. the water of which
seemed not over feet in depth.
When the water was clear, it was
easy to see from the front of the
boat the bottom of the creek as the
boat steamed slowly up this historic
stream.
Sunday School Outings
After Mount Vernon Springs ceased
to be used as an excursion resort,
Glymont, Fort Washington and Fort
Foote were the main Sunday school
excursion places on the Potomac.
Marshall Hall was always popular.
especially for night trips, and many
a woman today will fondly recall the
generous coatsleeve which protected
her from the chilly night winds while
taking in one of the evening trips
aboard the famous and COM
modious tideshover," Mary Wash
ington. Though the Sunday schools
usually arranged for the shorter trips,
it was not unusual for them to
go to Lower Cedar Point, Chapel
Point. Colonial Beach and other
places within a days ride of Wash
ington. River View came into oper-
alton in later days and belongs to
a subsequent period.
For the Sunday school excursions.
the boat was usually chartered and
generally, the bar was closed, intoxi-
eating liquors being rarely sold at
Glymont and Mount Vernon Springs;
and, since Fort Washington and Fort
.Foote were Government properties,
liquor was Eot sold on the premises.
On other regular excursion trips,
however. beer was freely sold on the
boat and on the grounds at Marshall
Hall as well.
'" The Mary Washington had a car
rying capacity of $500 people. though
in her day she is said to have carried
more passengers than any other yes
sci on the Potomac. At an early date
she was sold to Capt. E. S. Randall,
and she ran for years between Wash
ington and River View, until she was
succeeded by the Samuel j. PentZ.
In later days, the Mary Washington
was used for colored excursion parties
to Motley Hall and other points on
the river. Later the vessel was sold
to Robert Hoffman. who converted
1t into clubhouse and anchored it
at Analostan Island, near George
town.
Like so many people who, when
they start on the downward grade,
are kicked just little bit further.
so it was with the Mary Washington,
which was taken from Analostan Is
land and anchored near Four Mile
Run, where. after short period, she
was practically abandoned and any
one who cared to do so was per-
mitted to carry away from it pieces
OF lumber or whatever was detach-
able. Finally, on November %, 1902,
it caught fire and was destroyed, and
that was the last of the Mary WASH
ington.
A Fort Washington Trip
One Of the earliest excursions to
Fort Washington vividly recall
through an incident which resulted
disastrously for me at that time.
1t was Sunday school outing, and
naturally We were all dressed for
this occasion, my outfit being a
light suit of some sort of material.