Evening star., 1952-01-13
Steamboats, on the Potomac
"reminiscences Of Early Excursion Days
And Picnic Spots on the River Banks
By John cIoeett. Proctor

going on an excursion on this boat
was on July 4, 1875. and one will rec
ognlze from the date that the vessel
was then quite new. The trip was
TO Mount Vernon Springs, long since
on OF the map as an excursion re-
sort, but which was then just south
OF the wharf Of 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 re-
sorts. but the old pavilion, with its
weather-worn timbers, could for 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 principal
attraction. and such square dances as
the quadrille and the lancers were
enjoyed by the excursionists. 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, and this modified
into q more graceful movement.
Another place. quite popular, espe-
cially as a Sunday school resort, was
Occoquan Falls. The Mary WASH
ington was peculiarly adapted to
shallow water, and it was Invariably
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 3 feet in depth. When the wa
ter 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.
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 q
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 commod-
ious tideshover," Mary Washington.
Though the Sunday schools usually
arranged for the shorter trips, it was
not unusual for them to 60 to Lower
Cedar Point, Chapel Point, Colonial
Beach and other places within days
ride OF Washington. River View came
into operation in later days and be-
longs to q subsequent period.
The Mary Washington had q carry.
ing capacity of $500 people and in
her day she is said to have carried
more passengers than any other ves-
sci on the Potomac. At an early date
she was sold to Capt. E. S. Randall,
and she ran for years between WASH
lngton and River View, until she was
succeeded by the Samuel J. pentz.
After this the Mary Washington was
used for colored excursion parties to
Motley Hall and other points on the
river. Later the vessel was sold 70
ROBERT Holtzman. who converted it
into q clubhouse and anchored it at
AnaloStan Island, near Georgetown.
Her boiler and machinery were taken
out before it became the property Of
Mr.. Holtzman, and part Of the ma
chlnery may still be in use in other
boats on the river.
Eorly Steamboats,
Speaking Of steamboats, on the
Potomac, it might be of interest that.
In 1873, there were no steamboats,
south of Philadelphia except what is
said to have been "a clumsy, fat.
bottomed steamboat called the Co.
lumblan." which had been used on
the Potomac to carry grain and wood
to this city. w. B. Bryan. in his
excellent history of the National
Capital, tells US of the interesting
part played by the City of Washing
ton ard the Potomac River in early
steam navigation. His statement also
shows that aside from the clumsy
Columbian, vessel called the Wash.
ington was not only the first steam.
boat on the river. but one which
even made a record coming here.
These were the days when ancient
Tiber Creek was immortalized by
Tom Moore, who crept through q
moraSs toward the embryo capital;
then the Mall was a COW pasture,
and with the site Of Washington
Monument was called "the island"
separated from the city by the canal
which ran along B street to Center
Market; when elder bushes fringed
Pennsylvania avenue, and ladies
whose chariots stuck In the mud
were gingerly rescued by gallants in
sheer ruff1es, and small clothes and
queues. These queues, which had to
be so elaborately dressed and pow
dered. made the BARRIERS all Federal
lists in Jefferson's administration, az
the Democrats wore short hair,