Evening star., 1955-07-23
Unabridged


cussions with reference to a
new bridge across the Poto-
mac, including the availabili-
ty Of what is now called
Theodore Roosevelt Island"
as a stepping stone for some
elements Of a projected river
crossing structure, certain an
tecedent facts in connection
with this locality are Of pass
ing interest.
The tract of land lying in
the middle of the watercourse
has borne a number Of desig-
nations. Most familiar to in
habitants of the Metropolitan
Area is "Analostan Island"
This name seems to have a
common derivation with "An-
acostia."
The homeland of a vanished
Indian tribe-the NecoStins-
once embraced the shores of
this section of the river. An
act of the Virginia Assembly
dating back over 800 years
July, 1653-uses this language:
"The falls of the great river
Pawtomake, above the Necos-
tins Towne."
Once it formed part Of the
vast holdings Of the Masons
Of Virginia. George Mason.
"of GunSton Hail." received 1t
by patent from the Proprietor
of Maryland, Lord Baltimore.
Known earlier as "Anacostin
Island"-a variation or cor
ruption of "Necostin" - and
later referred to as MY Lords
Island" under the first Mason
ownership it became possessed
of the uncertainty derived ap-
pellation Barbados" George
Of Gunston left it by will to
his son John Mason, calling
it by this latter name.
Under the Masons, the fam
lily patronymic became so
closely associated with the
river territory that "Barba-
does" faded into oblivion, and
on Fry and Jefferson's map of
Virginia it is termed Ma
sons Island"
Advancing years loosened
the attachment between the
island and the name it had
borne, an attempt to revive
the old Indian name based on
the "Necostins" resulting in
new variation thereof, Ana
lostan." AS "Analostan" it
was known until the march
of time brought the present
u Z 5 3 II q i o n, 1leOOOTe
Roosevelt Island"
About 1853 years ago there
was agitation for a bridge. and
two locations were considered.
George Mason of Gunston,
writing to his son John on
August 20, 1892, had this to
say:
II see in q late Alexandria
newspaper notice Of an in
tended application to the Vir-
ginia Assembly at the next ses-
sion for their projected bridge
over Potomac River, opposite
or nearly opposite George
Towne, and for a condemna-
ton of land to join the south
ern abutment to and for a
road, If necessary.
"You should take care to be
fully prepared in time with a
true plan and representation
of the situation of the place
as connected both with George
Towne and the federal city,
the comparative width Of a
bridge in each of the places
(that proposed by them above
and that to and from the
island); the true depth of the
water in both places should
j, be ascertained, in which I
would not have you trust to
any representation of theirs,
and everything so done as to
be authenticated by affldayits:
the new bridge over the mouth
of Rock Creek should also be
laid down.
"And I think it would be of
great Importance If by writ
ing to Mr.. L'Enfant you could
procure his opinion, with rea-
sons, in favor of a bridge at
the Island, not letting the
George Towne people know
that you make any such ap-
plication."
Major L'Enfant has passed
into history; George and John
Mason sleep beneath the soil
of the Old Dominion; the
George Towne people" of that
day are no longer here. But
the island is still Tapped by
the waters of the "Powto-
make" and the talk Of a
bridge swirls hither and yon,
in the year 1855.
Robert. G. MacCartee.