A Portrait of Old George Town

enue, the College, the C

rs and Mechanics Branch of Riggs Bank now stands, was a fine old house where the Potomac Fire Insurance Company had its fi

as the house which Robert Peter gave to his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, when, at the age of sixtee

John Davidson, Esq.,

rge

t 17t

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r a pair of Stays, not that I suppose that you are to make them, but that you ma

ome Paterns of silks fit and suitable for what they call a Wedding Gown, with the prices paid or annexed to the Patterns, and when the choice is made I suppose the next favor will be of Mrs. Davidson to direct as to the making of it. Mrs. Davidson must take the cause of all this trouble to herself, for if she did not merit the charge she would not have had the trouble. I am just now interrupted by receiving a further commission, to wit for a crepe cushion made by the best and most fashionable Barber in Annapolis, and a lock of the color wanted is enclosed. I want everything good a

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nd had eight children, all but

later became their permanent residence. It had been built in 1762 by the Reverend Alexander Williamson, rector of Rock Creek Church (now St. Paul'

so, there is still there an old rose bush bearing small white roses, which was planted by Elizabeth

y: actually, it follows the line of the grant of the Rock of Dumbarton, which was surveyed that way. The reason the streets on th

en women. In all these years there have been only three Presidents of the Board: Mrs. Beverley Kennon, Miss Emily Nourse, and the present one, Mrs. Louis Freeman

ns collected by women who were members of the Benevolent Society, who went

on, first was the grandfather, known as Henry, whom I remember, with a long grey beard; then his son of the same name, known as Wellen, and now his son, Henry. I am tol

magine the consternation of the elder Mr. Fisher when, one hot afternoon, as he was clearing out his crate of tomatoes just before closing time and, as was the custom in those long ago days, picked up a large, over-ripe one and threw it out, as he supposed into t

om Bridge (M) Street, on the corner was the hardware store of Edw

but, of course, no lady ever entered it. There were, however, three or four very well-known gentlemen

Mrs. May; then, in 1865, to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Stohlman, she being the niece of Mrs. May; then to J. William Stohlman, father of the present owner by the same name, and they are still serving the "élite of Geo

e northern border of Georgetown when it was surveyed, No. 46. On this lot stood the Union Bank and then, in 185

rs. After that, the Georgetown Assemblies were held there for several years, and various other affairs. I remember a fete called a "Chocolatère" when I was a little girl, and going to it w

ct Street, the building which has an interesting cornice and roof is

going there when I was a little girl with my mother, and her buying vegetables from a Dutch woman, Mrs. Hight. I have always remembered her rosy

center of antique shops, there are many of them, also

named for the tract of land belonging to B

Prospect Streets stands an apartment house, which, before a false front was added a few years ago when it was

Stodder

was a fabled bird, whose nest floated upon the sea. It had the power of charming winds and waves, hence, "halcyon days" are days of tranquillity and peace. He had married Rebecca

children, for a parcel of rude, disagreeable b

inted at having a fine girl;" she is sure of "Richard's feelings on the subject, for the men always are, if they would but own it, after having one

have possessed-in her own opinion-worth

to watch with his telescope for the coming of some of those ships that

of the Navy, being the first to hold that po

cabinet duties), to his near neighbor, John Templeman, on the corner just one

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s and other good things will depend on the manner of employing his time. I request, therefore, that setting Bashfulness at defiance, you will urge the Pres. to

resp.

Stod

expect to be in Geo.

all, was a graduate of West Point in the class with General Grant. He served with distinction in the Mexican War and later in the Confederate Army. Shortly after the close of the Civil War, General Grant gave a reception a

s occupied by Mr. Martineau, Minister from t

bout 1788. He was president of the Bank of Columbia

John Templ

Butter, Linseed

own June

d to be told; there were too many better things needed here. And there was plenty of clay right here to burn brick. Even in the early d

vil War. Then it belonged to Franklin Steele, whose three daughter

house and was knocking it down. It still stands firm. It was finally "done over" a few years ago, and eventually bought by James E. Forrestal, when he became Secretary of the Navy,

of Iran, Monsieur Vincent Auriol, President of France, and several Presidents of Latin American countries, and other officials, stayed. The State Department often used it for dinner part

. Charles

in Georgetown. It stood for many years unchanged and unoccupied until a few years ago, when it wa

a house on the southwest corner of Bridge (M) and Market (33rd) Streets, and, later on, bought this house. He called his home "Quality Hill." His family lived there for many years until about 1856, when they moved up to the Heights and bo

s, long stockings, and buckles on his shoes. He drove a coach-and-four when going to his country place out on the Seventh Street Road near Brightwood.

e Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth lived in the sixties and wrote her many novels-one for ever

) Street, was first built in 1849, but the original church is the small building at the back of it, high up from First (N) Street. The earliest marriage recorded there is April

n addition to contributions from others. This church was virtually owne

put up first, and by 1797, students began to lodge in it. There were 57 boarders at that time. The college was opened in 1789-its founder being John Carroll, a member of the famous Maryland family, who was consecrated Bishop at Lulworth Castle in England, but returned immediately to this coun

n Elliot wrote

of clothes, as a uniform-which is in winter a blue cloth coat and pantaloons with a black velvet waistcoat; in summer white pantaloons with a black silk waistcoat are used. He must likewise bring with him two suits for daily wear, for which no particular color

d), pens, ink, and writing paper, slates and pencil, is $150. Medical aid and medicine, unless parents choose to ru

ld not exceed 12-1/2 cents per week; and whatever is allowed must be deposited in the hands of the directors

de for tuition. The College has been established 45 years

that the young men, winter a

n. The 69th was mustered into service in the grounds of Georgetown College, where it was afterwards quartered. The 79th Pennsylv

were by an ostentatious display of a badge fastened upon the l

a pond which was a very popular reso

he education of the other sex-the oldest Visitation Convent in

scans. The three ladies were members of the French nobility who had been driven from their convent in France during the Revolution in 1793 and, coming to this country, had set up a little convent not far from the college. They attempted to keep a school as a means of support, but had a very difficult time. Once, it is told, they were

Poor Clares, but a little later Father Neale bought a house and lot nearby and installed them in it. They became known as The Pious Ladies. On May 18, 1801, Mary de la Marche advertised the two houses of the Poor Clares for sa

the time endeavoring to become established as members of the Visitation Order. At last their hope and a

ntil it was partly taken over in World War II for a housing proje

Alexander Graham Bell, has very kindly g

corner of 35th Street and Volta Place in the house sin

, the Misses Symonds, who were my father's double cousins. At the back of the 35th Street property was an old stable which my father converted into a laboratory, and he carried o

grandfather always had a jar of candy for the grandchildren and games which we could all play. He was very popular with

urned down Bernard Shaw's offer of marriage in her young days, Bernard Shaw having been a great friend of her brother, Mr. Chichester Bell, and having visited with the family when they lived in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. David Bell had in his young days moved to Dublin to carry on the career of h

Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays. My grandmother was eleven or twelve years older than her husband, so my grandfather did most of the marketing, and I understand it used to be quite a sight on Sat

and other musical clubs. She was the organist and choir leader in Christ Church, Georgetown.

ily as a whole were very devoted. Mr. Chichester Bell, you may recall, was the co-inventor with my father and Mr. Tainter of the phonograp

t. My father still continued to use his laboratory. Some years later, when the Association needed money, it was sold and the proceeds used to carry on the work of the Association. My father was very much interested in the work of the Volta Bureau and one winte

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n 1801. Their one child, John, was married in 1787 to Elizabeth Ridgely, of Maryland. Two years before his marriage he visited England, one object of his trip being to secure a legacy which he converted into gold and brought back with him. He landed in England at Dover, which he desc

s, and his love of following the hounds is a family tradition. The comments made by him in this connection during his stay in England are interesting. After describing the journey by coach past fine estates with "one-half the fields as green as spring with grass," he added, "and but

in infancy, so the name disappeared, and the family is represented o

el Jo