A Brief History of Anacostia, Its Name,
Origin and Progress
By Charles R. Burr. (Read before the
Society, December 16, 1919.)
First, Nacotchtank
Anacostia
appears on the oldest map of Captain John Smith, published in
1612; it is there called "Nacotchtank," Captain Smith in his
"General Historic of Virginia'' tells us that he and his twelve
companions in their explorations around the Chesapeake Bay and
its tributary rivers, were well received by the Nacotchtank, who
were the most northerly of those Algonquin Indian tribes which
were surrounded by the Iroquois and which were known as the
Powhatan Indians.
At Captain
Smith's time the Nacotchtank were on the war path with the "Patawomeke"
on the present Potomac Creek, Stafford County, Virginia.
About the
year 1621, the pinnace Tiger with twenty six men was sent from
Jamestown, Va., to trade corn with the Indians near the head of
navigation on the Potomac River. They were attacked by the
Nacotchtank and all were either killed or taken prisoners, among
the latter was a young man, Henry Fleet. Remaining in captivity
about five years. Fleet learned the language spoken by all the
Powhatan Indians and which he used to great advantage after
being ransomed, while trading for skins. He made two journeys
during a year up the Potomac River to Nacotchtank.
One of these
journeys, made in 1632, he has described in a ''Brief Journal of
a voyage,'' the original of the description is in the Lambeth
Palace Library in London. It was published, partly incorrectly,
twice by E. D. Neil in ''Founders of Maryland and Colonization
of America'' and then by J. Thomas Scharf in his "History of
Maryland."
One passage
in that journal is interesting for us, as it refers to the
present site of Anacostia. Instead of Nacotchtank, Fleet uses
the form Nacostine; but in the earliest reports of the sessions
of the Assembly and of the Council in St. Mary's, also in the
reports which were sent to Rome by the Jesuit fathers who
accompanied Leonard Calvert, and especially by Andrew White, the
form with the prefix "A" is used: Anacostines. (Anacostans).
Etymologically this form is perhaps the more correct, although
the Indians themselves may have used the form without the prefix
"A"; as they often eliminated prefixes and suffixes of words.
Anaquash (e)
tan (i) k which means a town of traders.
This
explanation is very significant, for the present Anacostia and
its surroundings: the villages of the Nacostine (extending from
Bennings on the Anacostia River, thence along the Potomac River
below Congress Heights to Shepherd's Landing and to Broad Creek
Md., opposite Alexandria, Virginia), were before the arrival of
the whites, lively trading posts, which were visited by the
Iroquois from the present state of New York.
Even after
the founding of the colony of Maryland, Leonard Calvert in a
letter to an English merchant in London mentions three places in
the province best suited for trading posts with the Indians. One
of the three is Anacostan, on account of the visiting there of
the Massameke, a collective name for the "Five Nations."
Soon after
the year 1668 parts of the Indian tribes residing south of the
Anacostia River were driven across it. About this time
Anacostans settled the present Anacostine Island which appears
on the map of Augustine Herman, of Maryland (1670) as Anacostine
Isle.
By the
foregoing it will be seen that years ago before the City of
Washington was even contemplated or its site known by the white
people, a small Indian village on the Eastern Branch of the
Potomac River, called Nachatank was then one of the most
important of several small settlements about the mouth of the
Piscataway River.
As a good
trading post, Nachatank, as named by the tribe of Indians
settled there, in honor of their Chief Nachatank, became well
known by many of the earlier European trading ships; and the
great abundance of game, the mild climate, and the genial
natives found there, made this small port a favorite bartering
point.
Father White,
who accompanied Lord Baltimore on a visit describes the
Nachatank Indians as a liberal and ingenuous disposition, with
an acuteness of sight, smell and taste; especially as to taste,
possessing a great fondness for an article of food called pone
and hominy.
These Indians
were descendants of the great Powhatan tribes, who had crossed
from the Northern part of Virginia to the Maryland side of the
Potomac River.
Reports of
this ideal spot on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac, with its
mild climate, its wonderful forests, its wild game in great
numbers and its great fame as a fishing ground, had spread not
only to the neighboring Indian tribes but to the white settlers
beyond.
But like many
of the Indian tribes the Nachatanks were susceptible to the
liquor which the white man had for barter, and first the game of
their forests and streams and then their lands were given up to
the white man for their indulgences, until they were finally
pushed back to the settlements close to the Piscataway River.
Later the
white settlers experienced trouble and annoyance from
Nacotchtank, the Chief, who with a couple of his warriors would
suddenly break in upon their peace and security, and having
obtained sufficient fire-water would terrorize the villages by
raids of plunder and deviltry.
Later it will
be seen this village on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac became
known and designated as Uniontown.
Second, The Indian settlement
Nacotchtank became the white settlement Anacostia.
The prince of
promoters of the Capital City, James Greenleaf, five years or so
before the century turn, eighteen hundred, bought on the
meanders of the Eastern Branch of the Potowmack, close by the
Anacostia Fort. This fort, it can be presumed, was on the
heights now within the bounds of Anacostia.
The Eastern
Branch ferry connected with Upper Marlborough road where it
crossed the Piscataway road which connected with Bladensburg.
The ferry was at the foot of Kentucky Avenue and a bridge there
was built in 1795 and known as the lower bridge in distinction
to that more eastward known as the upper bridge. The Navy Yard
created requirement and at the terminus of Eleventh Street was
built, 1818, the Navy Yard bridge. That part of the Piscataway
road east of the Navy Yard Bridge is the modern Minnesota
Avenue. The thin settlement called Anacostia was along the river
front near the bridges.
In the
Daily National Intelligencer, February 8, 1849 is:
| "A
New Post Office is established at Anacostia, Washington
County, D. C, and John Lloyd appointed Postmaster. The
new office takes the place of 'Good Hope,' which was
discontinued in consequence of the removal of the
Postmaster." |
On the
authority of Mr. Simmons1 it is
stated that the post office designation so continued until 1865;
when it was changed to Uniontown; to be again Anacostia in 1869.
Right where
the crossing of the Navy Yard Bridge on the Anacostia side was
complete stood the tavern of Duvall to give the traveler
invitation to good cheer. The tavern is there now or rather the
shell of it. Not now, is as once was it, the proof of Dr. Samuel
Johnson's Boswell-quoted remark: ''There is nothing which has
yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced
as by a good tavern or inn."
George
Simmons in "Roadside Sketches," The Evening Star, December 5,
1891, has:
| "Forty years ago the site of
Anacostia was farm lands and was owned by one Enoch
Tucker. It formerly belonged to the William Marbury
estate and was part of the 'Chichester' tract. There
were 240 acres in the Tucker farm, a good part of which
was cultivated for truck purposes. Mr. Tucker did not
attend to the farm work himself, however, for he was
employed as boss blacksmith in the navy yard. The farm
was either leased or worked on the share plan. The
Tucker farm house stood alone in the old days, and until
recently, occupied the site of the present new Pyles
block, on the west side of Monroe street, just south of
Harrison street and the bridge. In 1854 John Fox and
John W. VanHook and John Dobler bought the farm from
Tucker for $19,000 and divided it into building lots."2
|
The date of the conveyance from Tucker
is June 5, 1854.
The
advertisements give the rise, progress and con-summation of the
promotion.
Daily Evening Star, June 10,
1854:
Notice to Union Town Lot Holders
The
fire which occurred on the 5th instant having destroyed
our office, Papers, etc., renders it necessary to
postpone the drawing for the Union Town Building Lots
until Monday next, at 8 o'clock, p.m., when it will take
place at our new office, on Seventh street a few doors
above Odd Fellows Hall, until which time persons have
the privilege of subscribing for the few remaining Lots
at the present very low price, viz. : $60; payable in
monthly installments of $8 each; for a Lot 24 feet front
by 130 feet deep, situated in the most beautiful and
healthy neighborhood around Washington, The streets will
be graded the gutters paved, and edged with shade trees,
without charge to lot holders.
Persons in arrears with their
monthly dues, are required to pay up or their names will
be left out of the drawing.
"Deeds in fee simple,"
"guaranteed clear of all and every encumbrance," will be
given to Lot holders paying up in full at any time after
the drawing on Monday Evening next.
Office open from 8 a.m. until
9 o'clock, p.m.
Jno. Fox, Secretary.
|
Daily
Evening Star, July 29, 1854:
Homes
For All
The Union Land Association
having sold and located by ballot the 350 Building Lots
advertised during the last two months, are now prepared
to sell the remaining 350 lots, "with the privilege of
selection." |
The
subdivision, Uniontown, is recorded in the office of the
Surveyor in book Levy Court, No. 2, pages A 83 and B 83, October
9, 1873. Uniontown was between the fork created by the Upper
Marborough road and the Piscataway road. To the thoroughfare
eastward, a part of the Marlborough road, was given the name
Harrison Street and to the thoroughfare southward a part of the
Piscataway road was given the name Monroe Street. The other
streets of Uniontown likewise were named in honor of the
Presidents.
The proximity
of the Navy Yard to the bridge no doubt, gave the promoters the
belief that many of the employees would take advantage of having
a home, with country life adjunct, near their place of business.
Uniontown is the first suburban subdivision and because of the
river separation is not likely to lose its suburban identity.
The Duvall subdivision is to the west of Monroe Street at the
river. Other subdivisions fairly encompass the original
subdivision.
Mr. Simmons
says in the ''Roadside Sketches'':
"The
first house erected in the new town after the
sub-division was completed was the old two-story brick
on Harrison street, now occupied by Wetzel's store and
bakery, George F. Pyle's grocery store, nearly adjoining
on the west, soon followed.
''But the oldest house within
the limits of the town today is the old Fox mansion on
the south side of Jefferson street, which was built many
years before Anacostia was thought of. It was built by
John Fox, one of the founders of the place, and was his
residence until his death. It is now occupied by W. H.
Richards. At one time it was the residence of Dr. A. M.
Green. Another very old building is the small frame
structure on Harrison Street, a little west of
Anderson's blacksmith shop. This house was built by
James Buckley, who was bridge keeper in the days of
tolls."3 |
John Fox and
John W. VanHook were the real estate firm of Fox and VanHook for
some years prior to 1863. That year it was a firm of commission
merchants. In 1864, Mr. VanHook continued as a commission
merchant and Mr. Fox became of the firm Fitch, Hine and Fox,
attorneys and claim agents. Mr. Fox's business associates are
the honorably remembered James E. Fitch and Lemon G. Hine. After
1865, Mr. Fox does not appear in the local directory.
John Welsh
VanHook was born in Philadelphia in 1825. At an early age he
moved to Baltimore. At Baltimore in conjunction with John
Hopkins he did much in suburban development. In 1852 he moved to
Washington.
Mr. VanHook
was commended by President Lincoln and General Grant for having
carried dispatches from Philadelphia to Washington via Baltimore
at the time when the last named city was the hot bed of
Confederate sympathizers.
He died,
April 9, 1905, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Middleton C.
Smith, 1616 Nineteenth Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. He is
interred in Congressional Cemetery.4
The residence of Mr. VanHook, ''Cedar
Hill,'' became that of Frederick Douglass, the preeminent of his
race. Officially, in the District of Columbia, the only colored
man to be U. S. Marshal and the first Recorder of Deeds. The
property passed to the Frederick Douglass Memorial Association.
'
Hiram Pitts
who owned and occupied the property eastwardly, adjoining the
VanHook mansion, was vigorous to the day of his death, which was
in his ninety sixth year. Long he was employed in the U. S.
Treasury.
Of Dr. Thomas
Antisell in the History of the Medical Society of the District
of Columbia is a biographical sketch in detail with two
likenesses. He made a geo-logical reconnaissance of southern
California and of the territory of Arizona on an expedition for
the Pacific Railroad. For Japan he was technologist of a
commission to develop the resources of the northern islands of
that empire, and was decorated by the Mikado with, the Order of
the Rising Sun of Meijis.'' But a review of his activities takes
much type space. Dr. Antisell lived in Uniontown or its borders
from 1866 to 1871.
Dr. Arthur
Christie was an Englishman who inherited quite a large sum from
relatives in England. He purchased fifty acres or so between
Harrison Street and the Eastern Branch which he made his home
and called it Fairlawn. It was patterned after an English estate
with pretentious residence, a lodge, and landscape effect.
In every
department of life's work, professional, mercantile or
otherwise, honorably to be classified, Anacostia has its
exponents. Passed away recently that is, October 14, 1919, did
the Rev. Willard Goss Davenport. Without any diminution of
practicality on account of it, Mr. Davenport had all the
naturalness and goodness of Goldsmith's creation, the Vicar of
Wakefield. Of his ministry, twenty eight years of it he
consecrated to Anacostia. He was a native of Vermont; and in a
fiction of fact he, in a delightful work ''Blairlee," portrayed
the character of the folks of the Green Mountain state.
When Mr. Fox,
Mr. VanHook and Mr. Dobler were crossing the bridge on their way
to view the prospective purchase for the prospective town they
saw on the river's edge opposite the Navy Yard the mansion of
George Washington Talburtt. It is there now except the parts
knocked off. It is not so near the edge of the water for a wide
area of unsightly land has been made by dredging and dumping in
the work of reclamation. In the fifties as in the forties, the
scene was the same. The streams from the highlands of Montgomery
had united and were just beyond to pour their flood to make more
majestic the Potomac. Of the "Earth's tall sons, the cedar,
oak, and pine" who to full stature had grown even before
the days of Lewin Talburtt, the father of George W. were close
to the mansion but closer than any other was a mighty chestnut.
A little off was the cottage of the overseer (Woodruff) and in
sight the quarters of those who did the tillage.
The mansion
and its outlook was inspiring. It was a place to be appreciated
and appropriate for the tarrying there of a man of wonderful
thoughts and of brilliancy in expressing it, if one who could
produce a tragedy like Brutus for Edmund Kean to impersonate,
like Charles, the Second, for Charles Kemble to impersonate,
like Virginius for John McCullough to impersonate; for one, who
in light vein could unite comedy or who could turn the source of
delight to opera.
He who has
George Washington Talburtt for his ancestor, not more than two
generations in advance; he, who strolls here, there and
everywhere around these parts and then tells who and what he saw
in the strolls in the most delightful way and gives more delight
to the most people, he, it is, who told the writer: It is true
John Howard Payne and George Washington Talburtt were intimate
friends and in their mutuality ''were chummy and rummy." It is
not yet forbidden to be chummy but the other exaltedly happy
condition is a pleasure of the past, not to return without the
country re-reforms.
Mr. Simmons
in his ''Roadside Sketch" through and about Anacostia has this
to say:
| "The
late George W. Talburtt, the then proprietor of the
Talburtt estate was the friend and boon companion of
Payne. Although there was a disparity in their ages,
Payne being much the elder, there was something in their
virtues that drew them toward each other. Perhaps it was
the love of music, for which they were both noted. And
then each was of a convivial turn, and each played and
sang well. Both were bachelors when the famous song was
written, and their companionship was almost inseparable.
They would sit for hours together of a summer evening
under the spreading branches of the old tree, singing
and playing favorite airs, and it is a matter of
neighborhood gossip that jolly old Bacchus looked on
approvingly on those occasions." |
This is an
excerpt from an autographic letter reproduced in a biography:
''Washington City, Fuller's Hotel,
September 13, 1841.
"intending to employ my
earliest leisure when I got to a resting place, in
writing you a full account of the origin and first form,
of a little song you ask for, which was composed for an
opera called Clair, the Maid of Milan, that I sent from
Paris for performance in London.'' |
The play
which Payne sold to Charles Kemble for 30 lb was at the request
of the latter, by the former converted into an opera. Payne
adapted in a measure a melody heard sung by an Italian peasant
girl, to his original words ''Home, Sweet Home.'' It was first
sung by Ann Maria Tree in the Covent Garden Theatre, London, May
8, 1823. As often happens in the literary creations of the ages,
not the author but his grantee gets the gold therefor. ''The
lowly thatched cottage" if suggested by a reality, may have been
the boyhood home at East Hampton, Long Island.
Not under the
chestnut tree within the Talburtt domain and the purlieus of
Anacostia was the immortal song created, yet it can be claimed,
confidently, that under the canopy of chestnut boughs these
jolly good fellows under the influence and inspiration of that
which "maketh merry,'' blended harmoniously their voices in the
acclaim: "There's no place like home."
Third
Uniontown
although without sidewalks, or street pavements, these being
graveled, was becoming a thriving place. Many stores of all
kinds having sprung up to accommodate the trade coming from
lower down, in Maryland both by Harrison Street and Monroe
Street.
Later on,
Uniontown, District .of Columbia, having become confused so much
with Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and causing so much confusion in
business, it was decided to change its name to its original
Anacostia.
Since the
reorganization of the Anacostia Citizens Association in 1904 the
following are some of the improvements that have resulted
directly or indirectly from its influence and activities:
The building
of a new and modern Police Station and the establishment of the
Eleventh Precinct.
The purchase
of ground and the erection of the Ketcham School House.
The laying of
new street pavement on 14th Street from Good Hope Road to V
Street.
The naming
and improvement of Logan Park on Fourteenth Street.
Erection of
flag pole and flying of flag in Logan Park.
The
installation of granolithic sidewalks in several streets.
Regrading and
improvements in U, V, and W Streets. Improvements in Thirteenth
Street from Good Hope Road to Pleasant Street.
The
Association was very active in getting legislation toward the
reclamation of the Anacostia Flats.
Also in
regard to the location of the causeway of the new bridge.
It has ever
been very active and somewhat successful in getting improvements
in the street railway service, and was active in getting
legislation in connection with the Union Station Branch of the
railway up First Street East.
It was active
in getting through legislation for placing underground, the
electric conduit of the railroad, and which it is hoped to soon
see established through Anacostia.
It was
instrumental in getting a new building for the Branch Post
Office and in obtaining many improvements to the service here in
the collection and delivery of mail.
It was
successful in having placed gas lamps in many places throughout
the locality.
In having
Mount View Place and Shannon Place extended.
Labored
earnestly for the extension of water mains, etc., which
improvement is now underway.
Instrumental
in the improvement to the railroad yard.
Its last
success was in getting the express and baggage house-to-house
delivery and collection, and the delivery of telegrams the same
as on the other side of the river.
We are now
working on the project of paving and grading Nichols Avenue, and
the placing underground of the electric conduit of the street
railroad which we expect to succeed in.
We have now
all the conveniences the rest of the city affords, but will
continue our efforts to make improvements wherever needed
through Anacostia. We are only 30 minutes from the center of the
city by street cars and 'are the best equipped of any of the
outlying parts of Washington City.
All of the
principal business places in the heart of the city deliver goods
here, while there are here stores of all kinds which supply one
with anything he may wish in merchandise and other household
necessities.
Footnotes:
1.
George Simmons, The Evening Star, December 5, 1891.
2. Liber J. A. S.,
78, f. 114. Land Records, D. C, 240 a. 5 r. 31 p.
3. See Topographical Map of the District of
Columbia surveyed in the years 1856, '57, '58, '59 by A. Boschke.
4. The Washington Post, April 10, 1905.
AHGP
District of Columbia
Source: Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington
DC, Committee on Publication and the Recording Secretary, Volume
7, Washington, Published b the Society, 1904.
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