Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1931, Page 84

o A THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH 29, 1931. History of Takoma Park and Founder BY JOHN CLAGGETT PROCTOR. JONEERING in any fieild generally carrics with it a certain amount of / sacrifice, and cften mu:zli hardship, and especially is this truz with those who become the first settlers of some particular piace. Indeed, in this connec- tion, we have a wonderful example in the mag- nificent courage and fortitude exhibited by those pioneers of this country who had to blaze their way through dense forests inhabited by the aborigines, cross mountains still alive with wild beasts, travel through swamps and build bridges over streams in order to get to the fertile lands that nature had provided for those who dared put up with the most intense privation in order to succeed. The history of this ccuntry, from Jamestown and Plymouth to the prcsent day, contains many wonderful examples of turning the forests into gold, and, besides, of developing many of our best characters who have helped to lead this glorious country into the position of being the foremost nation of the earth. ©Of course, the worst part of pioneering in this country was over bcfore the District of Colum- bia was thought of, and yet, in a smaller way the City of Washington, too, was carved out of the forest primeval, for, when our ancestors first came to the Capital City, they found only woods and farmlands and about everything else that Columbus found except, perhaps, the wild Indian, and he had gone to the happy hurting ground ere this, or maybe, belicving in safety ‘first, had following the thought, afterward given vent to by Horace Greeley, and had gone West to grow up with the ccuntry. Naturally the city was built up first, but while this was taking place, the more stout- hearted residents sought places cutside the city limits where lots were laiger and ground was cheaper. Tenleytown, Brightwood and Union- town (now Anacostia) became attractive spots for the early pioneer, and finally, in the days still recalled by many, Petworth and Takoma Park—now cities in themselves—became favor- ite subdivisions for the city builder who was willing for the time being to forego urban lux- ury and improvements for the pleasure of hav- ing more open space and to be surrounded with more of the things of nature, which, after all, go a long way toward producing real happi- ness. MANY of the early villages around Washing- ton, like Topsy, just grew, but Takoma Park, the subject of today's story, had a real and definite beg'nning, and a wide-awake per- son, too, back of the project, to whom the un- disputed glory goes for founding what is today a beautiful part of suburban Washington and Montgomery County’s largest city and Mary- Jand’s eighth largest in size. Respecting Takoma Park, there is at least one thing in common between it and the City of Washington as originally planned, and that is that both were laid out in what in each case was practically a wilderness. Indeed, there are persons who can recall just how the neigh- borhood and surrounding country looked around 50 and 60 years ago. In this connection, just the other day Mrs. Alcena Lamond, relict of Angus Lamond, told the writer that when her husband and she in 1875 first settled at what has for years bzen known as Lamond Station, just at the lower edge of Takoma, D. C., on the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the place was all that a wilder- ness could be. She said there were then but three families living anywhere within reach of her own home—the Bladens, the Hagens and the family of Dr. Cockerille, whose old home is now the Swartzell Methodist Home for Chil- dren, at 201 Rittenhouse street northwest. To the east of this old residence are still standing the rows of cedar trezs that lined the carriage- way to what was then a country gentieman’s home, but which is now being put to a most worthy use. When the Lamonds moved into this neigh- borhood there were still standing buildings nearby which had been erected by the Army for use during the Civil War—one, according to Mrs. Lamond, a cottage-like building, occupied by an Army officer, and another of cheap construc- tion, occupied by a squatter. Mrs. William L. White, Mrs. Lamond’s daughter, showed the writer two clusters of trees on their place which had grown from stumps of trees cut down for military purposes some time from 1861 to 1865. These clusters each consisted of three or four good sized tress, and seemed to be in a very healthy state of preservation. T this period, and for a few years after- ward the Brightwood railroad station on the Metropolitan Branch bore the name of that village, and much of what is now known as Takoma Fark was then regarded as in the undefined zrea of Brightwood. In this con- nection, an incident is told regarding the first Takoma Park station that illustrates just how rural this neighborhood must have been when its promoter subdivided his first purchase of farm property, a part of the estate of George C. Grammar, a Washington finahcier and a member of the old Grammar family of Washington that lived for a long while on the northeast corner of C and John Marshall place, now in the Municipal Center. G. C. Grammar back in 1843 was president of the Patriotic Bank, and resided on the corner mentioned. It was an important family in early Washington history, and some of its members are buried in Congressional Cemetery. Naturally there are people residing in Takoma Park who could tell ofhand the name of the founder of this important section of Washingtcn and that part—equally as im- portant—-that lies across the border in the State of Maryland. Indeed, the other day the writer read in The Star of an annual pil- grimage the Boy Scouts of Takoma Park make to the grave of this man—Benjamin Franklin Gilbert—to whom all credit Il‘ due for laying SRR & CAR AV Benjamin F. Gilbert Was Original Investor Who Had Vision of Future Growth of Washington Suburb—-=Story of Jack the Slasher and His Capture—Beauty of Sligo Branch. Benjamin Frunklin Gilbert, founder of Takoma Fark and said to be the first person to advocate the purchase of the property between Pennsylvania avenue and the Moll by the Government out a town site that today, in Maryland, has a population of about 7,000, and in the District of Columbia about an equal number. Therefore, such an important factor deserves more than passing notice. SEVERAL years ago Mr. Guy Clinton of Takoma Park prepared a sketch of the village for a fair then being held. Of course, he did not leave Hamlet out of the play, nor would the writer be guilty of doing so either, and so he is going to let you read a part of what Mr. Clinton had to say about Mr. Gilbert upon that occasion. It was this: “During the closing days of the great Civil War New York State was represented in the House of Representatives by Benjamin P. Gil- bert. While attending Ford’s Theater one evening with his best gir] he witnessed the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In the excitement attending the removal of Mr. Lincoln from the theater the young lady had her dress soiled with blood from Mr. Lincoln’s wounds. “Notwithstanding all that has been said or may be said about the earlier history of this place, Takoma Park was born about the middle of June, 1884. It was conceived in the mind of Benjamin F. Gilbert. He was essentially an idealist who loved the natural beauty of hill and dale, woods and streams, forest and glen. He recognized the stimulation of wild flowers and pine-scented air. His state of mind is revealed by his search for a suitable name. Takoma Hall, erecied by the Odd Fellows after the fire of 1893, and occupied O] wa v L A by them, with the Masons, for years. : No ordinary name would do. It should be sig- nificant of what every one would think of the place. He therefore called it ‘an exalted place,” for that is the meaning of the Indian name Takoma. It is not only exalted in altitude, being more than 390 foet above sea level, but it is also exalted because of its influence upon the mind and health of its people. “Early in the Spring of 1884 Mr. Gilbert purchased the Grammar farm of 100 acres, It was known as Rcbert's Choice. This lay on both sides of the railroad, extending from Sixth street on the District side to near Willow avenue on the Maryland side, and from Takoma avenue on the north to about Aspen street on the scuth. This was laid out in regular streets and lots of unusually large size. Settlers began to arrive almost immediately. Mr. Gilbert buiit and occupied a temporary home about the middle of June, 1884. He was followed almost immediately, June 29, by Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Dudley. They lived for a time with the Gilberts while their house was building on Carroll avenue. Mr. Dudley was a contractor and builder. He built many of Takoma's most beautiful homes. Among them were the magnificent home of Mr. Gilbert, since burned, and that of Mrs. Cady, corner of Chestnut and Eastern avenues. The first child born in Takoma Park was Wentworth Dudley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Dudley.” Armn starting on this story the writer became interested particularly in the founder, Mr. Gilbert, and he wondered when that gentleman died, for no one seemed to have this information. The recent pilgrimage of the Boy Scouts gave a clue, because the press gave Cedar Hill as the name of the cemetery in which he was buried. Naturally the writer thought all he had to do was to call up the cemetery and he would get the desired information; but in this he was wrong, for the cemetery superintendent did not have the date to give. Believing that maybe there was a tombstone over the grave that would be appropriately inscribed, a trip was made to the cemetery itself, but though the grave was found, yet there was no tombstone in sight, and other sources of information had to be sought. The next move was to consult the City Direc~ tory, and here Mr. Gilbert’s name @&d not appear after 1906." This last bit of information really meant more than it might seem, for with the date to go by, Col. C. Fred Cook, librarian of The Star, was able to supply the time of Mr. Gilbert’s death, which was April 19, 1907, and, turning to the files of The Star, the fol- Jowing notice of his death was found: “Mr. Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, founder of Takoma Park, died this morning at Garfield ' Hospital. In addition to being deeply inter- ested in Maryland real estate, Mr. Gilbert was prominently identified with public affairs in this city, and many buildings here are regarded as monuments to his efforts many years ago. “He had not been a well man for the past seven years. He suffered a slight stroke of paralysis, although he was not compelled to give up his active participation in business affairs until a short time ago. For several months he had suffered from uremic poisone ing, and a week ago his condition was such that it was deemed advisable to remove him to the hospital. “The deceased was a native of New York, where he was born 65 years ago, De Ruyter, Madison County, being his birthplace. He came to this city during the Civil War and started life by accepting a position as clerk in the National Hotel. Later he opened the Tem- perance lunch room, on F street between Ninth and Tenth streets, and his place became one of the most prominent dining rooms in the city. “A?I‘ZR the close of the war he turnzd his attention to the real estate market, and was associated with the late Alexander R. Shepherd in a number of business enterprises. Many houses in the vicinity of St. Aloysius Church were constructed by him, and he also built the row of houses on the north side of K street between Ninth and Tenth streets. “Grant place, between Ninth and Tenth and G and H streets, was opened and improved by Mr. Gilbert, and, it is said, he was the first per- son to advocate the purchase of the property between Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall for use by the Government. Mr. Gilbert accu- mulated a fortune, but helost practically all of it during the panic of 1873, his valuable hold- ings in the Northwest section of the city getting away from him with his other real estate. “He left here after the panic of 1873 and went to Dunellen, N. J., where he again em= barked in the real estate business and accumue lated a considerable sum of money. About 1884 he returned to this city, and a year or two later he opened up the Takoma Park property, purchasing a tract of land in Montgomery County near what was then Brightwood Station on the linc of the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore & Chio Railroad. “Mr. Gilbert was the first mayor of Takoma Park. He served three terms as mayor, and was succeeded by Enoch Morris, since deceased. It was due ‘to his efforts, it is said, that the Takoma Park Loan & Trust Co. was organized, B. H. Warner, C. M. Heaton & Co. and Myron M. Parker being associated with him in the enterprise. During the many years Mr. Gilbert resided in and about the city he showed & deep interest in all public matters, having served upon a number of inaugural commite= tees and committees in charge of other celebra= tions. He was formerly identified with the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Gi'bert’s wife and one child, Miss Margaret A. Gilbert, survive.” 'HE burial services, according to the same source, were held on Sunday, April 21, 1909, at Hines’ Chapel, 1715 Fourteenth street northwest, and were conducted by Rev. Thomas Culbertson Clark, pastor of Takoma Presbyte-