It is impossible for me to express my thanks to all the people who have helped me and made it possible to write this book. I want to mention Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenor; Miss Williams of the Peabody Room of the Georgetown Branch of the Public Library; Miss McPherson and Mr. John Beverley Riggs of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress; Mr. Meredith Colket and Mr. O. W. Holmes of the National Archives; Dr. H. Paul Caemmerer, Secretary of the Commission of Fine Arts; Miss Pennybaker, of the Real Estate and Columbia Title Insurance Company; the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and Mr. C. C. Wall, Superintendent of Mount Vernon. Also the various people who did the typing and helped secure the photographs. And last but not least the friends of the old regime who have given to me freely of the history and traditions of their ancestors. They are too many to name, but to each one I owe a real debt of gratitude. Especially to one, my life-long friend, am I indebted. Without her unceasing interest and encouragement this Portrait might never have been done. GRACE GLASGOW DUNLOP ECKER. CONTENTS _Page_ DEDICATION v GEORGE TOWN GHOSTS vii FOREWORD ix _Chapter_ I. BEGINNINGS OF A TOWN 3 II. THE ORIGINAL TOWN AND ITS PEOPLE 13 III. THE TAVERNS, SHOPS, AND SCHOOLS 24 IV. THE STREETS OF GEORGE TOWN AND SOME OF THE HAPPENINGS 40 V. WASHINGTON AND L'ENFANT IN GEORGE TOWN 51 VI. BELOW BRIDGE STREET 65 VII. ALONG BRIDGE (M) STREET 80 VIII. HIGH STREET, PROSPECT AVENUE, THE COLLEGE, THE CONVENT, AND THE THRELKELDS 104 IX. ALONG FIRST STREET (N) FROM COX'S ROW TO HIGH STREET (WISCONSIN AVE.) 125 X. GAY (N) STREET--EAST TO ROCK CREEK 135 XI. THE THREE PHILANTHROPISTS 161 XII. THE SEMINARY, WASHINGTON (30TH) STREET AND DUMBARTON AVENUE 179 XIII. THIRD STREET, BEALL (O) STREET, WEST (P) STREET 208 XIV. STODDERT (Q) STREET 224 XV. TUDOR PLACE AND CONGRESS (31ST) STREET 261 XVI. EVERMAY, THE HEIGHTS AND OAK HILL 281 BIBLIOGRAPHY 311 INDEX 313 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Early George Town _Frontispiece_