Washington & Ohio Rail station
People from the hot city of Washington would come out to the country on the train and spend the day at this lively place
At the beginning of 20th century DC and Alexandria City folks enjoyed day excursions to Northern Virginia countryside for $1!
On June 13, 1909, The Alexandria Gazette advertised "Sunday Excursions." For $1 DC and Alexandria City folks can buy a round trip day ticket at the Washington & Ohio Rail station for a day excursion into the countryside of northern Virginia including Glencarlyn and Bluemont. The ad says "no baggage checked" which means they expected that passengers would just be going for the day to picnic and enjoy the fresh air.
The Carlin family--living in what is now the Ball-Sellers House (5620 3rd St., S.)--had been augmenting their farm income since 1872 when the Washington and Ohio Railroad put a station and a train stop (see photo) adjacent to their property near the springs on their land (see photo below of two Glencarlyn women refreshing themselves with Carlin spring water). They built a resort with picnic pavilions, a restaurant, a dance hall, a swimming hole, ice cream parlor, and even a bar. People from the hot city of Washington would come out to the country on the train and spend the day at this lively place. It was open for about a dozen years.
An 1887 map shows the pavilions just after the Carlins sold their land (see map). Bluemont and Glencarlyn remained picnic destinations for Washingtonians who sought fresh air and green space even in 1909!
Images
