Kansas, Douglas County, Lawrence
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The Pinckney neighborhood at the bend of the Kansas River began in 1854 as part of the original Lawrence townsite. North/South streets to the west of Massachusetts St. were named for states in the order in which they were admitted to the United States. East/West streets, originally named for Revolutionary war heroes, were changed to numbers in 1913. The modern neighborhood of about 1,200 residents extends to Iowa St.
Homes, businesses, a brickyard, and brewery were located in the Pinckney Neighborhood. Today social and health agencies, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital mix with homes in the area. Three parks, Constant and Burcham Parks along the Kansas River and Cinton Park along 5th St., provide open space. The trail head for a river walk leaves Constant Park and links to Burcham Park to welcome visitors for hiking along the Kansas River.
1858 Pinckney Neighborhood
Pinckney Street renamed 6th Street in 1913.
(Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
The Pinckney neighborhood at the bend of the Kansas River began in 1854 as part of the original Lawrence townsite. North/South streets to the west of Massachusetts St. were named for states in the order in which they were admitted to the United States. East/West streets, originally named for Revolutionary war heroes, were changed to numbers in 1913. The modern neighborhood of about 1,200 residents extends to Iowa St.
Homes, businesses, a brickyard, and brewery were located in the Pinckney Neighborhood. Today social and health agencies, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital mix with homes in the area. Three parks, Constant and Burcham Parks along the Kansas River and Cinton Park along 5th St., provide open space. The trail head for a river walk leaves Constant Park and links to Burcham Park to welcome visitors for hiking along the Kansas River.
1858 Pinckney Neighborhood
Pinckney Street renamed 6th Street in 1913.
(Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Dedicated to the Memory of the following Riegelsville Volunteers buried at Riegelsville Cemetery.
To your right is "Point Reno" the highest point in Washington -- 409 feet above sea level, to be exact.
Although soldiers repeatedly overran and raided Cherry Hill Farm during the Civil War, this ca. 1845 farmhouse and the ca. 1856 barn behind it survived almost intact. William Blaisdell, of Massachusetts paid $4,000 for the 66-acre property in 1856. The migration of Northerners to this area resulted in a populace of mixed loyalties on the eve of the Civil War. Blaisdell and twenty-five others in the Falls Church District voted against secession in the statewide referendum held on May 23, 1861, while forty-four voted in favor.
Confederate Col. John Singleton Mosby's Partisan Rangers (43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry) conducted raids on Falls Church through the summer and fall of 1864. On the night of October 17, a detachment of Mosby's command rode through the village down the Middle Turnpike (Broad Street) near where you are standing.
The Burial Caves date from the First Temple Period. Throughout many generations, they served affluent Jerusalem families as a location to bury their dead. The deceased was placed on a stone slab with a special indentation for the head. At the end of the twelve-month mourning period, the skeletal remains were transferred to a repository located beneath the stone slabs. This evokes the image of the Biblical phrase "he was gathered unto his forefathers."
"The other events of Hezekiah's reign, and all his exploits, and all his exploits, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought the water into the city, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah" (II Kings 20:20)
An orphan, he apprenticed in his 
"Jerusalem, hills enfold it, and the Lord enfolds his people now and forever" (Psalms 125:2)
From its founding, Castroville has been home to immigrants. They came from many countries to make better lives for themselves and their children. Then, as now, the immigrants primarily worked in the fields nearby.
The Early Days: 1860s to 1930s
Following the Stock Market Crash of 1893, John Center took over the Alum Rock Railway for Richard Quincey. Shortly after he took over the line, John Center sold it for $1.00 to his nephew, Hugh Center.
In 1891, Richard Quincey, a local wood and coal dealer, began building the first rail line to Alum Rock Park. Quincey began construction on May 11, 1891 at Santa Clara Street and McLauglin Avenue. By June 26, 1891, had reached White Road and has run out of money. Quincy continued building the rail line alone with his pick and shovel until John Center came to his rescue. Center, a wealthy businessman from San Francisco, helped raise $7,500.00 for construction. On November 2, 1893, they officially formed the Alum Rock Railway Company.
Heavy rains fell during March of 1911 causing rail service from the Penitencia Creek Entrance to the Picnic Grounds to close. The rains continued swelling Penitencia Creek until it overflowed its banks. On March 7 an 8-foot wall of water from the overflowing creek ran through the railroad tunnel. The flood collapsed the tunnel and wiped out most of the narrow gauge tracks.
The mineral springs located in this area have played an important role in the history and development of the park. Between 1891 and 1902, the Parks Commission began developing the park, highlighting the springs. During this period, over 20 different springs were identified, including sulfur, magnesia, iron and naturally carbonated soda springs. To protect and identify the different springs, tunnels were dug into the hillside and craftsmen were brought in to build the grottos (sic) and fonts that are found in this area. The masons created the stone grottos (sic) using native rock collected from the canyon. The intricate patterns and styles you see demonstrate the formality of the period.
