"HAINS POINT" WAS NAMED FOR MAJOR GENERAL PETER CONOVER HAINS by Mrs. Bernard Hains, Feb. 1997.

Hello! First, I want to thank Fred Clark for sending over "The Army Engineer's Book" on the building of Washington, DC. It has been most helpful. Ethel Starbird also brought me a copy of the book, which I am very glad to have. You will find them both on the stage, if you would like to see them. The article on General Hains also shows a very good photograph of him and they also contain an interesting article on Fred Clark when he was Commissioner. I have marked them both. Other, "show and tell" things are a painting grandfather did when he was a cadet at West Point - and his silver headed cane, about which I shall tell you more. Mr. Glenn M. DeMarr gave me the wonderful maps when our daughter and son-in-law took me out to Hains point about three weeks ago - and I am also indebted to cousin Mary Hains, for the early newspaper articles and pictures. I have never been on this side of an audience before - however, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to tell you something about Hains Point and the man for whom it is named - Major General Peter Conover Hains. This all started in the swimming pool where I met a member of your group. We introduced ourselves and when I said Hains, as in "Hains Point" - she said she had lived in and around Washington for many years, but didn't know why it was called Hains Point - and she didn't think many people did. After, paddling about a bit - she asked if I would come and tell you all about it if our activity director agreed. She did and called to invite me. So here I am. I hope you will find it interesting. Major General Peter Conover Hains was born in Philadelphia, July 6, 1840. He graduated from West Point in 1861, and quickly won his Captaincy in the field and was commissioned a Major for his share in the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. He transferred to the Engineer Corps the same year and made Lt. Colonel in 1865 and full Colonel in 1895. Later, he was a member to the Panama Canal Commission between 1897 - 1907. At 64 he sought retirement from the Army, but at 76 he was appointed Major General under a special act of Congress and put in charge of the Norfolk harbor and river district. His final duty was as Division Engineer of the Eastern Division in 1918. At the moment of his relinquishment of this last position , he was the oldest military officer in uniform. He died at Walter Reed Hospital, November 7, 1921. "The Point" is his best memorial. As head of the Washington Engineer District, the then Major Hains, was put in charge of the so called "flats" of the river - from 1882 to 1891. His experience in the Virginia Peninsula, Maryland and Rappahanock Campaigns [of the Civil War], as well as in the Mississippi Valley Campaign, prepared him to take the responsibility for the development of the Potomac. The shoals were submerged in high water, but formed, in low water, a foul smelling mud bank stretching from the White House to below the long bridge (where the 14th Street Bridge is now). Reeds and grasses covered the muck, and wastes from the Washington Canal decayed in the sun. After muttering about it for several years - and after a severe flood in 1881 - Congress acted. In August of '82, they appropriated $400,000 to improve navigation and raise the flats. The reclaimed land was so valuable, it more than paid them to redeem it. He designed and constructed a lengthy seawall - and in dredging the channel, he hauled the spoil across the flats on a spur railroad and dumped and spread the material by methods similar to those of contemporary level work - and the land that was to become Potomac Park, rose from the waters of the estuary - while the river flowed through deeper and straighter channels. Supplemental problems were, first, providing new maritime approaches to Washington, and, second, furnishing needed tide and flood control for the mean rise and fall - 3 to 5ft. He also planted trees and shrubs to aid in holding the reclaimed and reconstructed lands and laid out roads and paths for people. He removed the old long bridge - which had been a menace to navigation in the Potomac for decades. Of course Col. Hains did not complete the whole inclusive task. A beginning had been made before he was assigned to the job - much has been accomplished since yet he is entitled to most credit - for his was the main contribution. Major General Peter C. Hains III When the General was a young boy, his grandfather took him in his carriage to the rivers' edge. He carried willow whips in one hand and his silver headed walking stick in the other. He made a hole with his stick and dropped a whip into it, every so many feet, and tamped it down with his foot, before continuing to the next. The ever helpful Peter III must have done some tamping too - I like to think. So, - that's where all those willows along the basin came from. I told the regional historian, Mr. Gary Scott about it and he said his favorite walks were there - and as a matter of fact, it was where he was walking at the moment. He also asked if I would write it up for his permanent file and he wants a copy of this talk for it as well. Incidentally, the blossoms are lovely there. Peter is using the stick right now, I'm sure he would be glad to show it to you. I have always been slightly in awe of the Engineer Corps. My first memories of it were the stars that shine so bright on Donald Starbird's collar, when he was a cadet. Having been brought up in the 7th Cavalry, I always thought of walls as something to jump over - and fields, as something to play polo on - which my father did very well, as did Peter. They shared their experiences in the Olympics - Peter on the Pentathlon Team in 1928 and the equestrian team in 1932, and my father in the "3 day ride" in Stockholm in 1912. They won the silver. Incidentally, Peter was the only cadet ever to be chosen for an Olympic team. One day in the gym when he was practicing fencing, the Olympic fencing team came in to work out. They invited him to join them which he did and promptly beat them all. So - they made him an alternate and took him to the Olympics with them in 1924. He never had a chance to compete, but he must have gotten a lot of practice. The foils hang in his room.

Bernard Hains February 1997 (Mrs. Hains passed away October 16, 2005)

For more about Hains and Hains Point, visit: The Library of Congress Arlington Cemetery Wikipedia on Hains Point

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