Existing comment:
Peirce Shoemaker
Peirce Shoemaker , the last owner of the estate, inherited the land from his uncle Abner in 1851. Continuing in the family trade, he raised crops on the estate and processed grain at the mill.
Congress created Rock Creek Park on September 27, 1890. The legislation identified several tracts of land belonging to Shoemaker as part of the future park. Peirce died in 1891 before the land transaction was completed. A miller rented the mill from the U.S. government and was allowed to continue mill operations until 1897, when the main shaft broke and the mill was abandoned. |