Recorded evidence from the early 18th century indicates that a
settlement named Beale Town on the Anacostia River was located on
the site that later became Hyattsville. The little outpost never
achieved town status, and in 1742, for both economic and
topographical reasons, the residents of the hamlet petitioned to
have a new town laid out a half mile below Beale Town at Garrisons
Landing (which was later named Bladensburg). The legislature
granted the petition, and Beale Town ceased to function as a legal
entity.
About a hundred years later, in March of 1845, Christopher Clark
Hyatt purchased his first parcel of land in the area. The presence
of the railroad and telegraph made it ideal for settlement, and
soon the surrounding farmland began to be subdivided into housing
lots. By 1859, the area had unofficially become known as
Hyattsville by the post office and cartographers. The Act of
Incorporation of the City of Hyattsville was signed into law in
April 1886.
The city grew quickly as both a summer residence for
Washingtonians beleaguered by hot and humid weather and as a
community of year-round residents. During the mid 20th century,
Hyattsville was the center of the commercial and political
activities of Prince George’s County. In 1992, a portion of the
residential area was placed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Today, Hyattsville is a thriving suburb enjoying the advantages
of a small town. The types of homes cover the spectrum—Victorian
mansions, bungalows, foursquares, Tudor cottages, contemporary town
homes, and modern apartments. Just as the housing stock is diverse,
so too are the backgrounds and interests of Hyattsville’s very
active citizenry. Local projects focus on education, art,
horticulture, the environment, religion, historic preservation, and
business revitalization, just to name few.
The cache is located in a small municipal park in historic
downtown Hyattsville, just past the Town Hall and Police
Department. This little park has everything a kid would need to
have a blast! There are also a couple of covered picnic tables for
your use. Be mindful of parking signs and the traffic pattern close
to the park. Find a spot to park and walk around town, there are a
lot of little shops close by. Enjoy the incredible architecture as
you walk through the town. The cache is a large Tupperware
container packed with tons of Hyattsville goodies and information.
Be aware that you will be in plain view all the time! Enjoy it, and
welcome to Hyattsville.
Thanks to TurtleCreek for helping with this hide!