Evening star., 1898-05-13
UPTOWN LONG AGO
Places Where Old Washingtonians
Used to Live.
MANY CHANGES CALLED TO MIND
How the "SIashes" Became a Res
idence Section.
L A n DIN A RKS VANISHING

In the forties, about half a century ago
that portion of the city known as the
Northern Liberties was bounded by
English Hill and the commons on the
east, the first ward on the west down
town on the south and ''Slashes on the
north. These were somewhat imaginary
boundaries, and near as they can be
drawn by streets the lines of Sd or 18th
street west, . street north, 18th street west
and G street north encompassed that sec
ton.
The Liberties may be said TO have had
no defined northern boundary at that time,
for the ridge about N street had been pass
ed by some few improvements, and these
encroached upon the "Slashes' beyond.
The spirit of improvement by the citizen
was plainly visible in this section acceler-
ated by the demand for homes on the part
OF workmen on the patent office and other
government work and by government en-
ployes. and for the time there was real
estate or building boom. There had been
some church and school building in this
section. and though devoid of many facil-
lties ior the enjoyment of life possessed by
city people, there was little need of res
loents going away from home for religious
or educational purposes. While it is true
that much of the building was of the salt
box order confined to back buildings), IL
was a commencement, followed in a few
years~by substantial front buildings as
the increase of family and means warrant
ed, and in a few years this section became
a most popular one. The name brought
here from Philadelphia came to stay. and
py IRE company, two three temper
ance organizations, three market houses
clubs, etc, it has been brought down to
the present generation.
or the churches of that day, the largest
was ST. Matthews Catholic Church. at the
northeast corner of 18th and H streets,
which. being on the edge of this section.
drew from the first ward and city and
Northern Liberty sections a large congre-
CATION.
Churches Then.
The Methodists had then Foundry Chap
el, plain brick, with galleries on three
sides, facing 14th street at the northeast
corner of street. The Second Presbyterian
congregation, now the New York Avenue
Church, was on the present site, at the in
tersection of New York avenue and II
street, facing 18th street, in chapel-like
brick edifice similar in plan to the Foun-
dry. and the galleries were used by the
Sunday school. The Fourth Presbyterian
church, on its present site, 9th near y
street, Was much smaller structure than
the present one. The Central Presbyterian
an ofshOot of the + street congregation in
this decade. was established on Sth street
between II and | streets. and has since
been used for some years by the NJ E.
Church South and for over thirty years by
the Washington Hebrew CONGREGATION.
who are erecting upon the site new tenn
pie. The Episcopalians had two churches
IN this section-the Epiphany. on its pres
ent site. G between 18th and 14th streets
and the Ascension now at Massachusetts
avenue and 18th street,. on II between 9th
and 10th streets; each of them buildings of
very simple style of architecture. A mod
est brlck church at the southwest corner
of 11th and II streets represented the En-
slish Lutberars, who now have a much
finer edifice, the present st. PauTs and
have since overgrown their accommoda-
M. hnr r-i.I
Church. near Thomas Circle. That large
and influential Methodist Episcopal con-
gregation known as Mc\endree, organized
IN the carpenter shop of the late j. T.
Walker, at Sth and X streets had built d
simple brick structure on the present site
north side of Massachusetts avenue be-
tween 9th and 10th streets. Asbury Church.
for colored Methodists, was then under the
protection and care of the Foundry, and
wcrshiped in a plain chapel much SIN lller
than the present church Quilt on the old
site), 11th and K streets. The colored
Presbyterians had a young congregation
worshiping on 18th between and K streets,
under Rev. John F. Cook Gather of the
late collector of taXes). their church edifice
being a plain brick building, much more
simple in style than their present temple.
The German Catholics then had a small
brick chapel on the site of their present
fine stone structure, known as st. Mary's
their parochal school, established by NJ
L. Schwakoph, being of the first of
that character organized here. For that
day. it will be seen, this part of the city
was well provided with houses of worship,
and it was an old joke that the character
of the people was such that more churches
were required than in more populous sec
tionS.
No Schools.
There were no public schools in this sec
ton. if we except the primary schools in
the Southern Methodist Church (now the
synagogue or temple), on Sth street above
II. and others attending the public schools
went to Henshaws at 14th and G. streets,
and to DR.. Watkins, at 5th and F streets.
There were a number of private schools,
especially in the lower part of this section.
perhaps the most noted being that of John
Mcleod, on the west side of 9th street be-
tween G and H. over the door of which
We're the words. "Order is heavens first
law. and, if reports were true. his pupils
found that order was the teachers law
also. Mr.. Wetherbee taught a private
school on the vest side of 18th street below
H, in the frame building known as the
Tabernacle-the first church erected by
what is now the Central Methodist Protes-
tant Church. at the corner of 18th and M
streets northwest. There was also the
school of Columbus Mcleod, on II street
between 10th and 11th Streets and In the
early part of the forties Dr. Watkins
taught school at the southwest corner of
9TH and II streets. There were scattered
through this section other private schools,
most of than conducted by ladies', and gen
orally there were but dozen score of
pupils to each. and a number conducted by
ladies of uncertain age led to coming the
term ''old maid schools"
There had been no attempt on the part of
the general government to improve the few
reservations or circles in this section
Thomas Circle. 14th and NJ streets. was in
the condition of what is now Washington
Circle described in a preceding article,,
and few citizens knew that the plan of the
city contemplated a circle. or dreamed that
what is now Mt. Vernon Square would ever
be more than an open common. 1t is true
Franklin Square. between 18th, 14th l and
X streets, was inclosed, but this was in the
simplest manner. and, being below grade
it was to a large extent marshy. This
square was purchased by the government
about fifteen years before, that the water
could be used for the Executive Mansion
and departments, for $1,000. Iowa Circle
was not dreamed of at that period
The corporation work of the opening of