Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-27
NAMES OF SCHOOLS
Local Buildings Recall Famous Men
of the Past.
MANY PRESIDENTS and MAYORS
Educators Who Worked in the
District Honored.
SOME COLORED LEADERS
SOME COLORED LEADERS

To the residents of the District, especial
1y the rising generation, the nomenclature
OF public school buildings is an in
teresting subject, and a study of their
names is instructive, even to the older por-
ton of the community. And when the
dates of the erection of the buildings are
noted, with their location, the growth and
building up of the different sections of the
District can be pictured, while in some in
stances at least who were popular with the
whites and colored is indicated by their
names. AS to many of the personal
names (other than those of the Presidents
and few others there are but few who
can tell all who have been honored by the
emblazonment of their names on school
building. In numerous instances the par
ties whose names are used were scarcely
known in their own neighborhoods during
life, and that they are thus honored is due
to the appreciation of work performed
years ago In ante-bellum days, when
there were but few school buildings owned
by the municipal government, the name of
teacher or locality was used.
Early Names.
The two-storied brick building erected at
14th and Q streets northwest in 1857, now
built in 1889, was named after Mayor Ber-
ret the cty's executive in 1S59-'60.
The first modern school building - the
Wallach. on Pennsylvania avenue between
9TH and Sth streets southeast-was erected
in 1864. during the terms of Mayor Rich
ard Wallach, 1S61-'G6.
modest structure for colored school
was erected in 1867 near the corner of 9th
and f streets southwest, through the eff
forts of Rev. Anthony Bowen, colored To-
cal preacher, who had much influence with
his race and was a member of the last COM
mon council in 1870 This was called Bow
ems School popularity, but the authorities
the trustees of colored schools-gave the
building the full name. Two years ago it
was entirely rebuilt and enlarged.
The colored race in 1868 honored their
steadfast friend Thaddeus Stevens Of Penn
sylvania. by naming the school building on
2lst between X and l. streets northwest
after him. The same year the father of
John F. Cook formerly collector of taxes
and Prof G.. F. T. Cook, superintendent of
colored sch ols-Itev. John F. Cook. one of
the founders of the Fifteenth Street Pres
byterian Church ard teacher for many
years-was hCnored by having the building
on street between 4th and 9TH streets
northwest named for him.
Next. in 1869, the edfice erected at the
corner of 18th and K streets northwest for
white schools was built, and, being on
Franklin Square, the name of the printer
statesman, diplomat philosopher and phil
anthrOpiSt, Franklin. suggested itself and
was adopted by the authorities and the
public.
After Teachers.
The Randall at the corner of LIST and
streets southwest was the name given a
brick building which in 1889 superseded an
old barrack building in which one of the
missionary teachers of the north had gath
cred a number of colored children and it
appropriately honors this teacher, Miss
Eliza G. Randall. That the location of the
school was judicious is shown by the erec-
ton of the present structure in 1876.
One of the old time teachers, Mr. Nc
Cormck. who taught the Eastern free or
third district school in days Of the grand
fathers, is remembered by the building
bearing his name on the site of the tobacco
warehouse. Sd between NJ and N streets
southeast, erected in 1870.
The well known name of Lucretia Mott,
whose voice and pen championed the cause
of the slave, was given the building at
9th and Trumbull streets northwest in
1871.
WelI-Known Names.
The Seaton. built on 1 between I'd and
Sd streets northwest in 1871. honors Colo
mel w. w. Seaton. mayor of Washington,
1910 to 1850. The colored school building
at 18th and NJ streets northwest, erected
the same year, was named after Senator
Sumner, the wel-known Massachusetts
senator.
In 1872 the first president of the first
board of school trustees 1S05) and the
third President of the United States was
honored in the erection of the jefferson
School building at 9th and ID streets south
west.
Chief Justice VIM Cranch of the Circuit
Court of the District and school trustee
in 1905 furnishes the name to the building
at 18th and G streets southeast erected
in 1872
The martyrdom of Rev Elijah p Love-
joy at Alton, ILL.,, at the hands OF mob
in 1895 is recalled by the building at 18th
and ID streets northeast, erected In 1872
Mr.. Lovejoy was a New Englander. who
an ardent friend of the cOlOred race
ing slavery, his office was four times
mobbed and he lost his life in the cause
In 1874 the building on 18th street between
X and l. STREETS northwest was named the
Thomson. This, three-storied brick was
erected by Mr.. S. J. Thomson, long a teach
er of the public schoo's in the first and Sec
ond districts, and from 1869 to 1874 a pri-
vate school was conducted there At the
latter date Mr. Thomson returned to the
public school service and the building was
purchased by the District and given his
name.
Famous Local Names.
The president of the school board, Mr. w w
Curtis, was largely instrumental in secur-
ing the erection of the building on o street
between sd and sd street, West Washing
ton, in 1875, and his name designated the
structure.
The Abbot, at the corner of 9th street
and New York avenue northwest, was
erected a an engine house in 1856 and was
long known from the fire company there
located as the Northern Liberty School,
but, being entirely rebuilt in 1876 for the
exclusive use of the schools, a more APP
propriate name was given-the Abbot. This
was in recognition of the many years serv-
ice of Prof. George /. Abbot. who taught
private school on 1 street near nth
street member of the school board.
In 1879 the building at the corner of 9Th
and E streets northeast was given the
name Of the Peabody, in honor of the
wealthy philanthrophist, whose munifcent
aid in popular education made his name a
household word.
Col. Peter Force. journalist and historian.
who served as mayor of Washington in
1896. z and g. is honored in the building
erected in 1879 on Massachusetts avenue
between 18th and 18th streets northwest
By the structure on p between 9Th and
7th streets northwest. erected in $780, Prof.
Joseph Henry, the distinguished scientist,
va, was for so many years the secretary