Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-30
THE SALE OF lockwood
New Owner Will Improve and Occupy
Property a. a Home
Price Paid Was $500 Per Acre-or-
phan Asylum Had Been Nego-
tiating for 1t.

The publication in The Star yesterday OF
the fact that an agreement had been placed
ON record in the Office of recorder of deeds
by which ]. b. Wilmer, as agent, agrees to
sell the property known as Edgewood, just
north Of lexington. on 4th street north
east extended. created more than usual in
terest in read estate circles. This was
largely due to the Circumstance Of the gen.
eral impression prevailing that this prop
erty would be purchased by the st. Vim
cents Orphan Asylum.
As heretofore stated in The Star the asy-
ium authorities selected this property as
the site for the building which it is proposed
to erect for the use Of the asylum, in order
that possession may be given to Messrs.
Woodward & Lothrop. the purchasers OF
the present asylum property at 10th and g
streets northwest. However. there were
some details about the transaction which
had not fully been determined to the salts
faction of the directors of the asylum, and
SO the sale had not been closed
In the meantime Capt. William Ledyard
Ellsworth, who has had in view for some
time past the purchase of this property for
home for his family. made an offer of
S1l2,OOO for the place, including the furni-
ture now in the old mansion. AS there are
thirty-four acres comprised in the tract
this offer was at the rate of 1890 per acre,
and the price being considered satisfactory
tive OF the heirs of the late Mrs. Kate
Chase Sprague, who are the owners of the
property, and to those who hold it in trust.
the offer made by Mr.. Ellsworth was ac-
cepted. Yesterday, as stated an agreement
was recorded which acknowledges the pay
ment Of $4,000 and provides that the trans
action be completed in fifteen days.
Capt. Ellsworth who has been living in
the city for some tire, by this purchase
fixes his permanent home here. He intends
to improve sand beautify Edgeworth. so
long known as the home of the late Chief
Justice Chase and of his daughter The old
house, which is a substantial structure. is
to be put in good condition for a home for
the new owner. and the grounds are to be
improved. Capt. Ellsworth intends to erect
a stone fence of modest dimensions along
the 4th street front of the property.
Capt. Ellsworth is known to fame as the
inventor of smokeless powder He was
formerly captain and assistant quarter
master in the United States army, and
during the civil war he served on the staff
Of Gen. Wadsworth. At the battle of
Charlottesville he observed two battalions
of the Union army engage in heavy fire,
their identity being concealed from each
other by the clouds of smoke that arose
from the firing. That evening Capt. Els
worth announced his intention to devote
himself at the close of the war to the dis
covery Of some method of getting rid of
the smoke following the discharge Of or
binary powder. The invention of smoke
less powder was the result.
An Option.
Some trouble in the transfer of this COM
property to Mr.. Ellsworth is indicated by
document which was put on file in the
clerks office today. Daniel & Armat filed
an affidavit that Herbert Noble who gave
authority in tie agreement filed Monday for
the sale Of the property to William l.. Ellis
worth for s112,OOO had previously given
them an option on the property for s106.o00.