Evening star., 1901-01-05
SITE OF THE CAPITOL
TWO SQUARES ADDED TO THE
ORIGINAL GROUNDS.
Enumeration of Buildings Which
Once Occupied the Space-Pro-
gress of improvements.


gress of improvements.
Ihe reservation known as the Capitol
grounds is the same in extent as that orig
inally laid out, with the exception that two
squares-Nos. 6S7 and 6SS-have been added,
but the portion in actual use may be said to
have grown with the building, the city and
the country. But little more than the
actual site was inclosed in the early part of
the century. Indeed. the two squares west
OF the building. corresponding to Nos. 6S7
and 6SS, between the two A streets and
east OF 1st street, with some other ground
near by. was plated by the government
authorities, and it's sale was recommended
The need Of all the appropriation was even
then foreseen
1t was not until 1916 that anything Ike
a permanent inclosure was erected. This
was by picket fence along 1st street east,
the two A streets and in semi-circle on the
west of the building. about midway be-
tween the structure and 1st street. For this
tuted in 1929, and in this there were iron
gates at what were thought to be con-
venient points.
Prior to 1929 there had been but ten oil
lamps to light the grounds. In the year
named fourteen were added, and in 1881
the number was increased to forty-eight.
In the same year the Seneca stone flag was
laid in the main walk and terrace. The
first actual extension was made in 1887,
when the circular wall and rail were car
rled as far as 1st street and the grounds
Improved to that point. There were dou-
BILE gates on the north side at Delaware
avenue. and south at New Jersey avenue,
for carriages, and there were double gates
provided at Maryland and Pennsylvania
avenues for the west entrances. and also
opposite East Capitol street, while single
gates were placed midway Of the sides Of
the east park. The grounds were closed
promptly at 10 o'clock at night and there
is remembered by many the curfew Of the
watchman, who at that hour would from
the east and west fronts of the building in
stentorian tones call: Ten o'clock. Close
the gates" The prompt compliance with
prlsonment of careless boys and tardy
lovers This rule, however, was not en-
forced when Congress was in session.
Grounds Enlarged.
1t was about 1872 when the iron railing
was removed and the east grounds were
enlarged to the taking in Of squares 6S7
and 6SS extending the reservation from Isl
street east TO LIST street west, and 10Th
street north to B street south.
The old material-rail and stone coping
was utilized to some extent about the agri-
cultural grounds and at Arlington. Outside
the railing brick foOtway was laid, and the
roadway was successfully of mother earth,
gravel, cobble stone and wooden block. On
the south side this roadway was often the
scene of stone battles between the city"
and "hilr' boys, and some, now gray haired,
yet bear scars from wounds received then.
The grounds are utilized now to the Origi-
nal limits, but may be further extended.
There was suggestion made several years
ago that they should reach to the streets
north and south, to make them correspond
to the grounds east and west. 1t is not
beyond reason to look for government
building north of the library in the near
future. in which event the hill will be-
come the most attractive portion Of the Dis
trict
When the government was being located
here there were but a few hundred houses
within the city limits. and will be seen
by the map presented herewith, human
habitations were not over numerous around
the capital. There were absolutely none
west of North and South Capitol streets
and the Tiber cd streeO, and few in other
and in the course of construction. North
OF the building were the two houses which
were being erected for General Washing
ton lnow included in the site Of Kenmore)
between B and c streets o.. Northward
lived Mrs. Catherine Dalton (O and di-
rectly opposite was a house erected by
Daniel Carroll 81. A building just COM
pleted for Mr.. Carroll, opposite General
Washington's, was the hotel of Mr.. Pom
tius D. Stelle a.. 1t was here that a
daughter was born. in 1sOO supposed to
have been the first birth after the removal
of the government here, and she, as Miss
Elizabeth Stelle and Mrs. Mcpherson, lived
to the age Of eighty-five years.
No houses had been built on Delaware
avenue between and c streets, but there
These were those Of Mr.. Brown, on 1st and
B streets 90: Mr.. Carrolrs buildings, two
double dwellings, on Delaware avenue,
north Of B street 6 and y, occupied from
William Brent, respectively. the first a
justice and the latter clerk Of the Circuit
Court of the District A fourth house on
this qsuare, north Of the one above men,
Williams. which subsequently was owned
by Mr.. Brent (8.
Robert Sewan Building.
In square 725. directly east, the house on
lot 1. at the northwest corner Of I'd and B
streets, had been erected in 1893 by Mr..
Robert Sewall (U. From this house, it is
said, the horse OF Gen. Ross was killed
when the British invaded the city in 1914
It was once occupied by minister from
Spain and In more recent years has been
known the Daingerf1ed house. On the
north side of B street between 1st and I'd
streets was the house Of James R. Der
mott Q0) and on I'd street a small house
owned by Robert Brown QD. John Carter
also owned a house in this square.
On square 6S7. now within the grounds,
there were several houses-that at 1st and
streets northeast, owned by Samuel
Blodgett Q2); the one at B and 1st streets
by A. Lindsay Q3); Dowsons row Q4) and
H. Tins residence Q5) were erected about
midway of the square, on the north side OF
street. the first OF three or four bricks, |
which became a famous stopping place for |
senators and members in after years On |
the corner west there was a hotel build |
ing erected which over half a century ago
was known as Davis, and Mrs. Whitney's
15).
In the corresponding square south Of the |
east grounds were three houses fronting on |
1st street and one each on and B streets. |
The latter were owned by Robert Brown, |
that on A street 16) a three-storied brick |
Of thick walls laid, 1t is said, with mortar |
made of oyster shell lime with the whites |
and shell Of eggs. having been erected |
about ten years before by James Mathews, |
an Englishman. 1t passed through the |
hands of the Browns to the Ogilvies. and |
when razed in 1872 in consequence of the |
extension of the grounds. gunpowder was |