Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-26
EARLY WASHINGTON
Mr.. w. w. Births Reminis-
cences of the Past Century.
HOW THE CITY LOOKED
AN INTERESTING ANECDOTE OF
THE BRITISH OCCUPATION.
Sparse Settlement of the West End
Some Historic Buildings-The
Decatur Funeral.
HOW THE CITY LOOKED


our eastward course had in the last paper
terminated at 18th street. We now proceed
In the same direction, combining our re-
marks to the section north of PENNSYLVANIA
avenue.
Up to the end of the first twenty years of
the nineteenth century there were but Two
houses on the square bounded by the ave
nue. nth and III streets and the open reser-
yation now called Lafayette Square, or
Park One of these buildings was two
story pcbbleda brick dwelling occu-
pied and l think. owned by DR.. EWel II
stood on the east side of the square about
midway between the avenue and ii street.
The other house was the large double
dwelling erected by Commodore Stephen
Decatur on the northeast corner of the
SQUARE. and occupied by him up to the time
of his death This courageous, gallant, ana
very popular officer fell in duel as IS
well known, at the hand of Commodore
Barron. l then a school boy at the
Western Academy. which was about one
hundred and fifty yards northwest of the
Decatur house, and clearly remember the
great. excitement when the commodore was
brought from the Bladensburg field There
was a very large gathering there, but the
assemblage the occasion of the funeral.
a dav or two after. was perhaps the largest
whici. had cen brought together in our city
I'D to that time. except II may DE, dt tlio
Inauguration of Mr.. Jefferson.
The Decatur Funeral.
The body of the commodore was laid In
the Barlow vault near the south END OF
Kalorama Its location was between old
Boundary street (now Florida avenue) and
Rock Creek, and was about one hundred
and fifty feet west of the street and hun
dred yards north of the junction of the
creek and road in fine grove of original
forest trees, in which had passed many d
pleasant hour.
am not now sure, but I think the funeral
took place on Sunday, and the whole popu-
lation of Washington, Georgetown ana the
adjacent country seemed to have poured u
self out to witness the ceremony. inns OF
fcer when a young midshipman, destroyed
the I4-gun ship Philadelphia. which had been
captured by the Algerines run INTO thelr
harbor and could not be "cut out 1t was
craftily and daringly set on flre ana Dlo"h
I'D by Decatur and his small volunteer
squad. who all escaped to the fleet standing
off the harbor under the command of Com
by a mere youth. had won the admiration
of the people and Decatur became great
An Old Graveyard.
At and near what Is now the southwest
corner of Lafayette Park there had been
an old country graveyard, and when the
grading of the streets there was under way
bodies were found. During the process of
disinterment there was present a then
noted queer character, Familiarity know as
bob Finnik" (Robert Fenwick). He pc
came very much Interested and asked 1or
rusty nail from coffin. ON receiving II
he put ii into his mouth. and loudly said:
'I shall never have the toothache now
happened to be passing at the time ana
saw and heard what l here relate.
close friend, who had been resident
here since 1892. had long before this oc-
currence pointed out to me this graveyard
Site and stated that when he came to the
District the remains of an old orchard
stood in the open space, and that on the
north side of It he had noticed the debris OF
farm house chimney.
The Riggs Bank Corner.
On the square next east of the reserva-
ton and bounded by the avenue. Madison
place II and 10Th streets, there were but
two buildings. On the northwest corner
was the dwelling of Richard Cults. and
EAST of that, on II street near 18th, the resi-
dence of Mr.. hewitt. whose son Robert was
q schoolfellow of mine. The old Riggs
Bank at 18th street and the avenue. the
hext house erected this block, was built
In 49,, by the Branch Bank of the United
States. This institution had previously had
It's home in the building yet standing, and
! little modernized at the northeast corner
of F and 18th streets northwest. MIR. Da-
ttdson was the cashier. and his two sons.
John and Daniel, were attendants at school
with me-
We will now break our established rule
and cross 18th street to its eastern side in
prder to relate very interesting occur
renee connected with one of the houses on
this thoroughfare. The only building on
the east side of the street, on the square
bounded by New York avenue II street and
l4th and 18th streets. stood on the north
west corner, on the site covered by
Columbian College. All the rest of the
block was vacant ground
On the next square south Alexander Nc
Donald lived in a neat two-story frame.
betting back from 18th street twenty or
twenty-five feet, with piazza fronting on
the street. This was the only house in the
square. and stood the natural surface
which was not less than from two to three
feet below the present grade of the pave
ment. The first floor two or three
steps above ground level Mr.. Mcdonald
was a messenger in the State Department.
which was nearly opposite his dwelling
The Bank of the Metropolis.
On the square next south stood Mrs. u
richs large boarding house. covering part
of the site of the Riggs House. South of
that. at the southwest corner of the square
was the old Bank of the Metropolis, at 18th
and F. which still stands but little changed
On the block south of the last named and
now covered by the COrcoran building there
was at the corner of + a large frame build
Ing occupied by Mr.. Kennedy a grocery
store He sold out to Major Carey Selden
and established himself In the book and
stationery business the north side of
PENNSYLVANIA avenue two or three doors
west OF ala street Major Selden did not
continue there long, having been appointed
paynaster in the navy or marine CORDS
And now we cross the avenue TO it's junction
with 18th street at its Southea st corner
There, on the ground covered by part of the
Hotel Regent. stood before. at the time of
and for about sixty years after the war with
England, 1Sl2-l4, large two-story and attic
brick building in by Mrs. Suter as a
genteel boarding house.
Admiral Cockburn's Exploit
A few days before the entrance OF the
British army into the city a neatly dressed,
elderly appearing Quaker gentleman. called
at this house. and said to the landlady:
"Can thee furnish me with a room and
THE Pre- si6emf