Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
EAST Of THE TREASURY
Section of the City of Historic
Interest.
CELEBRITIES AS ACTORS
Suicide of the Representative of
Foreign Government.
WHERE DICKENS WAS GUEST
Real Estate in Early Days-Prices Of
Property Now Held at
High Figures.

There is no section of Washington so re-
plete with interest as that locality imme-
diately east of the treasury as is that
building itself, whether in a national or
local sense. The section has been the
scene of occurrences in which worldwide
as ell as local celebrities We're the actors,
ana some of the old buildings which re-
main, in whole or part, could they but talk,
wou4d afford much entertaining matter.
1t is needless to describe the first build
ing erected for the treasury, which by
the way was the one first completed for
the government offices, having been put
in service in 1900 on the establishment OF
the government here. It's site was west of
Hath street, its north front about on a line
with the south side of F street, and it was
a two-story and attic brick structure with
cellar The fire which took place here in
1901, and the manner in which the flames
were confined to the rooms in which
1t originated, doubtless did much to cement
the ties between the officials of that de-
partmeat and the citizens, and for many
years thereafter the use of the fire engines
of the government was granted to the vol
unteer companies organized in 1894. In a
number of instances the early officials were
connected with local organizations ard the
IOl.S tl lHeHlDSIS were largely IlduH up Or
government employees, and the militia COM
panies, and fraternal and social organiZa
tons, including churches, We're also repre-
scented in the diminuttve blue book
Tie building was burned by the British
in August, 1914. but in a few years was
restored, and in about 1918 the old State
Department building was erected to the
north of it, about the line of G street
About this time, near where the north
steps of the treasury are now located, a
homicide took place. Some soldiers detail
ed for the mounted messenger service OF
the executive offices were quartered in
barracks at this point and a man named
Kelley was snot and killed by La1ham, a
f>llow trooper, who was afterward trtei,
convicted and sentenced to be hanged. The
Gallows upon which he was to be executed
was erected on the north side of @ street
opposite the north door of the pension Of
fee, bat d reprieYe for six months was
granted the condemned man and his sem
tence was finally committed to .imprisdn-
meut.
The treasury building was also the birth
place Of what became the T Street Presby-
terrain Church, so long served by Rev.
James Laurie, and there is no telling how
many of the old-time institutions for char
table moral and other similar work had
their origin within its walls.
Destroyed by Incendiary.
The hand of an incendiary was more sue
cessful on December 10, 1888, than was the
the old building, for then 1t was laid in
waste, necessitat1ng the erection OF a new
structure. Temporary quarters We're found
on the south side of Pennsylvania avelu e
east Of 10Th street and on the west side of
that street the new structure was erected.
Before 1910 most OF the old employees were
in new quarters.
1t was while this work was progressing
that there occurred sad romance The
y1yifa NJ nf he ig6
rather suddenly, leaving an infant laughter,
and after the bereaved husband had re-
turned from the funeral of his wife. the
question of how he could provide for lis
child and continue his work arose. A kind
hearted neighbor, though having a large
family of children of her own, volunteered
to care for the little one until the father
could make better arrangements. The
father soon after went south to work
and was stricken with yellow fever. He
oicd, but ii was not till several months
had passed that the foster mother was APP
prised of 1t. She took permanent charge of
the infant and raised it as her own. The
child grew up unconscious Of the absence
of blood ties and bore the name of her
benefactors till a worthy young man. with
the aid Of a minister, gave her another
name.
That the neighborhood was a favorite one
for diplomats or that they felt a compul-
sion to obey the letter OF their credentials
by residing as near as possible to the State
lliOlSH WHICH negotiations
We're made is plain by the number of such
residents within the shadow of the execu-
tive buildings. Some time in the twentes
the Austrian, Portuguese, Swedish and
Spanish representatives were housed on r
street little east OF 18th street, and one
morning the latter was found to have conf
mitted suicide by hanging as was supposed,
when he was laboring under alteration of
the mind The Prussian minister's home was
on G street: the Danish and Scandinavian
on the avenue near 18th street; the Bel
GUM, Argentine and Netherlands were OPP
posite the State Department. and while re-
siding here Count De Memoir. the French
minister. was purchasing some of the near
by property.
Lots in the square between 14th and 18th
and and streets were plotted to the
number of sixteen. and most of them We're
sold In 1882; by 1902 improvements began to
show. The ground was first listed at 10
cents per foot but by 1929 IL had doubled
and the lot at the northeast corner OF 18TH
and F streets was rated at 40 cents. In
Guided among the original purchasers were
David Burns T. ]. Beatty, PURGE purcell
and James Hoban. The latter. Irish by
birth. had resided several years In South
Carolina. where. as an architect he planned
and built the state capitol and other build
ings. He removed TO this city In July OF
that year. Here he at once entered upon
a career OF usefulness. being at once en-
ployed on the public buildings. continuing
for over twenty-five years.
G1auneQ Tue 1TcSIQSHI hOuSe.
Mr.. Hoban made the plans for the PresI-
dents house and superintendent It's con-
struction, and when 1t was destroyed in
trobe succeeded him. Mr.. Hoban bought
ton. He had laid the foundations of the
Capitol, and In 1874 succeeded Mr. Hallett
as the architect. serving till 1902 Mr. La
trobe succeeded him. Mr.. Hoban bought
two lots, and 5. fronting on f street. west
of the center of the square, on which he
erected his home about the year I797, and
here he lived till his death occurred about
the year 1898. Mis- home was, for those
days. fine brick residence with gable TO
the street and porches. and with a we'll
kept garden. having In IL some fine shade
trees. II was pretty place. It was in 1902
listed at s2.eoo. and In the twenties was
rated at $1,000 The Old building is yet
standing
Mr. Hoban was prominent IN the infancy
of Masonry here, having been the first
master of Federal Lodge, and for num-
Der of years its treasurer. He was the
captain OF an artillery company, a member