Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01

posed for the advancement OF the interests
OF the community in which he did not
have part.
AS stated. Pierce Purcell was an early
purchaser. In 1900, with Redmond Purcell.
he owned the 18th street front and nearly
that of F and G streets. In 1907 Mr.. Knowles.
a carpenter, bought lot on 14th street about
the center of the square. On this was fine
colonial frame building which was assessed
then for 81 800. There was also small house
on the corner of G and 14th streets, valued
at 500, which twenty years afterward was
In the name OF Ann WEIGH, one of the Pur-
cell heirs. In the twenties three or four
lots were listed in the name of Count Ju-
Illus de Mrenon, the French charge d af-
fairies and afterward minister. and these
passed subsequently to the Bank of the
United States. In 1927, however. two lots,
half the 18th street front from G street,
We're bought by Mrs. Ann Stewart, who
resided in the colonial house for many
years.
Pierce Purcell. interested with Mr.. Hoban
IN the purchase of lot four in 1874. was the
owner OF half the east front north of F
street and one-third Of the front on that
street in 1890. No improvements appear to
have been made on the corner lot for sew
erai years, but on the next lot to the west
assessments upon $500 and $500 were made
In 1902 to Redmund and Pierce Purcell, re-
spectively, and the latter was taxed 1900
on a lot there next west. The house
there was a brick structure of two stories
and gable fronting the street and 1t is said
was Inc tavern OIL JOnn OulnDlGtOn lot
many years. Old residents have learned
that It's sign was a swinging boad with a
fair painting upon 1t of the church oppo-
site. Doubtless at this day such a sign
beard on u tavern would give offense. but
the landlord in this case was simply fol-
lowing an old English custom.
Mr. James McClery for long time lived
on part of the corner lot north of F street,
but in 1897 he bought this place and alter
ward took up his residence there. When the
street was cut down the house was on an
elevation and the grounds containing some
trees were planted with flowers.
lii the tniities Robert Cruit bought adj
joining property and erected two brick
buildings and some of his descendants yet
reside there. Later some small frame
buildings were erected on the corner of
14th and F streets. one used a fruit store
and dwelling by Mrs. A. Davy, in the for
ties or ffties, and the other as a lottery
and exchange Office in later years by F. r.
May.
Sold to an Importer.
The lot adjoining Mr.. Hoban's residence
was sold by MIN in 1911 to Francis Clarke,
who was associated with merchants in
Georgetown in importing West India prod
ucts and other goods. Mr.. Clarke erected
here fine residence. which in the twenlies
was rated at 1900. He died and the prop
erty remained in his family for many years.
During the sessions of Congress some of the
TO have been frame of magnificent pro-
portions, and the owners are reputed TO
have been the center of large circle of
friends.
In 1871 Benton Fenwick owned lot at
the corner of f and 18th streets, which by
1902 he had improved at a cost of $1,000
and 1t was afterward in possession of W.
COgln. 1t was bought in at marshals sale in
1910 by Mrs. Fenwick, and ii passed to the
hands of j. G. jackson, as did lot Z adjoin-
ing on the north, which had been bought by
Mrs. Fenwick About this time Mrs. Bar
bara Suter kept a boarding houe here, and
shortly thereafter, in 1911, Gen Van Ness
and Thomas Munroe opened The banking
business in the lower floor, and this was
the germ of the Bank OF Metropolis When
the British burned the public buildings
they were attracted by the office-like APP
pearance of the premises and were about
to apply the torch when Capt. Hoban ap-
pealed to them, saying the building be-
longed to poor widow and was private
property. The officer replied She must
be id poor to own such property and
withdrew his men.
The Bank of Metropolis bought this prop
erty in 1914. but in 1920 erected the banking
building north which was recently torn
down. The old corner was used for time
for offices, Messrs Clark 81 Quantren, gen
eral claim agents, being there for many
years. In 1889 Mr.. w. w. Corcoran, who
had been In business on the avenue above
the City Hotel. now the New Willard, To-
Gated in the old quarters of the Bank of
Metropolis, and In the following year he
took in Mr.. Riggs as a partner. That they
We're successful is well known, for by
1S45 they purchased the old United States
Bank building on the site now occupied
by the American Security and Trust Com
pany The great stroke of the firm was in
floating in 1S4S a $12,0O0,000 United States
loan, through Mr.. Corcoran going to Europe
and personally negotiating 1t, this being
the first loan of magnitude made after the
panic of 1887.
John Chubb and the Chubb brothers car
ried on the banking business, in which they
were succeeded by Pairo & Nourse, 7. W.
Pairo and others.
Col Munroe owned the north 'front.' on
15rh street. the Riggs House corner, and
erected near @ street frame house valued
at 50 200, which in the thirtes was a tav
ern, conducted by Louis La Bile. In 1887
It was sold to Paul Kinchy, confectioner.
There was also a fine three-story brick
building adjoining the Bank of the Metrop-
oils and Col. Truman Cross, deputy quar-
termaster general, resided there early in the
'forties, and later Gen. Winfield Scott had
his home there.
Three substantial brick houses, painted
white, abutted G street, Mrs. Ulrich living
at the corner, where some of the foreign
representatives, members of Congress and
government officials made their homes. Com
modore ]. Fl. Aulick was the occupant or
the south house of the row. On the G street
front was IA house erected about 1900 by
l.
the 'twenties was occupied by Sally Nc
Carthy, a colored woman, as while the
house remained which was up to the civil
war days colored people continued to re-
side there. In the 'forties, Tobias Puning-
ton of the treasury lived in fine three
story residence on G street. In 1915 Mr..
BENJAMIN J. Reiss came upon G street, buy
ing the part of the lot on which the Boston
Herald and other papers have their local
Offices. For a long series of years he was
a successful teacher of music.
Willard Hotel Square.
That square in which the hotel interests
are so well represented by the New Willard
at one end and business interests by the
Corcoran building at the other, has more
than mere local interest, having been the
scene of many occurrences in which people,
of worldwide reputation were participants.
1t Will be seen that, though Gen. Washing
ton had no personal interests in the prop
erty, one of his wards. Eliza Parke Gusts,
The wife of Thomas Law. held property by
trustee at the northeast corner OF the
square, long the residence OF Col. kear-
ney. Some of the buildings upon 1t were
used at times by the national government.
The offices of the Attorney General and
first auditor were sixty years ago, In
building at the southeast corner OF f and