Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
IN THE EARLY DAYS
IMPROVEMENT OF TWO SQUARES
IN WESTERN PART OF CITY.
Buildings still Standing in the Walls
Of Which Are Bricks Manufactur-
ed at Their Front Doors.

tween 10Th and Goth streets. made by Penn
sylvanaa avenue interseeting those streets
between n and I streets. much of gen.
eral as well as local interest. There are
vet standing those buildings in which
the walls are of brick manufactured
at at the front door of the houses
when the wild woods had to be cleared
for the making of city: and these
squares In the dim past have figured in
the annals of the nation as department
of the general government. the residence
of President and the homes of some of
the leading men Of the nation when 1t
was making heroic struggles for exist
ence.
10th and 10th streets was one of the many
in which James GreenIeaf. Morris & Mich
olson. Uriah Forrest, Francis Deakins, VIM.
Deakins. Benjamin Stoddert, w. NJ. Dun
canson and ]. R. Platter figured in the early
conyeyances. It was plated for thirteen
lots and some of these became the site for
the Seven Buildings. which figured in some
of the important events In the infancy of
the republic.
Prior to 1900 the erection of the row OF
six commodious buildings was projected for
James Greenleaf. Gen. Walter Stewart and
Maj. T. 8. Moore commenced their erec-
ton Messrs. Morris and Nicholson, before
the structures were completed, came into
possession of them and Messrs. William
Deakin and Urfah Forrest finished them.
The ground was In the name of j. r.
Platter before their completion and deeds
were subsequently made, conveying them
to Deakins and Forrest. That at least
one and perhaps all were completed In
1900 Is shown in the fact that on the ar
rival of the State Department offices when
the seat of government was remoxed to this
city in that year John Marshall located
with his little retinue Of clerks In the east
q a ha
executive buildings were ready for occu-
pancy. the foreign relations business of our
government was conducted there.
Completed the "Seven Buildings"
In 1901 the corner of 10Th street was sold
to Peter Ham with the first building in the
row and he erected structure in such
keeping with the other houses that the
name Seven Buildings'' was appropriate.
Among the owners about this time were
Gen. Lingan, a gallant officer. who subse-
quently lost his life in repelling an attack
on the Baltimore Jail; Leonard Harbaugh.
John McElwee, Gen. Walter Smith. John
Hoye and Timothy Caldwell. After the
war OF 1919 there were w. P. Gardner Ben
jamin 8. Forrest. John Threlkeld, Com
modore Decatur. Robert Ellis. Capt J. X.
Pauldins. Joel Wright. Thomas Munros
and Commodore French Forrest among the
owners.
Col. Monroe, the city postmaster. Capt
Paulding Of the navy board, Gen. George
Gibson, Capt Hook, Mrs. M Freeman, Rev.
Dr. Hawley, rector Of st. Johns; William
Morris. Count Won Schroskerken. the Rus
sian minister; Maj. G. H. Mousse, Mrs.
Coolidge, Mrs. c. W. Goldsborough. r. J.
Walker, Secretary of the Treasury; Maj.
Mr.. Kervand, Col Sharman. Brooke Mack
all, Commodore Bladen Dulany, DR.. Smoot,
H. L. Cross John Little. Thomas P Nor
gan and DR.. T. B. ]. Frye were among the
residents
In 1902 the pioneer Baptists OF the city
purchased part of lot IL. the northeast
corner OF the square, and erected their first
place OF worship, the deed being to c. P.
Polk and others. For some years this was
the principal church of that faith in the
District When the congregation moved
down town to 10th street the old building
was turned over to the colored members,
who have maintained a congregation there.
Square North Of I Street.
Dr. Craven, in the twenties, lived on 10th
street, but his family afterward moved
into the Seven Buildings. The west end of
the square was purchased by Mr.. MechIin
about 1900. and he erected fine residence,
IN which he lived for years. The ave-
nue. corner was bought about 1910 by David
Hines. Near this corner. on which the
improvements were valued at 5000 In 1920.
when the ground valuation had fallen from
Is to 20 cents per foot. was other improved
property. John Little was taxed on 81, O50,
as was Robert Leclzie; L. Kervand, on
5000; Joseph Thaw. 81. 100; w: Waters. on
500; NJ. Nourse, $500; Joseph Druett 5000.
The Seven Buildings were then assessed
5000 to Peter Ham; Margaret Freeman,
-, 800 ]. B. Forrest, branch bank, u. g.,
and J. K. Paulding, s2.7oo each. and
Thomas Monroe, s.. 800.
Lorenzo Kervand conducted a wine store
In the lower story Of his dwelling, and
also banking house in the forties. Here
several prominent people stopped, among
them John Randolph of Virginia
It was after the destruction OF the White
House by the British in 1914 that the cor
ner house erected by Mr.. Ham became the
temporary home of President Madison.
Mr.. Joseph Mechlin lived at the corner OF
10th street for some years. and Joseph
Thaw, Robert Leclis. VIM. Waters and
others lived above the row.
-
The square north of I between 10th and
Goth streets about 1900 had q valuation of
sixteen cents, and. Its early history Is similar
to the preceding. Lots on street had been
sold by that year to John Shute, ]. B. Mer-
Ger. John Roe. and vinton Bayne took the
three lots adjoining the corner Of Goth
street. in the following year selling por-
ton OF Daniel Buzxard. The Improvement
was slow. and the valuation was sixteen
cents per foot ON the south front
In the early part Of the century, in a large
frame building at the corner Of Goth and
streets, was the store OF Samuel Hutchinson.
The old-fashioned building remained empty
some years, when tt was reopened by q man
named DuvalL Lot 5, adjoining on the
east, was occupied by c. w. Patterson, a
baker, prior to 1920, and afterward by John
McKeiden & Co George Walker, a butcher,
resided on street In the twenties.
Before 1880 q tavern was established ON
Goth street north of the grocery by j. B.
Frere. and this became a great resort.
particularly for the English people, the
countrymen OF the host. In 1890 house
at the corner of 18th and streets was as
sesssd to l. Brongle, $500. and houses on
I street were assessed to ]. Kedghis heirs
81 900; J. G. McKelden. 81, 500; 8. Hutchin-
son. at the corner OF Goth ana 1 streets.
S3000; J. Hodgson heirs on 10th street, 1900:
2. Monkey. $3.50, and A. Kedglie, 800 on
10Th street.
South Of the avenue. square 1l9, now quite
9 business locality. in the early part of the
century progressed slowly. DR.. Frederick
May was q purchaser OF lot on 10Th
street at an early date. AZ also was John
Breckenridge and Mary &c. Patterson BY
1920. however. there were some improve
y7aef1fa the suT1ar6. John Achnoax1 on n