Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
Sales Of Property.

The following year Mr.. Reid sold his In
terest to his partner, and the west half Of
the lot was sold to David Oglevie. In the
corporation books of 1903 the improvements
on the east half Of this lot include $3.50
charged to David Waterstone CWatterson)-
and David Og:evie's improvements are
valued at $3.50. Mr.. Waterstone was a
stonecutter, and is remembered by many
of the descendants of Mr. Rutherford who
of the city, 1t would SEEM from the fact
that there are a few living who have seen
evidence of stonecutting at this point. that
If not the first private stoneyards an early
one at least was here located.
There was on the lot a public house in
the last century's infancy. conducted by a
Mr.. Kfrnan or keenan,, also one of Mar
shall Brent's deputies. AS such he was the
jailer when McGurk, the first to suffer
death in the District on the scaffold. was
executed in 1902. the crime being the muir
der of his wife, and he was kept in build
ing on the rear of the lot.
In 1903 William Woodward was located
on lot 3. but three years later he sold part
of the property to Robert Underwood,
stipuIating in the deed for the privilege of
using the water of the spring in square 400,
west Of 9th and south of c streets The
corporation authorized the laying of pipes
at the expense of those using the water.
Though the books show no improvements,
it is believed that at the time of transfer
there was a house upon the lot. Though the
corporation value of the ground was 5
cents per foot. the c street front of the
square was held at 10 cents.
About 1910 part Of lot was In the name
Of DR.. Brent ct al, trustees of the Washing
ton Building Company, and John Davis, in
1872, bought there and established the hotel
popular under his name for many years,
and in the latter twenties, known as John
Davis boarding house. During Mr.. Davis
occupancy the adjoining lots, and 3, were
acquired, and 1t became the property Of the
Bank Of Washington, valued by the cor
poration at $4,000. Miss Ann Hamilton
for several years conducted a boarding
house there. and later V. Willett assumed
the role of boniface. ]. M. Gilbert in the
forties conducted the Exchange Hotel.
Later DR.. Jonas Green, a pioneer homeo-
pathic physician, owned the hotel building,
having his residence and office in 1t. Back
of the property, on the alley, the stabling
was converted into slave pen, or "nigger
tail," about 1910, and there were human
chattels confined in the days of slavery.
The fact that the windows were barred
with iron caused the building to be regard
ed as the McGurk JAIL which, long ago.
with the exception of the foundation, dis
appeared.
On lot 6, west Of the hotel property, was
Moses Young in 1917. and later Edward
Judson had 5000 worth Of improvements.
There were the bath houses of Mrs. Pru-
dence Aiken for years, she being assisted
in the management by Miss Caroline Aiken
and to the fact that the baths were well
patroniZed was due the general good health
of that section. On lot Z, adjoining, was
Wm Butler, with $500 improvement in
the twenties. and ]. s. McCubbin had a
lease on part of it and a 500 house. The
latter had prior thereto engaged in the
tavern business on the east side of 9Th
street south of c street, and taken the new
place on c street and provided a billiard
saloon, one of the first in Washington.
There he prospered. in a few years buying
1t and other property in the square.
Pioneer Of Light Infantry.
The business reverted to the daughter
aeter the death of the parents, and, she
becoming the wife of Henry Sweeting, 1t
was continued in his name as the Virginia
House. Mr.. Sweeting was known to all
Washington as the stalwart pioneer of the
old Washington Light Infantry. A man
OF generous, disposition and genial habits
his house was so popular In the old DAYS
that company could always be found there.
Mrs. Sweeting conducted the business few
years after her husbands death, and, mar
rying Levi Humphrey, her neighbor, it was
continued in his name, and the late James
w. Humphrey, hts son. followed him. A
short time before the civil war 1t became
q wine and beer saloon and a popular re-
sort for the German element.
1t wa there In the winter Of 1880 that the
/ LAT 70 mas cfu S,vs