Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-12
SQUARES OF INTEREST
Section Fronting on 9th Street
in Early Days.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Near the Course Of Sluice Run to
Tiber Creek.
AN INFLUENTIAL LOCALITY
Some Of the Improvements and
Amounts Of Assessments
Of Property Owners.

There are few more interesting squares of
ground in Washington than are those lying
north Of e street between 9th and 10th
streets northwest, either from geograph-
ical, historical or business standpoint. 1t
was from near H street that Sluice Run
coursed to the Tiber and through the cul-
vert at F street the negro Snow made his
escape from the mob in 1885, after having,
it was alleged made an insulting remark
in the market rejecting on the characters
of the ladies of Washington. Herring were
dipped and other fish caught by the pioneer
residents at the culvert mentioned.
Father Caffray gathered small number
of Catholics before the year 1900, which
has become the large congregation now In
charge of Father Stafford, and churches Of
other denominations were formed In the
vicinity. More than one newspaper was
published in the same locality, Hewitt S
Register and the Columbian Star among
them. Some historical houses were erect
ed and by reason of the Medical College.
the City Orphan Asylum, semharies and
schools, it has proved to be an influential
locality, not the least interesting fact being
that the medical college of Georgetown
University is located today on the site Of
the Washington City Orphan Asylum over
which Mrs. Van Ness (Marcia Burns) pre-
sided. Nearby was the Burns graveyard.
and here was erected after the death of
Mrs. Van Ness, in the twenties, a fine
mausoleun which was an object OF interest
for years.
First Valuation Of the Ground.
When the old corporation came into be-
ing in 1892 the first valuation of the ground
seldom required more than one figure in the
cent column and for improvements, not
more than three in the dollars column; and
these in five years were reduced. Between
e and F streets the original ground rate, Z
cents was reduced to cents. F and G, g
cents, cut to 3; G to H, to cents, re-
duced to l to 4; H and streets, cents
cut to / and about New York avenue 1
cent reduced to one-fourth of cent. I'm
1924 between E and F streets the ground
value was to 20 cents; between F and e
streets 5 to 20 cents; between q and II
2 cents.
Possibly the first Improvement in the
section in question was that on lot 1 at
the northwest corner of 9th and E streets,
of which John Croker became the owner
in 1891 A few years later he was taxed
S., 600 for improvements. 1t was there
that the general post Office, upon the oc-
casion of the removal of the government
offices here in 1900, found temporary quar-
tiers. James Mccormick was located on
into possession of it about 1915, and 1t was
noted as social as well as a political
center. Mr.. Gales, as the senior editor
of the Intelligencer, being an important
parsonage in the political circles of that
day: and Mrs. Gales, as an entertaining
hostess, was prominent in the fashionable
society Mr.. and Mrs. Gales resided at
9th and E streets until the thirties, when
they removed to the section now known
as lexington: Father Matthews of st.
hoy, n
erty Later 1t was used by Mrs. Burr as
a young ladies' seminary, and as board
ing house, conducted by Mrs. M. A. Ban
herman and others.
Some of the Owners.
Joseph Middleton and George Kleiber
owned lots and on street in 1900, the
former being assessed for $780, and the
latter for $500, in 1907. Charles Cist &C
uuired part Of lot in 1901, on which in
1907 he was assessed $4,000, on three brick
houses. In 1911 the names Of E. Mac
Daniel. A. Brady and Phineas Bradley
were associated with this lot. In 1904 C..
B. Davis, treasury messenger, owned
part of lot 5, and the following year part
of lot 6, and his house in 1926 was valued
at 5000. and that of John Frank, long
a tax collector, $500. Rev. Obadiah Brown
owned lot 7 on e street in 1917. In 1924
two houses valued at $1,750 and printing
Office were held for the Baptist general
convention on part OF lot on + street,
and in 1927 Duff Green had parts Of lots
and and lot 8, the latter fronting on
10th street On the lots mentioned Samuel
Clokey was located. He bought lot IL
in 1900 and built on part of 1t house
at first valued at $500, and at $500 In 1897.
Thos. McMinn who bought the same year,
was assessed on $50. On the street front
VIM. Mackey bought in 1895 and his I'M
proyements, valued at 5000. were increased
to $500 in 1907 Ben worth on Of
ments. Mr. Bell was in the general post
Office Thady Hogan, contracting brick
LAYER bought part of lot II, on + street, In
1905 and paid taxes on $500 house, but in
1894 he was paying taxes on 81, 800. John
Gardener settled on lot IS In 1919, and in
1924 had $500 worth Of improvements. Rob-
ert Ellis in 1917 was on lot r. the present
Washington Loan and Trust Company's
corner, as was Thomas Bittinger. The for
mer in 1924 was taxed on a s., 600 improve
ment Samuel Speak took lease In 1890
on part of the lot and X. Galiiher ana .. Z.
Maxwell had leases on 9th street lots.
George King owned part Of the lot midway
between E and F streets on 9th street. orig
inally bought by Green & English In 1921,
and had improvements valued at So, 900.
John Laird was the early owner of lots at
10th and streets, but later G. Andrews,
G. C. Grammer and others became the
owners Ignatius Mudd, a carpenter; John
|
located there In the twenties. Mr.. Mudd
was assessed 81, 900 for improvements. Mr..
Burch $500 and Mr.. Speake's heirs $500.
Henry Ault, timer: Thomas B. Kelly and
Thomas Stanley master painter. bought
on 9th street in the twenties.
Agreement Recorded.
An agreement was recorded in 1927 recit-
ing that Thomas Sewall, ]. M. Stoughton,
g. Henderson, N. w. Worthington, Fred
Nov she hn1d ~,
trust part of lot 8. corner 10th and e
streets, for medical college r. B. Clokey
in 1929 bought part Of lot II on 10th street.
In 1884 part of lot on 10th street was
leased to Duff Green. The three houses
erected by Mr.. Cist appear in 1888 in the
name of Richard Smith, one of them being
designated as the Columbian.
Those who resided on the square In ques-
ton about 1920 included Mrs. Alice Hep
burn, Robert Ellis, tallow chandler on
9th street; John Green and Mrs. Speake,
on 10th street; Bridget King, Rezen Orme,