Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13

christ, near Mr.. O'Neales dwelling, was
vacant
The requirement Of a roadway to the
then only public burial ground east of
ROCK creek in that section, established in
1897. necessitated the opening of Goth and
list streets by the corporation. It may
be said that this opening consisted simply
OF cutting a wagon road
By 1920 there had been some changes of
the property in this square as to owners
and values.
After the war of 1912 the property in the
west END OF the square was greatly i'm
proved by Mr.. O'Neale. His frame hotel
had become favorte resort for promt-
nent people of the south, Senator Williams
and Representatives Claiborne, Hogg. Mari
and Rhea of Tennessee being among his
earliest guests, and afterWard came Gen
Andrew Jackson, Gen. Eaton and others
Mr.. ONeale was popular not only because
of his personality but because of his in
teresting family.
x
1t was about 1923 that the Franklin
House, at the corner Of 21st street. passed
from Mr.. O'Neale into the hands of Mr..
John Gadsby, who had been engaged in
the business in Alexandria and Baltimore,
and for seven years he conducted it. The
National Hotel Company, having In 1928
completed the hosiery at 9th street and
pennsylvania avenue, Mr.. Gadsby was in
duced to take its management, and pre-
sided there a number of years. The old
FRANKLIN House was then converted into
spacious dwellings, and has since been
known as Gadsby's or McBIair's row, and
the descendants of Mr.. Gadsby-the family
OF the late John H. McBlair still live there
Baron Stackelberg, the Swedish minister
MRS. Commodore Patterson, R. K. Meade
rather or General and of Admiral Meade
have also lived In the row.
Mr.. ONeale, on vacating the Franklin
House, went back to his original tavern.
or hotel. at 20oS. which he conducted to
the day of his death In 1887. His widow.
Mrs. Rhoda O'Neale, continued the bust
ness until she died In 1860 at the age of
ninety years.
There were living on this square in the
twenties Sir Stratford Claiming. the Brit
lsh minister, and afterward Sir Charles
vaughn, who succeeded him, their resi-
dence being the house later occupied by
Frank Marcoe of the State Department.
which included No. 2020, owned by Owen
o Hare for fifty years or more Robert J
Walker. Senator and Secretary of the
Treasury; Gen. Eaton, Secretary of War:
Rev. DR.. Smith Pyne, rector of st
Johns; Major Graham. Gen. J. G. Totten.
Col. ]. j. Albert, j, S. Chiffon Commodore
ramsey, Thomas P. Morgan, Commodore
Isaac Chauncey, Rev. C. A. Davis. Frank
Marcoe and George Rhinehart also lived
IN this square in the early days. Behind
these houses there was quite descent In
the grade, and with the exception of some
small habitations northward, occupied
mostly by colored people and slaughter
houses, near Slash run, little Improvement
was seen down to war times The rear
view Of the lots fronting street for long
time showed a dumping ground.
The square south of I street between
Goth and 21st streets was valued at s
cents per foot in the beginning of the CEN
fury. as compared to 25 cents a foot for
land in the square opposite. There was
however, some early settlement in this
square. A few OF the lots on the I street
front had been sold prior to 1900, and there
was some Improvement. On this front Sam
uel Wilson was assessed $780, Thomas Will
son. 500; Samuel Hardness. 800: Joseph
Carlow, $3.50; Phillip Williams, s1o0; DAN
lei Bussard, $780, About 1920 C. and M.
Hines had property at the corner, the we'll
known grocery kept i them for years and
afterward conducted by Samuel Stott. Then
1t was valued at 5000. John Hines paid
800 on property southwest of Hines gro
Gerry. Mary Thompson. $500; Richard Ar
draN 500; John Potts. 500; s. Hardness.
$3.50; Jeremiah Hunt, $500; Samuel john
son. $3.50. Some of the early residents were
Jacob Colclazer, long blacksmith at 2lst
Random. John Potts, II. Barnes. 8. Holmes
w. Langton, Nathan Moore N Funk, va
rIety store, and James Wise, wheelwright.
JAMES CROGGON.