Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20

er's Church" of a later period. When these
names applied there was not In the widest
agination. an idea that such building
would ever grace this spot
At the beginning of the last century,
when there was but one lodge In the city,
Federal. No. 1, and that working under
the Grand Lodge Of Maryland, what is now
to become the Masonic center of the Dis
trict would have made fit subject for an
artist whose forte was country scenery. A
stream of water meandered down 18th to
point south of H street, then turned
eastward and from east of 10th street to-
ward the old Tiber creek. A knoll, which
included the southwest corner Of 18th and
H streets. denuded of Its trees save seven
noble oaks overlooked the stream, hence
the name Seven Oaks
Some of the street beds had been cleared
of trees and plants sufficiently for limited
USE and prior to the twenties- but few i'm
provements could be seem Northward the
land had gentle rise to south of X street,
when the hill arose, on which Franklin row
now stands. A story and a half frame
set BACK in garden at the southeast cor
ner of 18th and L streets was known as
Ddvidson's and from a spring here the
water flowed down 18th street, taking in
the waters from springs on Franklin cquare
and the street.
BY 1890 there was an improvement on the
18th and 18th streets, Mr.. s. Siousa erecting
a dwelling, assessed at 500. the ground be-
ing valued at cents per foot. Southwark
facing the temple site were then small
houses owned and occupied by David Jones,
Betsey Fletcher and Joseph Calder, as
sessed respectively $40, $50 and $780, At
the corner of 18th and G streets were the
homes of Samuel Clokey and William Her
ron each dwelling two-story frames, valued
at 500 each There were few houses on
ctr ha Lewis.
near 18th street. Walter Steward at the
southwest corner of 18th street. and Rev.
Daniel Baker in one of three two-story
bricks on 18th street north of street.
Site Of Church.
Directly west and on a similarly shaped
site was the then new Second Pres
byterian Church, popularity "Parson Bak-
er's." This congregation is now the New
York Avenue Church, but the edif1ce then
was small chapel. West of the church was
Thomas Snowden. One cent per foot was
the corporation valuation of the ground.
On the south side of New York avenue
were two three two-story brick houses,
owned by John McClelland, who lived in
one of them. The Foundry meeting house,
on the present site of the Colorado build
ing, was the name of the Foundry NJ. E.
Church at that day.
The ground In this square was valued at
3 cents per foot, and held by Davidson
heirs, r. Harrison. D. Bussard, b. Fen
wicks' heirs. E. Dimmick and others There
had been but little Improvement.
The square where the temple will be
erected was in the early days held in the
name of John Davidson and assessed at
cents per foot. The fact that 1t was stu
ated north of the stream referred to and
a portion OF 1t low ground, doubtless pre-
vented the early sale Of lots there. H. II.
Chapman appears to have owned lots 10
and II on 18th street, between H street and
New York avenue in 1903. when they were
transferred to Thomas Snowden. and there
do not appear to have been any improve
ments till in the twenties.
In 1922 there was lease made by Mrs.
Chapman of lots 4 and 8, the west end OF
c street between 18th and 18th streets. This
lease was assigned by him to Mr.. George
Cover few months after, and he subse-
quently acquired full title. 1t included the
whole New York avenue front of the square
In 1890 lots on 18th street were held by
c. +. Wood and Joseph Bryan. carpenters,
and in 1893 the corner of 18th and H
streets, was bought by George w. Stewart,
who established a grocery liquor and feed
store. to which, after purchasing other lots.
he added a wagon yard. which in the forties
was a leading establishment of the kind.
Others who were interested In the square
were Charles l.. Coltman. Andrew Small,
Lambert Tree and John Coburn.
There was lanyard there for nearly
half century-the watts heing supplied by
the waters from the stream before men,
toned. the lower part of which. in after
years, was known as Sluice run. 1t was
long under the management of Daniel
Cover Mr.. George Cover soon after erect
ed row OF brick dwellings on New York
avenue, which was known by his mare.
The tannery was an object of interest. espe-
cialiy to the boys of that day, and soon
Covers lanyard" helped to dasianate the