Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-14

Canals Course Changed.

Canals Course Changed.
The course of the canal had been changed
30 as to make bend at B street and 9Th
street. and the improvement of the avenue
front of grading and crawling was effected,
while a sewer was placed In 9TH street to
the canal. In 1888 the owners and the valu-
alton of the property were as follows: C.
Andrews heirs $500 on q twO-story frame
house at 9Th street: John Underwood, G. c.
Grammer, 5000 and John Willis, 81 100 on
lot 1; Willis. 81 800, and Lindsay and ingle
S. 600 on two; Joseph L. Clarke, S, 800 and
Seth Hyatt. So. 500 on three; Bank of United
States. 81 300. and John w. and E. Jones.
$4,000 on four; Cruikshanks heirs, $1,000,
and Thompson's heirs. $1,000: Walter
Clarke, 49, 200, and eter Lenox. 81 900:
Thomas Hughes. $4,000: A. Coyle. 5000; N.
L. Queen, 81. 800: p. Lenox. $1,000. and s.
Bacon, $500; on the subdivision of lot
on the avenue. w. Benning $500: s. Holtz-
500; 8. M. Mackean, $500: J. W. King.
street in the subdivision of lot 6.
In the thirties each of the original lots
had been improved, and most Of them by
two or more buildings, few of which were
less than three stories in height the lower
portions being devoted to business. The
ground at the corner was then valued at
$1.J0 per square foot, and on the avenue at
$1.25 and 81. In 1888 the owners and the
valuations of the buildings were as folows
c. Andrews, 5000 on a two-story frame on
9Th street: ]. Moore. $500: Tucker and
Thompson. $500; John Underwood and G.
c. Grammer. 5000, and John Willis. 81 700
on lot /: Willis heirs. 81 800 and Lindsey
and Ingle. 5000 on lot 2; Joseph l. Clarke,
s., 800. and Seth Hyatt. $500 on lot 3;
Bank Of the United States. $1,000. and ]. W.
& e. Jones. 5000 on lot 4: Cruikshank's
heirs. s. 800. and the Thompson .reIrs.
s.. 600: Walter Clarke. s. 200, and Peter
Lenox. $1,000 on lot s: Thomas Hughes.
$4,000: A. Coyle. 5000: N. L. Queen. 81 500:
8 Bacon. g SEQ: w. Bennins, 800: 8.
Keen. 500: s. NJ MacKean. $500: J. w.
King $780, and r. Brent's heirs. s.. 500 on
7th street In the subdivision Of lots and 7.
Were Established Early.
The firms of Gibbs & Coyie and of os-
burn & Barnes had been established
there. with Samuel Hall. druggist Dr.
Smelton. dentist: G. c. Grammar, liquor
dealer; s. P. Franklin. paper hanger; Sally
Sedwick. milliner: N. B. Keen. tanner. and
Currin A. Hoover & Co.. shoe dealers; E.
Stone, restaurant, In addition to some of
those previously mentioned as being prop
erty owners on the avenue. James Moore
had tavern near 9Th street and McDer-
mott owned property at the corner At 9Th
and B streets was Mr.. Keen's hide house.
afterward conducted by B. s. Kinsey, who
sold out to w. B. Kibbey, later keeping a
leather store on the avenue. On street
near 9Th street two small buildings were
occupied, one by H. Coombs as a grocery
store. and the other by Thomas Turner
At one period In this neighborhood there
lived a family which was regarded as being
parents and children, and
though under suspicion every time a rob-
berry was reported and sometimes under
arrest. positive proof was not forthcom-
ing.
Known as "Cat Tail Row."
Tho 7th street front Of the square south
Of the alley, as before stated, was known |
as Cat Tail Row." Bordering on the alley |
was large three-story brick building In |
front of which was the swinging sign OF |
the Steamboat Hotel" The building be- |
longed to Captain Peter Lenox and in the |
twenties Mr.. Thomas Lloyd established the I
hotel business here which he or his widow |
conducted for some years. John clarvoe
C1arvoe In the thirties conducted a tavern
In the row under the name OF the Trades
Union" which was destroyed by fire, April /
John West. who had ben in the oyster
business In Alexandria and In this city
next was In charge and became a popular
ooniface. Rotund in form and always
liar figure in that section. Being accus-
TONED to sit in one position on the hotel
porch; the public looked upon him as q d
fixture of the premises 1t Is told that an
Did patron Of the house on returning from |
/ five years absence noticed him in his
'avorite position and said to fellow trav-
eler on the coach: There is old West sit
ting the same as FIVE years ago. I wonder
( he has sat there ever since
81 reckon he has," responded the fell
ow traveller, for / hear that this is
'ery slow old town That was. however.
when the gait of Washington's progress |
vas an easy-going one.
Was a Famous Tavern.
Across the alley the south was the
,rocery and tavern of Sam Black. who for
ONE years kept q famous house on Union
treet. In South Washington near the pres Z
mt 9Th street wharf. There were also the