Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
HUNDRED YEARS AGO
=
Early History Of City Squares
South of Avenue.
BoRDERED ON TIBER CREEK
Section Now Scene of Great Business
Activity.
VALUATIONS IN EARLY PERIOD
Some Of the Residents and Their Oc-
cupations-Gradual Rise in
Ground Values.

cupations-Gradual Rise in
Ground Values.
That section Of Washington south Of
Pennsylvania avenue between 9th and 10th
streets. which. 100 years ago, bordered
Tiber creek. now the scene Of business ac-
tivity, was for many years difficult to de-
scribe. Indeed, most of these squares were
for a third of century partly covered by
water at times. and were made up so much
Of marsh land that it was difficult to de-
1ineate what was suitable for settlement
This swamp land bordering the Tiber did
not even approximate firm land till the
center Of c street was reached.
1t was about this point that what became
known as Sluice run united with the waters
from Franklin Square and were merged
with those of the Tiber. When the waters
of the latter stream flowed into the canal,
which was opened before 1920, the adjacent
ground was drained and utilized. That 1t
was not very inviting section for resi-
Dental purposes is apparent, for few and
far between were the eligible places for
houses. These were off the lines of the
avenue and on 10th street, north of street.
Indeed, with the run. which until 1908 was
crossed by fording. but was later spanned
by a simple wooden bridge, and with little
improved roadway. there was not much to
Invite settlement and improvement until the
establishment of the Center, or Marsh,
market in 1902. Before this was author
lied and when there was uncertainty of the
completion of the canal which was to sup
ply drainage, few optimistic people had
made homes for themselves. And as the
md south lCy roo H..
ings+ and business places appeared. When
In 1916 the canal was opened to navigation
much wood and produce was brought here
by boats. Schooners sloops and longboats
were used in the trade and much of the
adjacent ground was given to wood yards.
Bordering Pennsylvania Avenue.
The square bordering Pennsylvania ave-
nue. plated for but six original lots,
and these running from avenue to street.
excepting that at the southwest corner Of
the square had avenue frontage, but later
they were subdivided. OF that at the
northwest corner Of the square, in about
the year 1901 James Ford, A. Robertson
and James Charlton were part owners, and
in the year following Zach Ferrel was
located there. Messrs. Ford, Robertson and
Ferrel were in the original listing of prop
erty in 1902 charged for improvements $780,
5000 and $500, respectively, those of Robert
5000 by 1907. About this time the ground in
the square had been reduced from II to 8
cents per foot Though no improvements
were charged to Mr.. Charlton. it is known
that before the war of 1912 he had a
grocery store at or near the corner of 10th
street. and there is tradition that there
were times when rivermen ,rowed their
boats under the store. which was on piles.
They entered through the floor to make
their purchases
Mr. John Hereford purchased lots 2 and
3.bordering on Suice run, in 1902 and there
established a brewery, the building being
81 200. This was the scene. Of a fire in
February, 1915. the loss being between
s., 600 and $1,000 Thomas Bates after this
carried on soap and candle factory here
G street east Of It'll street. where for half
a century as Bates & Son and Bates & Bro.
the business was continued.
s,- Valuation Increases.
By 1924 the ground had greatly appreci-
ated in value. so cents per foot being the
basis. Capt Peter Lenox had brick build
ing at the corner of 9th street valued at
$500. in which Michael Shanks was then
carrying on the china, glass and crockery
business. Westward was the residence and
grocery of Mrs. Cana, widow of Francis
Cana, who established the business, as
sessed at 81, 800; Christian Buchly, father of
an undertaken we'll known in after years.
was assessed for $500 on his dwelling and
confectionery store: two brick dwellings be-
longing to Alexander Kerr of the Bank of
Metropolis, assessed at $500 each: one to
John Quincy Adams of $2.1O0 value. in
which Robert Eastman. carpenter. lived,
having his shop on G street, and Mrs. East
mans millinery establishment. Mr.. Ford
property had appreciated to $3.50. Mr.. Fer
rers to 81 900 and Mr.. Robertson's to $3.50.
Besides those named above there were then
Tnhr C1rnn fYopv r,lfa
and temperance advocate; Maria Byrne, a
milliner, who bought property about this
time at the corner of 10Th street: William
Douglas a carpenter; Joseph Ward tailor;
Thomas Warner a shoemaker; Mrs. Doug
las, dressmaker. and Mrs. Tay.or, who
kept a boarding house at 9th street.
: In August. 1920. house in the course Of
erection the 10Th street side OF the
square was destroyed by fire.
Further Improvement Noted.
In 1888 there was still further improve
ment Capt. Lenox had replaced his $500
property at 9th street by buildings assessed
at $4,000. and the basis for taxation on
the ground was from 60 to IS cents per foot.
John Quincy Adams assessment was $500;
Mr. Kerr, So 800 on each of two houses;
Cana's heirs, $3.50; Mr.. Charlton. $500;
Mr. Buchly. $500; John McNerhany, $500;
Capt. Lenox's buildings on 10th and Z
streets. $1,000 Hereford's heirs. 5000; Mr.:
Z
Maria Byrre, at 10th and the avenue,
81 600 In this decade Mrs Byrne and Mrs.
Hamilton were milliners here, and Column
bus Alexander and Samuel Stellinus had &C
quired ground here. Later Lemuel J. Mid
dleton, the popular commander of the Ma
tional Blues, was at the 9th street corner
as a grocer and James STRIVING, dealer in
stoves etc, at the 10th street corner, where,
in the forties, Thomas L. Potter established
q grocery.
On the north side of the avenue dress
goods were to be found by the ladies, and
the south side furnished the bonnets and
trimmings in the forties and fifties; in
fact, here was a settlement of miliners
and dressmakers. Among the mlliners re-
called are Mrs. Lucretia Allen, Mrs Nor
rell, Mrs. E. Lamphier, Mrs. E. Sexsmith,
and afterward Mrs. E. NJ Lowe, who also
kept embroideries and trimmings. The
dressmakers included Mrs. Douglas, Miss
A. NJ. Clarke and Mrs. Owner, on the ave-
nue.. and on 10th street were Mrs. r. Best
ard Mrs. Poulton; at the corner of 10th
and C streets was Mrs. Barker, who con-
Quoted a bonnet bleachery. There were
also on the avenue L. J. Denham's dyeing
establishment, and William Unified anu