Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-17
DEVELOPED VERY SLOWLY
Stores on Seventh Street Attracted
Country Trade.
PURCHASE OF LOT IN YEAR 1899
Names Of Many Of the Long-Ago Bust
ness Men-Transfers of
Realty.


-ington lying north Of an avenue unnamed,
as Louisiana avenue was then referred to
on the plats, and east of 7th street and
west of 9Th street, developed slowly. The
former street before 1925 showed some signs
of its future business, there being a few
stores south of e street. which, with lines
of feed and groceries, attracted the coun-
try trade passing down that thoroughfare
from Montgomery county to the market
Taverns furnished accommodations for
man and beast.
Though Morris & Nicholson, James
Greenleaf. the Pollocks, Uriah Forrest and
others who, in other parts Of Washington,
had shown their hands in developing prop
erty, had interests in the particular sec
ton in question, they left evidence of
1t. The proximity of Blogett's Hotel, after
ward the Post Office Department.; the ex-
pectation that 9TH. street would become
business thoroughfare and the convenience
of the principal market doubtless helped
this development Of the neghborhood in
the days of our grandfathers, slowly
though 1T became settled.
The location of the Post Office Department
northward about 1911, the proposed erection
of the city hall eastward, with the prox-
unity of the market, doubtless affected the
square known as 45 between Louisiana ave-
enue and D street, 9Th and 7th streets, but
the century was well in its teens before
Improvement was seen. In the early plats
exception of that at the southeast corner
of 7th and D streets, all of them fronted on
Louisiana avenue and D street and that
at the east end of the square faced 9th
street also. In the partition between Burns,
the proprietor, and the government each
took four lots
Settlement Was Slow.
AS will be seen the progress in settlement
was slow, no improvements being listed in
ha txuo orlx tn, Lot x
midway between 9Th and 7th streets, was in
the name of A. Van Mannerck, and two
years later John Laird had the adjoining
lot on the east. At that time the ground
was valued at cents per foot, excepting
lot 6 at the corner of Louisiana avenue
and 7th street, which was listed at 10
cents. In 1907 Andrew Undo bought lots
l, and 3, and in 1910 he transferred them
to George Andrews and Mich. King In 1913
lots 1 and 2 went to E. Gordon and two
years later to William Hunt John PeIz
bought in lot l, and one portion went to
man named Young. Letitia King and 9TH
ers, having obtained lots and in 1900
as heirs of Whetcroft, a subdivision into
twelve parts was made in 1872 and parti-
tion made. Sub was on the corner of
7th street and Louisiana avenue, and T. 3,
2 and 1 on the latter, while the remaining
seven were on 9TH street, No. IL being at
D street In 1916 Samuel Elliott and w. A
u,
later sold to E. Rice; in 1917 Ingle &
Lindsey bought near the east end Of the
square, James M. Varnum on Louisiana
avenue; in 1913 Andrew Tate bought on
adjoining property buying later, and Ed
ward De Kraft bought sublot 6, the north
east corner of 7th street and Louisiana
avenue.
The records of 1925 show that the ground
had appreciated from 20 to 60 cents per
foot, and a number of improvements had
been made. On lots l and 2 there was as
sessed $1,000 to John Brannan, $4,000 to
Ingle & Lindsey, and 81, 800 and 81, 400 to
William Hunt; lot 3. $500 to ]. M. VAR
mum and $3.50 to John Larcombe; lot 4, A.
Tate, 100 and $50; A. Van Mannerck, lot
5. $1,000; A. Kerr, $1,000; T. Rice, 81 900, and
E. Rice lot 6, s.. 400. E. De Kraft, and
81 .O00 j. c. Shindle; lot Z, $3.50, ]. Germans
heirs, $3.50 r. Drane. and s., 400 Raphael
Jones.
Well-Known Boarding House.
Mr.. Hunt was bookbinder, having his
place of business D street and his resi-
dence on Louisiana avenue, and the father
Of Mr.. John Hunt, long employed at the
Capitol. For many years after the death
of the father the residence was under the
of Mrs. Hunt, who conducted
a boarding house Of note; and from 1916
for more than fifty years, some of the
family lived there. Mr.. Larcombe was one
numerous family, of which John Larcombe,
long connected with the government print
ing office, and others well known in the
building trades, were members. Like the
Hunt residence. the Larcombe home became
q boarding house, and afterward the sons
found homes in West and SouthWashington
The old house on D street was the family
home until the fifties. Andrew Tate, whose
residence was on d street, was for long
time a post Office clerk, and the family
lived there about half century. Capt
Joseph B. Tate, a son, was prominent In
affairs, being at one time conf
He was an old-time printer, started the
paper in 1852 which today is The Evening
and Sunday Star The old residence stood
many years on the site of what was Beck's
saloon. In the twenties John D. Boteger,
father Of former Police Lieutenant Boteler,
was in business as gunsmith at what is
now No. 624 d street, and about 1924 erected
a dwelling.
MI. Varnum's holdings on Louisiana ave.
nue. were long In the family and several
years ago were improved by block Of
business houses. At the corner of 7th
street and Louisiana avenue Edward De
Kraft established printing Office and book
bindery. In the thirties James Hosier had
a grocery at this corner. which later was
ODER & Ryon's. Richard Drain, at the cor
ner Of 7th and D streets kept a grocery,
which later passed into the hands Of John
A. Donoho. and from about 1880 to the
sos it was a leading establishment. Par
public occasions the proprietor made things
lively with drummer and fifer playing
patriotic or political airs. About 1920 Mr.
Solomon Drew, for many years a leading
merchant tailor, came here from Alexan-
dria and took a large three-story brick on
the east side of 7th street and there es-
tablished the Columbian Tavern and gen
tlemen travellers" were informed that he
could accommodate them with good beds
and boarding and dinners dressed at the
shortest notice. Mr.. Drew, after few
years. settled in the square south, where
he carried on tailoring for many years.
The Columbian was afterward conducted
by Robert Berry for several years. In the
forties VIM. Samuels was the boniface In
the twenties there YVES tavern on Louis
lana avenue kept by Mrs. Eliza Barry.
In the thirties 81 per foot was the valua-
ton at the corner OF 7th street and Louis
lana avenue: 90 cents at 7th and d
streets. 30 cents on 7th street and other
fronts at % and 80 cents. The assessed
valuation of improvements was: Lots and
2, Brannans heirs. $1,000: Hunts heirs,
1900; Ingle 81 Lindsey, $4,000; Hunts heirs,
81, 5O0 John Larcombe. $500; lot 4 Var
NUNS heirs. $500; Tate's heirs, 81 100;
lots 6 and I. subs 1 to IL. ]. McCutcheon,
SO, 500 A. Kerr, LEGO; j. c. Shindle 50 200;
on Louisiana avenue, E. De Kraft at the
corner of Louisiana avenue and 7th street.
So. 400; e. Rice. $1,000 and 50. 500; A. Kerr, i
81 100: Raphael Jones. 81 400 A Kerr