Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15
"A DOWNTOWN SQUARE
Names of Property Owners in
Early Days of City.
VALUATION OF THE GROUND
Pennsylvania Avenue Possessed No
Attractions.
FOOT PAVEMENT ON NORTH SIDE
Supply of Water Mainly From Springs
Trend of Improvements-Re-
garding "Rum Row."
FOOT PAVEMENT ON NORTH SIDE

An idea Of the appearance of that por-
tion of the city skirting Pennsylvania ave-
nue. between 18th and 18th streets as to its
ancient topography, may be obtained from
a. glance up the present steep ascent of 18th
street. When taken In connection with the
fact that in the early days the avenue pos
sessed little attraction for travel, the popu-
larity of F street as thoroughfare Is ex-
planned. Little or no work had been done
by the nation or city beyond the curb line,
and the laying of foot pavements being at
the cost of the owners of abutting prop
erty. facilities for pedestrians largely de-
pended on them The north side of the
avenue early had foot pavement, but 1t
was not until 1924 that the south side was
provided with walk by Congress. The
government reservations then extending
from the Capitol to 9th street, with the
smaller areas, more than. half the cost was
chargeable to the government
The supply of water was mainly from the
springs in the neighborhood of 18th and K
streets, from which wooden logs conveyed
the fluid from about 1910 until about 1926
when the corporation substituted to some
extent iron pipes. While the Presidents
house and the public offices received their
supply by way of New York avenue the
city pipes were laid in 18th street, and in
1924 a pipe was laid westward in F street
to 18th street.
That the trend of improvement was north
ward is clearly shown by record, but before
1880 the two triangular spaces north and
south of the avenue had come into USE In
that at 18th street circular frame build
Ing housed a museum of natural history
and quaint and curious objects, and before
D0rfOrmhd there
weeks The area figured often in political
campaigns as the scene of outdoor meet
ings of the democracy. On the corner of
18th and Z streets fire engine was To-
Gated for a time prior to the location of the
Franklin Fire Company on the correspond
ing space at 18th and streets in 1923.
The house of the Franklin company was
noted as the headquarters of the Freemens
Vigilant Total Abstinence Society, which
was a result of the efforts of Rev. Father
Matthews and in which the leading spirits
were Squire Clark, George Savage and
others. 1t was long the meeting room of
the Union Debating Society, the leading or
ganization of it's kind sixty years ago.
Built in 1898 1t was used till 1857, when the
reservations on the avenue were cleared.
Eight Cents Per Foot.
In the square north of e street between
18th and 18th streets In 1902 the valuation
was s cents per foot, and then on the E
street or avenue front there were only two
improvements. c. McDermott Roe, who
bought at the sale of 1892, was assessed
$500 on lot 1. at the corner of 18th street,
and Cornelius Mclean for $50 on lot s,
near the corner of 18th street. On the east
side of 18th street were the houses of
Thomas Tuptil, valued at $500, and Robert
Ellis at 5000, while at the corner was the
81, 600 residence of Richard Forest, now in
cluded in the site of the Ebbitt House. A
vacant lot adjoined on the east and then
q hnnSa
son. valued at 81 900, and another house
assessed at $500 With this property the
right to the use of the smokehouSe and
dairy on an adjoining lot is carried by the
deed and is good evidence that raising of
swine and cows was in vogue. Colin Will
hanson had the adjoining half lot with
$500 house, but in few years 1t stood in
the name of Sally Wheaton with $4,000
worth of improvements. Two vacant lots
were eastward, and then was noted the
property of James Dougherty, a tavern,
first assessed at $3.50, then for $500. George
BetZ, with a 500 Improvement which
passed to E. Fennel and was reduced to
$500, came next Adjoining, ]. Bentley had
a 500 house, which passed to j. Davidson.
On part of lot 81 Morris Lambert had an
$500 house. The frame shop of c. McDer-
mott Roe, worth 500, interviewed. and on
the lot at the corner of 18th street was the
house of Thomas Thorpe, valued at $500,
Ter of the value of $500 each. Mr.. Thorpes
valuation five years later was 1900 John
Wilson in 1903 bought the corner. and Mr..
Roe a brick house on 18th street south of
the corner.
An Avenue Corner.
In the 2Vs the corner of 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, which had been
bought by Col. Richard Cults, was assessed
at 25 cents per square foot and other por-
tons down to 20 cents. Mr.. Cults was then
assessed for 5000 of improvements. The
Avenue was looking up" having a $1,000
Improvement belonging to William 0'Neale,
one Of $3.50 to A. Harper on the corner of
18th street: one to Noah Stinchcomb. next
west of Mr.. O'Neale Then three vacant
lots appeared, and then was seen the 81 600
house of f. Reitz and Cornelius McLeans
property valued at $500. On 14th street.
midway of the square. was 5000 improve
ments belonging to Mr.. Mclean, and q
smaller house, the property of William
Blanchard, valued at $3.50. The latter also
owned two-story brick built by Mr.. Nc
Lean. Mr.. Forrest was at the corner.
Thomas Triplet was F street with a $3.50
improvement. Christopher Cummins next
with $500, Mrs. Wheaton with 81, 800 and
J. A. Wilson with $3.50. On the Doughetry
lot was w Bowling. assessed SLIGO for
tavern; A. Joncharezs heirs, 500. and Mrs
Dougherty, $500 for a tavern. l. G. Hutton
was assessed on 50, 500 on lot 21; II. John
ston. $3.50 on lot 20; G. Miller was assess
ed 81 500: f. Delaney. 81 500; J. A. Wilson
S27o0. On this street Joseph Walker paid
on Sa,400, Thomas Williams on $1,000 and
Mrs. Dougherty on $500.
The land on the square north was of the
value of or cents per foot originally, but
In twenty years was rated at from 20 to IS
cents per foot. Before the year 1900 the
lots on the street front were taken up,
J. Ardry getting the corner OF 18th street
and Thomas Webb that on 18th street.
Walter HELEN was next to Mr.. Ardry j. r.
Dermott owned lots 8 and 8, Thomas John
SON. jr;. lot e. John Templeman lot O. s.