Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
THE C|TYS INFANCY
Local Conditions a Century Ago
Recalled.
REAL ESTATE VALUATION
Property Then Sold for Almost
Song.
CANAL RAN THROUGH TOWN
Boats Unloaded Lumber Near Present
Site Of Post Office Building
The Early Settlers.

In the early part Of the last century the
Tiber creek, which was under the name OF
the Washington canal. was being walled
but the work had not then reached the
line of 18th street. At this point little
stream flowed into 1t from the north. form
ing a small basin. The north shore was
marshy and the tides and rains made its
lines indefinite. sometimes throwing them
above street. In 1916, when the work was
nearly completed to 18th street, IT was open
ed from that point to the Eastern branch.
In that year the canal company was au-
thorized to construct basin between 10th
and 18th streets, the site OF which Is now
occupied by the wholesale market, and here
was located on the west side of the basin
what was Familiarity known as the 18th
street wharf. lumber yard was estab-
lished on the west of the basin. extending
to 18th street. by Messrs. King and Lang
ley, which in after years was conducted
by Ulysses Ward for long time. with
the consumption of wood for fuel nearby,
timber in demand. furnishing en-
ployment to boat and team. The canal
basin became lumber and wood market.
the business finally extending far along
the banks of the canal.
Ii the thirties there was on c street
the tavern of Jonathan Appfer and the
homes of Hezekfah Langley, T. H. Hooper
and George Gibbons nearby. The yalua-
ton of the ground, which in 1902 was six
cents. had increased TO ten cents per Iool
in 1920.
The shop of H. Aulb & Co. at the canal
! and 18th street in 1920 was assessed for
$3.50 The home of Mrs. jackson, colored.
at 18th and streets. was assessed for the
same amount Mr.. Appler's tavern build
ing was assessed S1,so0. On the corner of
18th and C streets Ingie & Lindsay, hard
ware merchants of Capitol Hill, had
branch building valued at SIoo q. N.
Bayly and William Stewart lived on 18th
street near the Tiber, and Josiah Simpson
resided at 18th street below street.
The square now covered by the post Of
flee building was valued at cents per foot
in 1902 and had appreciated to double that
amount in 1920. In 1904 Masonic hail.
valued at 81, 200 was erected on part of lot
123 by 80 feet for which $40 was paid by
Federal and Columbia lodges. This was
used by them and other lodges till 1926,
when the hall at Az and D streets, opposite
the city hall, became the headquarters of
the fraternity. The old structure was long
after used by the Washington Library and
public schools and coiored Odd Fellows
standing till the land was condemned tor
the post office. About 1905 besides the Ma
sonic hall there were on the square the
properties of George Moore assessed for
500; VIM. Fletcher, $500; j. Anderson
$3.50; John Sessford. $3.50; P. Deary,
$500, and w. Fitzgerald. $140. In 1884 the
valuations were: Masonic lodge. $500;
properties of John Sessford, $3.50; Thomas
Given, 81 GOO; G. Moore. $500; ]. P. Stewart.
$3.50; D. Killer, 81, 300; r. Coyle, 81, 800; p.
Ieeary. xl,xuU, J0nn OeSSIOTC, COW, w.
Stewart, $3.50; ]. Withers, LOO, and L. II.
Mcpherson, $50.
Original Property Owners.
The corner of 18th street and Pennsylva-
MIA avenue later in the thirties was owned
by VIM. J. Stone. and here were the build
ings of Jacob Hilbus. organ builder, who
founded the house of Hilbus & Hitz, now
represented by e. F. Dropp g. Sons: Theo-
dore Barnard, printer. Edwin Green. cab
met maker: p. Emmerfch, who conducted
the European Hotel; The Evening Star. for
number of years. and Cooper & Latfmer,
auctioneers.
The square the southeast corner of which
Is occupied by The Evening Star and the
southwest corner by the Raleigh Hotel was
an important one in the infancy of the
city. There were but two lots fronting the
avenue and but fourteen on the four sides.
but subdivision of lots and 3, now COW
cred by the Raleigh. was made by John
McCleiland in 1911 into lots to y, The
municipal valuation of the ground was II
cents per foot at the start, but It reached
40 cents In the 20s. Where The Star is
now located was part of lot 1. with which
the names OF William Lowell Albert Joy,
BENJAMIN Stoddert Thomas Given and
william Thompson were associated In 1901.
The entire square was included in the lots
of Morris and Nicholson. from whose pos
session they went by their default to COM
ply with the terms of purchase. It Is shown
that In 16O2 William Thompson was taxed
on a valuation OF $1,000 for improvements.
which i've years later are charged to Al
bert JOY and Mr.. Given wis assessed $50
The Thompson property was 2 frame
structure on part OF the lot west OF The
star building. At the Same period the
washington Building Company WAS asseas-
ed 81 500 on three brick buildings on lot 4,
went into possession Of washington Boyd
then marshal Of the District. and he lived
here many years.. The two others were
n<~f4< al usosTw