Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-27

| IN 1917 Col. Bomford became the owner
side. In trust for james L. Cathcart and
others. Col Bomford well known for his
connection with the ordnance department
Of the army, had his residence on ! street
e. zoo John Wells had 800 house on
this square. Capt. Woodside was a we'll
known survivor Of the continental army.
who, with Capt. Cathcart, youthful OFF,
Ger of the navy OF the revolution and CON
sui to Aigiers, resided In she first ward
The ground north of III street between
18th street and Connecticut avenue eighty
years since was valued at 10 cents on the
front and on the other streets as low as
cents. In 1870 the valuation was from 121s
TO 30 cents. In the early days 1t was owned
by the Davidsons, and later. IA 1910. by
Gen. John Breckenridge. Thomas Swami
and Henry Hurt. There were no improve
ments on It for nearly forty years In
1874, however, Daniel Webster, who had
been Secretary of State In the Harrison
Tyler regime bought about two-thirds of
the square. including the corners of III and
l streets on Connecticut avenue. and MI
w. w. Corcorau, the wei-knoWn milton
aire bought few lots, subsequently adding
to his holdings Fine houses were erected
by both Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Corcoran,
they being the sole owners of the square,
and the latter lived there continuously
afterward, while Mr.. Webster occupied his
home there in the fifties.
+ 1t was in the Webster house that the
Ashburton treaty was signed, and more
than one foreign minister has lived there.
In 1854 the house erected by Mr.. Corcoran
was purchased by Thomas Ritchie-"Father
Ritchie"-the nestor of the press, who lived
there some years. 1t need not be said that
Mr. Corcoran spent the latter part Of his
life in the house known by his name, oc-
cupied In recent years by Senator Depew.
The square west of Mr. Corcorans resi-
dence for many years was common.
West of Lafayette square was another
Davidson piece of property which was not
subject to many transfers, In lSZ0 IL was
assessed at 70 cents per foot Nearly we
entire square, in 1915 became the property
of Commodore Stephen Decatur, and the
commodious house at the northeast corner
of the square assessed at 5000 became
his residence. which, unhappily, was for
but short time owing to Decaturs fatal
duel with Commodore Barron In lo2o Dr'
Joseph Lowell, surgeon general or the
army purchased of Mrs. Decatur In the
twenties a lot on the avenue facing the
war Department and erected what became
known as the Blair House, which was as
sessed at $1,000 Here lived smith Thomp-
son for a few years After the death OF
DR. Lowell, Gen Nathan Towson, as ex-
ecutor. sold this property to Francis z:
Blair In 1S4S w. H. Phillip purchased
the southwest corner of the square ana
three years after Alexander Ray the south
east corner building thereon. II. NJ Rice
and afterward Adj. Gen. Towsend lived
there for some years Peter Parker, once
commissioner to China, bought this prop
erty just before the civil war The west
ern norton of the square was the site of
the original Gallery of Art, the building
and lot, with a handsome endowment, be-
ing the gift of Mr.. w. w. Corcoran, in
1855 During the civil war the building
was pressed Into service by the government
for an army clothing depot, which required
the erection of number of frame storage
buildings Some years after the war 1t was
restored to the Corcoran Gallery, and since
the removal OF the gallery to 18th street
and New York avenue 1t has been used by
the government. JAMES CROGIoN.