Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-14
CONGRESSMEN BOARDERS
Settlement Of Square Known at 461
Was Rapid.
EXTENDED SOUTH TO TIBER
As Buildings Were Erected Land
Values Steadily Increased-List
of Early Property Owners.

That square Of Washington numbered 461
on the original plan, fronting Pennsylvania
avenue between 9Th and 7th streets, had In
the early days somewhat indefinite lines on
the south. It Is true that there was marked
street, as well as canal. along what is
now B. street. It was then known as Canal
street. But In the early part Of the last
century the canal, which had been pro-
jected several years prior to 1900, had not
materialized. In fact. the time limit given
to the original company had expired, and
the old Tiber was not turned from its course
until about 1924. This stream having de-
scribed from Sd street nearly circle In
its course, flowed northward on the mall
in 9th street. thence over the space where
the Pennsylvania depot is now located and
then coursed westward. The marsh along
the stream reached to the building lines.
and it was not rare that the waters ad-
vanced as far as the avenue.
With the ONCE Of the leading local paper
upon the square. on Pennsylvania avenue
between 9Th and It'll streets. and with MANY
government officials and members of Con-
gress making their homes In the half dozen
or more boarding houses, for many years
that section was the political center with
the market square west and the govern
ment reservation east, 1t was the onlv
square open to settlement between the
and to its position and the fact that a 70.
pious supply Of drinking water was ac-
cessible from the north side of the avenue
may be attributed the rapid Improvement
Of the lots.
"South to the Tiber."
There were seven original lots, all but
one-that at 7th and B streets-hayinR an
avenue front: and though in some 81 the
early maps B or Canal street Is marked on
the south line. In more than one deed early
In the century the description of the lots
reads, south to the Tiber." The records
show that in some lots there were half a
dozen owners as early as 1902. their hold
ings being described as portions of such lot
but with the exception of the Subdivision
into twelve parts of thu two lots on the 7th-
street front by the Wh,tcroft heirs in 1919,
original lots for half century or more.
In 1900 Jacob Snyder and the Arm OF 7.
& C. Flant were the owners OF lot 4. while
John Cruikshank and George Thompson
owned lot 5. On this was erected by them
three fine brick build lgs, which in 1892
were of an assessed value OF $1,000 In the
lot east there were improvements of no
mean character. made. 1t appears. by the
Flants. for deeds mention tho center of the
walls OF their houses. The corner lot at
9th street was bought In by Mr. Lowell in
1900. John Gardiner and Harry Buford hav-
ing leases upon parts. The following year
Mark Stockwell, G. Andl ews and John Will
lis became lessees of portions Of this prop
erty. The latter was ssessed for So 600
and DR.. Willis for $l.6N while Huddle-
stons and Somerville's names appear in the
assessment for $500. George Blount, was.
assessed for $4,000. and II. Somerville had
a lease on this lot in 1902. and building of
the value of s400. Burns heirs were taxed
on lot 3, and James Moore in 1907 was an
owner of lot 1, John Rasse:t in lot 2, and in
1900 Samuel Bacon and George Moore
bought part of lot Z, the southeast corner
of 7th street and Pennsylvania avenue Old
Washingtonians readily recall that here was
Bacon's grocery for more than half a CEN
fury Thissfirm of Bacon & Moore was sue
ceeded in few years by s.. Bacon Then
the sons. Samuel Bacon and Peter f. Ba-
con, becoming of age, Bacon & Co. was the