Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24
NEAR OLD POST OFFICE
Development Anterior to Teens
of Last Century.
GREAT HOTEL OF BLODGETT
Little Building Done Until After the
War of 1912.
LARGE INFLUX OF MECHANICS
Unobstructed View of Alexandria
From the Intersection Of 7th
and E Streets.

In the square of ground east of the old
post Office building, now occupied by the
general land Office, there was little develop
nent anterior to the teens of the last cen
| tury. The location of the Great Hotel of
Blodgett, which in 1911 was taken by the
government and fitted up for the post
Office, with the general store of Kidd, ELL!
OFT & Co. directly opposite the main en-
trance on E street, about 1900 should have
induced early settlement of adjacent
squares. Though the corner stone of the
hotel building was laid July T. 1893, 1t was
not finished till the government bought 1t
In 1911, and the square did not show ma
terial progress for several years there
after. Some of the prominent real estate
operators had prior to 1900 become inter-
ested, but If they planned buildings on
the square under discussion there is no
evidence of the fact obtanable. Indeed.
little or nothing was done in the building
line until after the war of 1912.
There is record that the lot at the south
east corner of the square passed to Alex
ander Kerr. as also lot on E street be-
tween 9Th and 7th streets in 1899, $3.50
worth of improvements being charged for
on lot and $3.50 on lot in the initial as
sessment of 1903. The ground in the
twentyfour lots of this square was then
rated at cents per foot but reduced to
below cents. In 1912 the four lots on E
street and one on 9th street gave the east
half of the south frontage and south half
of the east frontage to Noah Fletcher of
the clerks office of the House of Repre-
sentatives. This property was improved by
him, three-storied double brick house be-
ing standing yet. While in the occupancy
of Mr.. Fletcher number of members of
Congress made their homes with him dur
ing the sessions. About the thirties Mr..
A. Pease bought the property, which, being
vacant at the beginning of the civil war,
was used for several months by the mill
tary- In 1917 Edward De Krofft, in bust
ness. as printer and bookbinder at the
northwest corner of Louisiana avenue and
7th street, bought lot on 7th street, on
which he erected a residence valued at
So, 40, and he had his home there for
About 1917 there was an influx of me-
chanics from different parts Of the coun-
try, work then being plentiful and labor
In demand. for the government had pro-
vided for rebuilding the Capitol and the
erection of government offices. An idea as
to the extent Of the migration to the capital
may be formed from the fact that no less
than six carpenters came from the shop of
one Van Horn with the intention of get
ting work and settling here, and all six
became residents. making the capital their
home. The six had served seven years
apprenticeship with Mr.. Van Horn and
after working for the government found
plenty Of private work. in which most of
them embarked as master builders. They
were Nathan Smith. who bought the lot
street, where he built a $500 home, and
on E street. where was $500 shop; Aaron
Van Coble, who resided on 9th street, hav-
ing his shop on 9th street near D street;
Charles Pettitt, who settled on. E street
between 9Th and 9th streets and later be-
came messenger Of the treasury serv-
ing for long series Of years; Thomas
Barefoot, John Reynolds and John Smith,
each of whom were master builders. Jacob
Gideon of Way & Gideon, printers long To-
Gated on 9th street, bought on It'll street
the same year, having a residence valued at
$3.50, which he replaced with fine dwelling.
Corner Of 7th and E Streets.
In 1918 David Bates was on lot 8, the
northeast corner of 7th and E streets and
later William Robinson was on it with
timers shop valued at $500. In 1919 John
P. Ingle and Aaron Van Coble were on F
street on lot IA. each building $1,000
dwelling and near the corner Of 9th street
ment. In 1921 parts of lots on street
were leased and afterward purchased. Ed
ward Murphy. carpenter; L. A. Poole.
boot and shoemaker. and ]. Getchel, a
tailor. each Of whom resided there for
years, Mr.. Poole being charged with an
$3.50 Improvement and the houses of the
others were valued at $500. near them a
$3.50 house being charged to Van Ness.
Robert Trumbull. a stone cutter, lived on
adjoining property, where Mrs. Trumbull
had day school. In 1923 Charles Timms
ledSeQ OI tHt lOt COTHeT OIL tIn ana Il
streets. and later John Wolfenden bought
the lot and establisI.eu the drug bust
ness, which was carried on by him through
the thirties Eastward Mr.. William Gahan
had bought early in the twenties and
erected 81 900 dwelling. in which he was
residing down to about 1850 and also car
ried on business there. In addition to those
named. there were on 7th street in the
twenties Stephen Laland, bricklayer, and
the offices of Squire C. H. w. Wharton and
w. w. King. LAWYER: on F street P.
Calnon. baker: Mrs. WEIGH. Judah Delano,
printer and publisher NJ A. Sherlock, Geo.
Stirling. billhanger. on F street; John B.
Marten, clerk at the corner Of 9Th street,
and south of him William Kerr, printer
By the middle Of the thirties there had
been changes. The assessment Of ground
increased from Is cents to 80 cents per foot,
the latter figure applying to 7th street
property. Mr.. Fletcher's 9Th street lot had
passed to Joseph Harbaugh. who had an
$500 house upon 1t, and his E street prop
erty, with dwelling to A Pease. the house
being valued at $1,000.
Property in E Street.
Mr.. Gahan,s property in f street was as
sessed for 81 600, and Robinson's tin shop,
at the corner of 7th and E streets, $500.