Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-27
KNOWN As BLOCK $50
Square of Ground Owned by
William Woodward.
PRIOR TO THE YEAR 1900
North of Pennsylvania Avenue, Be-
tween 9Th and 9TH Streets.
HOTEL A RESORT FOR NOTED MEN
Changes in Business Life in 1880 and
Thereafter-''The Middle
Forties."
PRIOR TO THE YEAR 1900
HOTEL A RESORT FOR NOTED MEN

A map in the Congressional Library fur
nishes authority for the statement that
one william Woodward occupied most OF
the block north of Pennsylvania avenue
between 9Th and 7th streets anterior to
1900. His home Is designated about the
center of square 400. spot now the site
of the Metropolitan Hotel. formerly
Browns. Mr.. Woodward was the progen-
itor of the family of that name who for
nearly seventy years have lived at No.
SIS I street northwest, of which the Dis
trict health officer, DR.. w. c. Woodward,
and Thomas P. Woodward of the District
Title. Company are members.
William Woodward, a carpenter came
from Philadelphia about 1893 and resided
here some fifteen or twenty years. when
he emigrated westward locating on a
square mile of land, where the town of
Marietta, Ohio. now stands. In Ohio he
engaged in the lumber business for some
years. One day he started with boat
load Of lumber for New Orleans, and he
was never afterwards seen or heard from.
After hoping for his return for years
thinking that he might be a captive among
the Indians. his family reluctantly con-
cluded that he had been drowned or muir
dered.
In the early days six lots was the COM
Nos. 1, and @, were in the name of David
Burns. and the others. in 1897. went to
Thomas Seaw. In 1898 Joseph Huddleston
and Orlando Cook leased lot 4. and within
a few years the latter had a $1,000 i'm
provement upon It, In 1901 VIM. Duane.
the publisher and bookseller Of Philadel-
phia. purchased on the corner of 9Th street
part Of lot 1. fronting fifty-six feet on the
avenue, and established himself in business.
Later he added this 9th street front to h-s
holdings having his printing office thereon.
with book and stationery store on the
avenue corner. The same year QSOD Mr..
Woodward leased the west part of the lot.
over sixty feet front on the avenue. the
rental being $50 per year. Here was the
Center Tavern, which he conducted few
years. and afterward leased to Solomon
house for a few years, and conducted the
Pennsylvania House and Center Tavern.
Robert Underwood became the owner OF
Mr.. Woodward's property in 1896.
Property Transfers on the Avenue.
Samuel Stettenins, John Christian and
n. Spurer had leases In the west lot at
18th street in 1901; the first named had the
corner and later acquired the fee to the
entire lot. Spurer shortly transferred his
lease to A. Kallenback. and Walter and
Joseph Clarke acquired the fee simple title
to that portion. In 1903 there had been
some improvements on ground first valued
The property of Mr.. Duane was valued at
81 500 and later at $500; of Mr.. Woodward.
at $1,000; of the Washington Building Com
pany, represented by r. Brent and other
w. & ]. Clarke, 5000; s. Stettenius. 81, 900
and later $1,000. and John Christian. $3.50.
1t was not long before the most of these
improvements gave way to substantial brick
houses of three stories, some occupied as
boarding houses or taverns. The Huddle-
ston and Cook property was improved by
a three-story brick building before the war
of 1912. 1t was used for some years for
hotel purposes and many congressman
quartered there. A ninety-nine-year lease
at $35 per year, rcdeemable at $780, was
renewed in 1910. in which year William
Hamer became the purchaser for $4,000.
In 1911 Charles Jones had lease on part
of the Stettenius lot at 7th street and con-
Quoted tavern there for a few years, and
in the same year William Edwards and
Harvey Bestor bought twenty-five feet
front In lots and 4 and there located in
the china and glass trade for series Of
years. Mr.. Stettenius was first in the gro
Gerry business at the corner, and the
Clarkes on the same lot in the dry goods
trade. By 1915 the lease of Mr.. Jones had
passed to Mr.. William Ward, who turned
the tavern into dry goods store. w. E.
Davis and Peter Force, as Davis & Force.
purchased lot and opened as printers
and booksellers. B. o. Tyler. lottery agent,
and Thomas Cookin of the Baltimore stage
line. bought east Of the hotel. Roger c.
Wrlghtnldn, as q BOOKSELLER, succeeded TO
the Duane store at 9th street. becoming
afterward mayor of Washington. Col. Peter
Force Of Davis and Force also held this
office.
The Pennsylvania House.
About 1903 John Davis became the pro-
puietor of the hotel which took in the site
of Woodward's tavern, and the Pennsyl-
yania House, purchasing the property in
1872, and here for a few years he was the
host. The site was all Of lot 2, and part Of
lot s. but that the hotel grew In size Is In
dicated by the fact that its site Is after
ward described as part of lot 1 and all Of
E. 3 and 6. During the war of 1872 Mr..
Davis moved to another location and was
succeeded by Col. David Keowin. revo-
lutionary officer. who drew about him
many of the leading men of the day. 1t
was here that Gen. Jackson was dined.
when after his victory at New Orleans, he
made his visit to Washington. and there
were many complimentary dinners given to
him and to the heroes of the war OF 1872
particularly of the naval branch of the
service. Col. Keowin retired from business
about 1919. and located on farm near
Evansville. Prince George county. Nd
where he died in 1888. Jesse Brown follow
ed Col. Keowin. first as lessee and then
proprietor and under the name of the In
dian Queen or Browns the business pros
pered from the time that the arrivals were
by stage or horseback to the present. As
Mr.. Browns sons, Marshall and Tillotson.
became of age they were taken into the
business and from modest hotel of three
stories, former dwelling remodeled' for
hotel purposes. 1t was remodeled and en-
larged In 1852 to take in nearly half the
area OF the square and given the marble
front which has 20 long beautifed that
section.
Resort for Men Of Note.
One Of the first guests under the elder
Brown was the well-known John c. Rives,
who long was publisher Of the Congress
sion Globe, and a prominent. useful citizen.
It Is related that Col. Rives rode horse
back to Washington from his home In Ken
lucky, bringing his fiddle and rifle, and
that from the time he gave his horse into
the keeping Of the groom friends focked
about him. As a resort for men Of note 1t
may be mentioned that way back In the
twenties James Buchanan made his home
In the Pennsylvania House. and seldom has
the registers page been minus a title of
honorable" general or colonel" 1t Is
remembered by some that Kossuth was a
guest here in the early SOS. when he made
an address to a large assemblage of citi-
zens who complimented- him with a seren-
ade. Gen. Sam Houston of Texas also reg
istered at the house, and among other ce-
lebrities frequently in the lobby was Beau
Hickman"
In 1924 the ground near It'll street was
q ~