Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24
EARLY IMPROVEMENTS
Structures Years Ago Near Ju-
dietary Square.
ACTIVITY IN REAL ESTATE
Original Assessed Value of Ground in
!. the Year 1903.
GARDEN ATTRACTED ATTENTION
Erection of One Of the Handsomest
Church Edifices of the Period
In Question.
GARDEN ATTRACTED ATTENTION

OF James Hoban and Pierce Purcell In lI02
Ten years later the corporation assessed
200 worth of improvements there. and four
years after that the valuation was doubled
ABOUT 1870 the records indicate activity
| IN real estate. but there were little signs
| OF actual building improvements other than
would be shown by Isaac Pollock's suh-
division of two of the sixteen lots into
twelve parts. Mr.. Pollock was a builder
and 1t is presumed that 1t was his inten-
ton to build on 9th street Samuel David
son, John Mason. w. o. Sprigg. Pratt.
Francis and others are names attached To
iots IN the early years, but no improve
ments are mentioned. With the exception
OF that OF Mr.. Hoban none appears in the
records before the twenties but the fact
that leases were made and lots were SUBJ
oiV1ded and that some OF the residents
bought before that decade would Indicate
that IT was In the good times succeeding
the war OF 1872 that at least some of the
improvements were made.
Original Assessed Value.
The original assessed value of the ground
In 1903 was cents per foot, later reduced
to 3, and about 1925 it was OF double value.
Then these improvements were appraised.
Lot ]. James Hoban, bought in 1892, 500;
A. WEIGH. 1917. $500; lot 3. B. g. Orr. Is1S
$50; lot 9. Mary Cook, lease, 1916 $500:
James Barron, 1871, $50; lot s. Reuben
bonas is 1873 $500; lot H. j. r Masons
$I,6oo; c. w. Boteler. $1,000: lot 10. John
warden. q. 800, and lot 49, Giovanni Andre
ISL, $500 The list ten years later shows
g. Jesse Brown. 1925. $500; lot Q. Thomas
Cookendorfer 1925, 5000
In 1896 lots and were decided to Joseph
Gales. 1r., Charles Bulfnch and W. w.
Seaton for the Unitarian Church now the
site OF the Police Court building and the
church edifce was erected in which John
Quincy Adams. Daniel Webster and Others
Of note worshiped for years. and whose
pulpit was occupied by Revs. Robert Little
Anger, NJ. ID. Conway and Others
In 1928 the south half of lot Ii and lot
IA were decided to the vestry of Trinity
parish. and there was erected one of the
handsomest church edifces in the District
of that period. Rev. Dr. Stringfellow was
long the rector. 1t was convenient to the
downtown hotels and in a neighborhood of
gregation fourished there until the SOS.
when it migrated to Sd and c streets. At
that period the Congregationalsts were
worshiping In the city hall. and In 1853
bought this edifice. the deed being to Ezra
L. Stevens, Henry Rockwell w. p Nc
Connell j. n. Durham and n. Northrup as
trustees They. however. disposed Of it In .
short time to other parties. but for ssme ]
years the upper portion used for relig-
fous purposes, lectures. etc. Giovanni Andre,
VINO bought on 9th street in 1917 and lived
brought over to work on the Capitol, and !
becoming a citizen. remained here till his
death in the thirties.
At 5th and D Streets. &c..
Johnson HELEN. a well-known member
of the bar, in 1888 bought the corner Of
9th and d streets, erecting dwelling with
offices. At one time 1t was the residence
Of Richard S. Coke. who had lived on e
street Mr.. Burdine was long a clerk In
the ordnance office and his garden at
tached to his residence near the Unitarian
Church. attracted much attention because
of it's beauty
In the forties Daniel Webster was a resi-
dent In what was long known as the Web
ster Law buildings when serving In the
cabinet and Senate. There many of the
leading men of the country were enter
tanned. and some of the famous dinners
are yet remembered here. 1t was here also,
1t is said. Mr.. Webster made his shortest
address. number of politicians had after
an enjoyable dinner. called on Mr.. Web
ster to respond to the toa st --Our Ngtional
Debit he, shad sat dong and being IA
tigled. Nswes several moments before he
thoHght,f the subject. and then, exelatrned:
THE national debt9it Is Hoikstsand I hotfA
be paid, and If the government does not
pay it, I will do IT myself" 1t was there,
too. that, during the Clay and Taylor
campaigns, Mr.. Webster made some nota-
BILE speeches in responses to serenades
The Boteers resided 9th street early
In the twenties. as did Giovanni Andre.
Charles Bulfinch. who bought property on
9Th street. north of the Unitarian Church.
as well as the church and resided there
some years. Mary A. WEIGH. an heir OF
Pierce Purcell. who was associated with
Mr.. Hoban. was long Mr.. Burdine's neigh
Dor on D street
Site Of New Police Court.
Mr.. Van Cable had carpenter shop OH
9Th street next to the Unitarian Church,
which was on the site of the new Police
Court building. In the twenties. Next to
the Unitarian Church. on D street. were
the residences of Lewis Edwards. a clerk
In the war office. and Mr. Burdine. On
9th street. above d street. were the homes
of Charles Bulfinch. Mrs. Mary Cook E. J.
Ramsey, carpenter. Mr.. Andre. an Ital-
ian sculptor. resided many years in the
house now owned by the Stone estate, In
which the late w. ]. Stone had his offices
and now occupied by w. S. Albert and
others. The Botelers were for several
years In the houses north of the Colum-
bian building, and in the thirties in one
was located the museum of natural his
tory and curiosities of Mr.. John Warden.
long afterward connected with the Museum
Of the National Institute and the National
Museum. In his advertisement he stated
that his purpose was to form the nucleus
Of great national museum and therefore
Invited the inspection of government Off
Gals. members of Congress and citizens.
AS is well known, the growth Of the
square in question was not rapid In the old
days. 1t being near the courts and cor
poration offices at the court house. the
legal profession was largely represented
upon 1t. In the forties there were johnson
HELEN, Richard s. Coke. at and near the
corner of d and 9Th streets: Daniel Web
ster on the latter street. Mrs F.. Swami
On 9Th street. and in the ffties. when the
church building on 9Th street was vacated
by the congregation of Trinity Episcopal
parts of it were for. religious and
educational purposes and parts for offices.
Though, stated. the proximity OF the
city hall made the square convenient for
the location of lawyers offices. II was not
an ideal place for the location of families
with children. nor for those who loved
juliet. The guns of the old Columbian Ar
.illery. brass six FOUNDERS. Col Peter
Forces company. were kept In the north.
west corner of the city hall. and on
honal holidays and other occasions. when
salutes wnro called Tor. ire guns we're
brought out opposite the square and thun-
Tered forth the required number of rounds.
t was the place of muster for the militia
'or many years. and some of the rooms OF
he city hall were used as armories by the
Uniformed military companies. the parades
If which always attracted crowds. The
place was always recognized as the ideal
pot for outdoor gatherings political meet
ngs especially. Seldom in the old cam
,ai0u so0a was that ha pauos NJ