Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
EARLIEST ON RECORD
Realty Transactions in South
west Washington Years Ago.
PROPERTY THEN AND NOW
Values Show Decided Advance in
Past Three Years.
THE LINE OF IMPROVEMENTS
Government Buildings Located There
Steady Growth of the Section
business Interests

Southwest Washington, that portion Of
the District of Columbia bounded on the
north by the Capitol Smithsonian and other
parks, on the east by South Capitol street,
and on the south and west by the Potomac
river and its branches, is one OF the oldest
sections of Washington, and the court rec
ords of Maryland show there were real es-
tate transactions within what is now the
southwest section long before the District
of Columbia or Washington city was even
thought of. The first settlement on the
lands covered by Washington city was
along the shores of the Anacostia river
just east of ST. James creek, now known as
James creek canal, that unsayory open
sewer that runs for several squares in the
southwest and back of Washington Bar
racks Park until it empties into the Ana
costa river, and it is asserted that these set
Elements Were made prior to the foundation
of Georgetown when the Indian made his
home along the shores of the Potomac, and
shot deer, bear and other animals in the
forests that covered the site of Washing
ton.
The earliest records of land transactions
in Southwest Washington were In the lat
ter part of the seventeenth century. They
show grants of tracts of land, called in
the record Scotland" well and Good"
and Rome" The owner of the latter
tract was named Poper, and as the land
was located along Tiber creek it is
said he always called himself "Pope
of Rome on Tiber." In fact. 1t is thought
that Mr.. Pope In order to work off this bit
OF pleasantly, or whatever it was intended
to be, gave the name Tiber creek to the
waterway which once flowed through
Southwest Washington. but which has long
since been supplanted by big sewer.
The earlier maps of Washington show
that all the land In the southwest section
was owned by David Burns, Motley Brown
and Daniel Carroll, and from them the
title to all the real estate In that section
of Washington comes. Carrollsburg was
the earliest known town In the southwest.
The attempt to make town on the river
was started many years before Congress
conceived the idea of a national city, and
George Washington located 1t on the north
called Carrollsburg. and was located on
the banks of the Anacostia river, the st.
James creek. what Is now known as
Buzzard's point
Well-Remembered Names.
1t seems to have been thriving little
community. and much stock must have
been taken In its future prospects. as 1t
had 2+a lot owners. and among them the
names of John Carroll of Carrollton.
Daniel OF st. Thomas Jenifer. Motley
Young Samuel Snowden, great-grand-
father of the Alexandria Snowdens appear.
with those OF many others. The choice of
lots in Carrollsburg was made by lottery,
and the records show the number Of the
ticket held by the lot owner and the num-
Der OF the lot 1t secured him. Dudding-
ton pastures. portion of the old grant
from Lord Baltimore to Thomas Motley
which descended through him to Motley
Rozier. g0dson. thence to Motley Roxier's
daughter Ann, who In turn left II to Motley
Young her son, Is said to have comprised
the land on which the Washington Barrack
Park stands. The first Catholic church IN
Washington Is said to have been built in
Southeast Washington at r and Half streets
known as Barry's Chapel. It's congregation
afterward aided in the establishment Of st.
Peters Church and merged with II, and the
old church was abandoned
There Is no more historic portion OF the
District. and 1t abounds IN stories OF tho
doings OF its owners away back In the
days when the lands were covered with