Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
Southwest Corner of Square.

Southwest Corner of Square,
The lots at the southwest corner of the
square, to II. We're in the name of w H
Dorsey, in 1902, of n. H. Heath, in 1912 and
In 1915 of Elizabeth Brent. and lot ID in the
name of Daniel Brent. chief clerk of the
State Department. In the twenties Mr.
Brent was assessed for 5000 improvements
on the corner lot, 10. This house, in re-
modelled form. is standing. and in it have
resided Gen. alexander Hunter, United
States marshal: G. c. Grammer. grocer and
merchant: F. A. Lutz and other leading
citizens.
Samuel Elliott. jr. in 1915. owned the
northwest corner of the square, and sold
lots 10 to II to David Elliott. Later about
1880. Aaron Van Coble erected on the lot
two three-storied brick residences, in one
of which he lived several years. Mrs Van
Coble and E H. Pendleton in the other.
Philip r. Fendall. leader of the bar lived
here many years, buying the property on
which is now the Fendall law building.
The head of the ranZoni family of this
city, q. q. FranZOni, was of the first
residents or the square. Mr.. Franzoni was
one of the Italian sculptors who came over
at the instance of the government to beau
tify the capital then being rebuilt after it's
destruction by the British, and though
under his contract the government was en-
titled to return Them at no expense to him,
he and family elected to remain here. The
lot adjoining the corner of Louisiana ave-
nue. and AZ street on the south was bought
by him in 1917. and he built home thereon.
1t was a three-storied and attic brick resi-
dence, with large porch at the main door,
with two flights of steps leading thereto,
and entrance beneath. After the death
of Mr.. Franzoni the property was pur-
chased by John Wthers.
In 1927 w. w. Worthington resided on lot
on c street near Sd street, which passed,
after he had improved it by the erection of
house. through Samuel Ditty and w. S.
Drummond, to George E.. Dyson. S. s.
10, ifnr, no, in, % INt q i
joining. and erected a fine brick house upon
it. In 1928 Rich s. Coke. a member of the
bar of the old school, bought part of lot Is
on Indiana avenue, and also improved it.
There were no listed improvements on this
plot in 1903, and wnen the average of six
cents per foot valuation of ground was
cut in half. Twenty years later the books
show Daniel Brent assessed for SIS 600 i'm
provements on lot 10, at Az and c streets
G. Franzoni's heirs $1,000, lot A. on AZ
street; D. Brent. $500. lot II, and w.
Fletcher, 800, lot 20, on Indiana avenue;
Elizabeth Abbott. $40. and ]. Kedgler, $3.50,
lot 3D. on Sd street. The ground was then
worth from cents to II cents per foot.
Progress of Improvement.
In the thirties there had been improve
ments as the corporation books show: Sam
uel Dtty was assessed for 81 800 of i'm
provements on lot 3; s. S. Hamilton. s.. $50,
and John Moffitt, $1,000, lot 4; Bank of the
United States, 81 800 on lot 5 and 81, 500 on
lot 6; Withers & Hunter, 5000 on lots 10,
II and II: John Withers, 5000. lot IA; A.
Van Coble, $4,000, lot 10; r. s. Coke, So 500
lot 3; ]. Kedgle. $500, and Elizabeth Abb
bott. $3.50, lot - The ground had then ap-
preciated to from u cents to a quarter
1t was about 1910 when, as may be SEEN
from the names mentioned and new ones
that there was progress. There were still
vacant lots to be seen, but more dwelling
houses We're in evidence. The vacant spots
especially on and Az streets were in
closed and well-kept gardens were attached.
imparting suburban aspect close to the
main thoroughfare of the city. That such
a LOCALITY was appreciated by fine class
of people is apparent. Some of them were
noted philosophical characters and it was
not uncommon to see little gatherings about
sunset, especially of the oder people, by
whom the questions of the day were dis
cussed. Nor was there any stint in hospi-
tally, and it was dispensed especially to
those to whom 1t was a real treat; at times
to the orphan asylums and schools. There
were on c street Edward Simms, who. hay-
ing been in the United States service in the
war of II. bore the title of captain; the
well-known DIR. John b. Blake. then a
treasury clerk, and later commissioner of
ton Monument Society and president of the
Metropolitan National Bank; Pishey Thomp-
son, an avenue book seller from 1920, who later
returned to England. his native land; Dan
lei Campbell, saddle and harness maker
for long term of years; Ross Brown
well-known writer, and Mrs. Catharine
Brown; Dr. SmyIne. Charles Bradley of the
Patriotic Bank; Phil Barton Key, district
attorney; w. b. Kibbey. feather dealer; c.
E. Kennedy, the well-known grocer, and
DIR. Gamabel Bailey, the editor of the Ma
tional Era, on c street.
Occasionally the vicinage Of DR.. Bailey's
house was the scene of riotous demonstra-
tions because of the anti-slavery sentiments