Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-25

the property between 1917, 14th and D
streets north of Maryland avenue ond
constructed there a coal dump. Later
other squares were acquired and with the
arrival of the Southern railway eight
squares in all changed ownership and
have been put to uses other than the
original.
The appearance of this land as known
to our grandfathers, when the streets
were more ON the plans of the city than
in reality showed plainly that some of it
had been used as farming land and that
some of it other than in streets lines had
not been cleared, and indeed there re-
manned a few trees supposed to have ante
dated the city. From about 18th in D
street was a gentle descent to the west.
but it was comparatively level south of
Maryland avenue. High banks were at
the river, some distance west of 18th
street. but at 1871 street and above was
gentle 'declivity to the shores of the
river. Maryland avenue for long series
of years remained dirt road. though
then there was considerable travel by the
Long bridge, but about 1850 by an ap-
preparation made by Congress it was
graded and graveled South of Maryland
avenue, until after the civil war, there
were next to no street improvements.
Old Time Shipping Section.
The line of the river shore slightly
curved at the foot of the bluffs and along
which antedated the Introduction of steam
vessels. about 1915. And, as will be seen
below. in later years this was one Of the
old-time shipping sections. The fact that
some of the residents were much given to
ducking and fishing is evidence that water
fowl and fish were easily obtained. In
fact, some made their living by these
products of the river.
1t was in colonial times part Of the
extensive holdings of Motley Young, and.
in his possession when the city was laid
out in 1871, 1t was conveyed to the Com
missioners and became the squares known
as numbers 2 to Z. southeast 261. 26S. 269,
30, 29S, 800 and 300. In the division be-
tween the United States and Mr.. Young
in 1897, the squares west Of 1917 street,
267 and southeast 267. went to Mr.. Young.
Square 800, facing the river between 18th
and 18th streets, allotted to the United
States, was included in the contract made
with James Greenleaf, passing to him In
1894. The first improvement in this Sec
ton was a small frame house, assessed
in 1902 to w. NJ. Duncanson.
Owen McCue had a lease in square
southeast 267, in the lines of Maryland
avenue, 1871 street and the river, in 1908,
and Catherine Connell and E. Quin title on
Inc square. Two years later William Fitz-
gerald owned on Maryland avenue and the
year following ]. w. Wight and George
Moore were on the square. No further
transfers were made for fourteen years,
but in 1920 the wharf was assessed one
third to Moore and then to A. McWilliams
for $3.50. and A. Cheshire. the owner of
one-third, for the same. McW1lliams'
title was in 1895, and p. Semmes at the
same time. In 1880 A. Shepherd. father of
the governor, with Mr.. Semmes, owned
10 cents, and Semmes and McWiliams
ware charged on 5000 each. Peter GAIA
nave had title in 1882, and in 1888 ]. 8.
Harvey e co. bought there.
In the Grsenleaf Litigation.
The square east, south Of e street be-
tween 18th and 1874 streets. figured in the
Greenleaf litigation. going in his name in
1894. In 1917 it went to Peter Lenox and
he was assessed $1,000 on a wharf. and
s1,15O on a warehouse, and later at $4,000
and $1,000 respectively.
Square number 800, between 18th and
18th streets, has a similar history to the
foregoing. After Capt Duncanson's death
IN 1872 it went to Charles Glover, in 1914
to William Campbell, in 1917 to Wal
ter Jones and in 1921 to w. A. Bradley
Between the squares described and
Maryland avenue, 18th and 18th streets,
square 700 was plated for eighteen lots
and vested in the commissioners In 1877.
The early history Is connected with the
names of Greenleaf ct al, and the first
transfer was made by O. Carr as trustee
to Samuel Elliott, nephew OF Greenleaf.
square, in 1917. Robert Brent, the first
mayor Of Washington, the next year
bought lots l to 8, on E street front, and
II and Is, on 18th street. In the twenties
there was charged to A. Lyon $1,000
improvement, which passed to Joseph
! Abbott in 1928. John Pickett had lot II,
! on Maryland avenue, the same year, and
| the improvements are later listed at
-, 800. In 1929 Capt Lenox acquired lot
| II, the adjoining lots Is to 16, the north
| oct art nj
| Bank of Washington, from which lots IA
! and Is were acquired by Edward Mat
| tingley. John Pickull took lot 10 and
bought lot 8, on 18th street. In 1886 1spa-
thus Mudd bought lots Ii and IA. at
the corner of 18th street and Maryland
| avenue.
The square west. No. 2s9. also has a
similar history. 1t was laid off for nine
lots, between Maryland avenue. E. 13tn
and 1914 streets. which were bought in
1917 by Capt. Peter Lenox, who as
| stated, was the owner of the square
| south. About 1910 it was in possession
of Col. W. B. Randolph. The ground was
| valued at 10 cents and improvements at
81, 600 in 1920, and s., 800 later.
Development Was Rapid.
That square known as No. 267, be-
tween Maryland avenue, 1917. 14th and
D streets, was developed more rapidly
than the others. Motley Young was vest
ed with title to the sixteen lots in 1897
In the first decade OF the last century
there were a few frame houses erected
on leased ground there. The first record
ed deed is that of Ann Cazanave, daugh.
ter of Motley Young. for part of lot
corner of 1872 street and Maryland ave-
nue.. to A. Cheshire, in 1913, and a s45C
Improvement appears upon it in 1920 In
1915 j. NJ. Wight owned in lot 2 and three
!, years later Cheshire was on the same lot
, and lot IS on 1874 street, and assessed fol
| an additional 800 on lot 2. Parke G
Howle, in 1920 had a $3.50 improvement
: on lot 1, and in 1924 owned the southwest
quarter of the square, lots 3 to 6. EnocI
Tucker and Richard Thompson. in 1928
, bought lot 49, corner of and 1879 streets