Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17

of an outbreak, the commander-in-chief
of the army. Maj Gen. Scott was on the
of sight of the great mass of people, were
two batteries of artillery ready to clear
the east front had it been necessary.
In the same year, 1S41, James D. Waller,
a Capitol policeman, bought part of lot 3,
east of Mr. Scrivener's. Here he lived in
, a three-story brick for a time. ]. c. Hall
bought the Brightwell property adjoining
Mr.. Scrivener's, east half of lot 6, and
here were reared the well-known twin
brothers, A. G. and G. A. Hall, long con-
nected with the corporation and who held
s. Meehan, librarian Of Congress, bought
lot 10, on street, on which Mr.. FolaHs-
bee had erected fine frame house:
In 1912 lot No. on street was ac-
quired by Mr.. Follansbee, and Mrs. Mary
Pancoast bought lots 16 and II on B street,
on which, in substantial brick residence.
was the home of Isaac N. Wales of the
Capitol police.
Up to this time there had been little ap-
probation of the ground value, and indeed
some of tn property holders had suffered
it to be sold at the tax sale when the origi
nal valuation of eight and ten cents per
foot had barely doubled. Little public i'm
proyement had been made, only the front
having a brick sidewalk, and a gravel
ridge did service on the other fronts.
Purchased By William Hicks.
About the year 1S41 Mr. William Hicks.
then a clerk of the post office, became the
owner and occupant of Dowson's row. and
with his family long resided here. In this
decade Charles II. W. Meehan, assistant
librarian of Congress, bought lot IS on B
street, adjoining his father, and resided IN
fine frame house
building near the corner of Delaware ave
nue. and B street, conducted boarding
house Among her guests were Senators
Jenness of New Hampshire. Semple OF In
,~ie ant a
Georgia afterward Secretary OF the 1feas-
ury: j. c. Dobbin of North Carollna sec
rotary Of the Navy in SO, and Asa Bigss,
d. s. Ried and j. j. Mckay, his colleagues
Sterling Price of Missouri, Robert Smith
of Illinois b. Martin of Tennessee and A.
Yell of Arkansas Near 1st and b streets
was Mrs Robinsons boarding house. where
were Representatives A. u. Slmms anu ..
A. Black of South Carolina.
There were in the row several boaroins
houses Mrs. Carter had, among others:
under her roof Alexander III. stephens VI
Georgia, afterward prominent in the ma
tional Congress and vice president OF the
confederacy; Amos Abbott of Massachu-
sets Joseph Burlington and Andrew Stew
art of PENNSYLVANIA and H. u. S[ans.oi o, "
Rhode Island; Mrs. Rumney had Represen-
tative ]. H. Campbell as a roomer; mrs.
Ballard entertained R. w. Roberts OF Mas
sachusetts A Kennedy and I. j. Henley
of Indiana.
Among those who were on the square in
the tifties were the Scriveners. Durhams
John Francis Hicks, Price and the Halls
on A street. and the Wales, Meehan ana
S. W. Handy families on street. After
ward 'has. Ewing lived in street In
ante bellum days Billy Hicks and Nose
Durham were the recognized leaders of
the boys of that section
Some Were Restless.
As may be inferred there were changes
of location made by some of the legisla-
tors, although in this particular locality
many had the same rooms for years; others
We're inclined to move frequently. some
times only to an adjoining house. Between
the families and their guests there were
most pleasant relations, and many ac-
quaintaflceS begun in boarding house con
tinued for years
The old row especially was lively during
the sessions of Congress. Foys Hotel on the
corner of Delaware avenue, was we'll pat
ronized 1t is not surprising that until
after the war at the west end of the square
public men could be found there. among
them Senators Calhoun of South Carolina
and Solomon Foote, who We're often guests
at Mrs. Carriers in their day, and their
chambers were often the meeting places of
their followers.
With the hotel and well-flled boarding
houses in the row the western portion OF
the square was the scene of activity, but
other portions We're suggestive of suburban
life. \ street. though convenient to the
Capitol, had but light travel over it, the
easy ascent to the hill on the south side
diverting the travel to that side. With the
Capitol grounds opposite and the sidewalk
well shaded, the families living there re-
garded it as an ideal place for homes and
that it was thus appreciated is witnessed
by the long years spent by some Of the
old families here
JAMES CROGGON,