Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-12
PORT OF WASHINGTON
Southeast Section SO Regard
ed in Early Days.
MANY IDEAL HOME SITES
New Jersey Avenue Expected to Be
Great Thoroughfare.
SOME PROMINENT RESIDENTS
Tract of Daniel Carroll Of budding
ton-Improvement of the
Streets and Lots.
SOME PROMINENT RESIDENTS

That section of the city in which New
Jersey avenue was projected south OF
what is now Garfield Park to the Eastern
branch had. before 1900, attracted the
attention of Thomas Law and the coterie
of promoters of the capital While from
the configuration of the ground, gentle
rise from valley in which was a run
near the line of I'd street east to the eX-
tensive hills Of clay westward, there were
ideal sites for homes, the deep water OF
the branch and facilities for wharfage
soon were apparent, and maritime trace
was anticipated, and New Jersey avenue
it was expected would become the great
thoroughfare to that point. In fact, with
the Washington city canal having It's
basin and outlet in and at the foot OF I'd
street, and the manufactures contem-
plated there, that portion of the city was
regarded by some as the port Of Wash
ington. Though these optimistic views
were never fully realized, 1t is interesting
to know that among those who Iound
homes in the section were some VINO
were prominent in the early days OF the
city and that their descendants may to-
day find the sites and in some cases the
houses where their great-grandparents
lived before the city had government
And when one can form an idea of the
many ideal sites for homes. and recalls
that Tom Law and others were early IN
terested in it's development and succeeded
the wonder is that it was not more rapid
ly developed.
Location of Canal.
When, after the Washington City Ca
nal Company was authorized, one Of the
locations suggested was west of New
Jersey avenue, instead of crossing 1t
north of / street and turning south into
I'd street, this suggestion was opposed
by Mr.. Law. and the canal reached the
branch by I'd street.
The tract of Daniel Carroll of budding
ton included this section, in which are
squares numbered 1888 to n. 743. I43 and
IA, and in the division with the proprie-
tors several were assigned to Mr.. Car
roll. Much of it was in the name of Mr.
Law and some We're included in Green
leafs and Morris and Nicholson's deal
ings before 1900. 1t will be seen that it
was only partially developed. AS early
as 1909 New Jersey avenue was improved
in It's roadway. and some little work was
done on the sidewalks. What was done
in the matter of improvements of streets
or lots has nearly entirely disappeared
foy at first but little grading was re-
CURED, and with the exception of three
houses on Ne" Jersey dNenue-lOUS, lOD4
and 1120-all building antedating 1920
have gone. The canal basin in I'd street
below l street has long since been filled
in with the exception of the slip south of
the District sewerage pumping station.
First Important Enterprise.
Possibly the first as'well as The most
important enterprise in this section
was the establishment of the sugar
house" in 1897, from which Mr.. Law
and others had great expectations. This
was a large brick structure located on
the canal and Eastern branch. Sugar
refining was one of Mr.. Laws hobbies
and it was at his instance that James
Piercy. who had been engaged in the
business in New York, was induced to
come here. Mr.. Law, in April, 1871, con-
veyed to Mr.. Piercy lot /, square IA,
the south half of the square. more
than $4,000 feet, for 1850 pounds, 6
shillings and pence-nearly $1,000
the pound, Maryland currency, being
$2.66-for which he gave mortgage.
Before commencing operations he had
given mortgages for over $4,000, in
Guiding half a million brick at $3.50
per thousand. The building was of
eight stories, with a wing of five sto-
ries. The industry was started about
the middle of 179s but was short lived
partly because of differences between
the co-promoters. Law and Ray, and
1t was soon in chancery. The place was
idle for several years, but business was
resumed in October, 1903, as a brewery.
Cornelius Cunningham, who mad been
engaged IN the brewery business near
the foot of 21st street west Tor ten
years, became the lessee of part of The
property for fifteen years al only $3.50
per year. He, however did not pros
per. and in 1911 he closed business. In
1917 Coninghams lease passed to
| Thomas and Charles T. Coote. and for
| twenty or more years it was known as
Coote'S brewery, the first-name1 being
the active manager. In the forties the
building was mass of ruins. From
3 to cents per foot was the 'aluation
of the ground and $4,000 of the i'm
provementS early in the last century,
but about 1920 ground with the i'm
provements was valued at ID cents,
charged to Law. and $4,000 to the
Cootes. Ten years later Laws assess
ment was $1,000, and Coote's $1,000 for
as Smiths lumber yard.
Slow in Development.
The square north, 743. between New
Jersey avenue, 1st, NJ and n streets. was
very slow in being developed, for having
| been vested in Mr.. Carroll in 1896 1t passed
| through Mr.. Law TO Morris and Nichol-
son, and was subject to litigation till 1916,
| when s. Stevens took lease on lots l
| a nd ., at the corner of New Jersey ave
nue. and n street. w. r. Maddox, in
1919, had leases there and on other parts
of the square aftcrward obtaining fee
title. In 1873 Bernard Doyle had a house
| on lot l. valued at 81 200, and Mr.. Maddox
houses valued at s1.s0o and $500. In the
! thirties ]. w Maury. Richard Barry, w.
A T. Maddox and Thomas Blagden
owned in the square
The square north of the preceding one,
between l., NJ and LIST streets and, New
Jersey avenue, of nine lots. was vested
in Mr. Carroll in 1896. and the following
year Mr.. Law acquired it. He made
| some improvements upon 1t. In 1901
Bernard Bryan had let 0 on LIST street;
| Mrs Barbara Marshall in 1906 had prop
erty on New Jersey avenue. and Robert
Brent in 1907 owned lot l. the corner of
| New Jersey avenue and NJ street. The
| ground was then of 3 cents value and the
improvements wera charged to Mrs Mar
81 all, $50; Mr.. Bryan. $3.50, and Mr..