Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30

W. Browning and g Scott, on lots 2, 3, 4
and s; J. Kedglie. lot 10, and Joseph FOL
lansbee, lot 10, on Delaware avenue IN
1s45 VIM. Wurdeman appeared on the
square, buying lot 10 and establishing the
business of mathematical instrument maker
in which he was eminently successful SO
much so that fair-siZed two-storied brick
building was required and erected. Lot 4,
on North Capitol street. through w. Fisher,
passed to w. G. Cranch and w. ii. Stan
ford succeeded to Mr.. Browning's property
on that street James Crutchett In 1916
bought lots 8 to 10.
Square 0S3 north of c street and east OF
the present Baltimore and Ohio passenger
station was, in 1897, owned by Mr.. Carroli
and the United States and 1t was almost
1880 before another name, that OF MOSES
Tabs, was entered. The valuation OF the
lots was cents per foot in 1903, but II de-
preciated to fourth of cent per 1901.
Col. William Hickey bought lots 1 ana COO 3
the southeast corner of the square, IN lS23;
and the same year the lot at North Capltol
and D streets went to j. b. Philips. In ls5o
lots and 4 on North Capitol street were
bought by ]. P Ingle, who, in 1S42, sold TO
Mrs Ann Skirving, and in 1915 Mr.. Crutch-
EFT bought them Lot was bought py
Richard Barry in 1885 and through Il.
Greenleaf in 1912, and the latter later
bought up to the corner of d street Mayor
Macdonald bought lots 10 and IL ON u
street in 1876.
Point Of Interest.
The appearance of Mr.. Crutchett In the
square made the locality point OF inter-
est. Mr.. Crutchett was interested In IL
Eliminating gas, which had not been In
stalled In Washington, and was the In
ventor of solar gas. In perfecting his IN
vention he had his works near his mouse
and succeeded in lighting up his nome In
the winter of 1916 he had so far succeeded
that he applied to Congress for a contract
to light the Capitol grounds and appfopTla-
tons of about $4,000 were made me
project was to accomplish the lighting from
a lantern set on a pole above the dome on
the old building and he succeeded IN making
light of such brilliancy that 1t could be
seen for many miles down the river ana
the avenue was so bright that time coulu
be told on a watch mile from the lantern
About the same time the Washington Gas
Company commenced operations and sup
piled the government, as well as cltlzens.
and the mast and lantern were lowered
from the old dome.
Mr.. Crutchett erected a cottage at the
northeast corner of North ~Capitoi ana =
streets. 1t was on the northern part or
the square that Mr. Crutchett established,
about 1850, the Mount Vernon cane factory
and for several years canes and other me,
mentoes were made of the crude material
sent up from Washington's home place. In
the early part of the war the building be-
came the wel-known Soldiers Rest. at
which meals were served many thousands
Of the soldiers who landed here
AnOtnr OF the CarrOll tract.
Square 6S4 was another of the Carroll
tract Greenleaf's name was attached In
1894 and shortly thereafter Morris and
Nicholson were interested. There is, how
ever, no evidence of their enterprise, nor,
in fact of concern to any one save the tax
gatherer The first valuation of the ground
was only Q cents per foot, but it fell to one
fourth Of a cent at which rate 1t stood for
twenty-five years. Moses Tabbs was then
the owner. He made move in 1884, when
toll 3, on street, owned by d. A. Hall,
was leased to e. Semmes, and in 1889 the
title passed to W. G. Cranch and four years
later to Mr. Greenleaf. In 1888 S. Lewis
owned the north and part Of the east front
of the square.
In the forties on North Capitol street
were the Brents, Mac Donalds; Muiioys and
Cranchs of the original families, as were
John l.. Writ of the Capitol police; John
Skirying architect; w. H. Stanford, tailor,
and James Crutchett. Joseph F. Brown,
then a clerk in the Senate, later secretary
of the gas company, and for long time an
alderman; William Wurdeman, instrument
maker; T. D. Harris, clerk in the Capitol,
and S. A. Coster, employed by the House
of Representatives, were on Delaware ave-
nue.: Mrs Ballard, on c street, Mrs. Russell
H. Ball, ST., and John 7. Ball OF Capitol
police were on 1st street. At Mrs. Russelfs
Andrew Johnson Of Tennessee, then repre-
sentative and later senator and President,
was a guest, with L. B. Chase of Tennes-
ee and L. H. Smms Of Missouri. Mrs. Bal
lard had Andrew Kennedy and ]. l.. Cath
cart of Indiana and r. w. Roberts be-
meath her roof. JAMES CROGGON. .