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

iieved to have been the first row of build
ings TO have been erected in Washington
John wheat bought one of the houses i'm
IoIl. AL that time he was engaged in gar
uenlns on the east side of Az street For
many years he was a messenger of the
Rouse of Representatives.
MI. Black conducted the place in the
.Wenties. and 1t soon became a resort for
rlVermen, and for employees of the arsenal
and the ordnance men. 1t was a prosper-
Gus place for many years.
one OF the institutions Of the neighbor.
MOOD was Sam Blacks tavern, a frame
mouse or story and a half on the west
side or Union street. 1t was built about
IooV. AT which time 1t was offered to let "as
most conveniently adapted for the business
near the wharf Of Morris e. Nicholson
In the twenties and for many wears after
ward the Wheat family lived in the neigh
borhood. Richmond Johnson, then teller Of
me washington Branch United States
Bank; Peter G. Washington and Mrs Mary
Elliot were other residents in the row.
Thomas A. Mitchell deputy warden of the
penitentiary; Chas. X. Preuss, draughts-
Fremont in exploring expeditions; ]. w
Jones, paymaster. and John NJ Wilson.
master gun carriage maker at the arsenal
were tenants In 1s4O or thereabouts The
mower garden. with the greenhouses of the
Wheats which adjoined the row on the
south, made the place attractive and there
was pump Of the finest water. almost Of
freezing temperature, opposite the row
On N street the residents included Mrs.
N. Alexander. w. H. Terrett E. s. Lewis.
Allen McCrae, l.. Radcliffe and James
Humphrey. James Gill conducted grocery
on 9Th street. Mr.. Lippard, who in the
thirties was in the ordnance service at the
arsenal, bought the Duncanson house. No.
40 n street, in 1887, and married and set
tied there. The family, since Ills death a
few years ago, have continued to live there.
Maj. j. w. Jones, paymaster at the arsenal.
lived In the row in the forties and he SUBJ
sequently established a large grocery and
variety store at the corner of Az and "
streets.
Reuben B. Clark afterward became Mai.
Jones partner and the firm launched a YER
liable "Noah's Ark" The firm later moved
to the corner of Az and NJ streets. and
their old stand was taken by the firm OF
Humphrey & VermilliOn. Mr.. Prather. who
lived west of Az street, was engaged in
clearinghouse moving being a speciality
with him. In those days frame houses
We're often moved to make room for better
buildings.
One Of the Oldest Inhabitants.
Mrs. MARI was one of the oldest inhab-
itants on Union street in the twenties Her
husband settled there in 1885,
In the late forties the shore of the river
was quite bare of wharfage opposite this
square. The beach Of sand had a gentle
descent toward the water, and it was ia
vorite place for bathing The boys of that
day made good use Of it despite the fire.
quent attempts by the police to arrest them.
About 1850 John Van Riswick left the
employ or the government a machnlst
In the arsenal and established himself in
business on the river front lumber,
wood and coal yard and fish wharf were
also here and with saw and planning mill
In operation there was a promising outlook
for business.
About this time the first barrel machine
was put to commercial use in a mill on
the water front. JAMES CROGGON.