Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-27
'QU|ET ON RIVER BANK
Section of City Which Is Still
Unfinished.
WHERE PROGRESS is SLOW
Few Factories and lighthouses About
Only Improvement.
WASHINGTON ONCE INVESTOR
History of Section Shows Little AMI
nation During Century-Canal
Business Once Promising.
ONCE INVESTOR

!
Street. at the river bank. there is yet
found much to remind one that within
the corporate limits the city is not yet
finished
Though there is evidence of progress in
the few manufacturing works and boat
houses along the river front reached in
part by open streets or meandering wagon
| tracks and paths. within but few hum
dred yards are to be found primeval hills
and rustic conditions, interspersed by a
| few dwellings.
Some of these are over seventy years
old Where a street has been cut down
the houses were built downward, the add
ed story being in the side of the hill and
the rear yard reached through the second
story. Enough Is seen to get an idea Of
the scenery of yore, and there are, in a
| few families, traditions which sound fabu-
lous to the natural resources.
A skiff full of wild duck, or half
| bushel of black birds at one shot from
pound gun was not rare along the river,
from which they were taken in quantities
| surprising belief.
! An old gentleman remarked to the
writer that the same rate of taxes is i'm
posed here as in the rest of the city and
yet the authorities make no improvements
and pavements of Mother Earth predomi-
nate; that they were not so we'll OFF as in
ante-bellum days. for the taxes now are
| higher.
This section in the Peter tract, which
! followed the river shore and Rock creek
| embraces eight squares. which, with the
! exception of one of water lots. were
| plotted for building purposes. In it George
| Washington was the first investor. He
| took square II, west of the observatory
| grounds. but it was not developed. and
passed out of his estate. There is no
record of improvements prior to 1880, but
| there were doubtless a few. 1t is difficult
| to say by whom they were made.
| James Hoban in 179S bought two lots.
! 1 and 3, in square 10. In 1880 James
| Lynch is charged on 500 in lot 3. corner
! of New Hampshire avenue and f street
Mrs. Ann Bradean, who had owned the
south half of square 20 since 1902, was
| listed for $500 in lot 3 on E street west
of 25th street.
| Thomas Peter who by the partition Of
square %, corner of 18th and D streets.
was charged on $1,000 improvements.
The southwest corner of this square. lot
| I. was bought by John Boyle in 1920. He
was listed for $500. Isaac Lucas and
| John Cumberland bought lot = west of
| the above, in 1928 and erected a frame
residence. long their homes. On the lot
bought. by C.. w. Goldsborough In ISL
fronting the river between 18th and 9th
streets. two squares south of T.. in 1926
j. G. Gardner had lease, and in 1880
500 improvements.
| Few Realty Transfers.
The real estate transfers prior to 1880
| were but few and not important After
| and prior to that year the ground had
not exceeded an appraisement of over
| cents per foot. In square 10. bounded by
9th and F. streets and New Hampshire
| avenue, Mr. Hoban figured in 1898 and
| Margaret Dick in 1872 In the square east.
bounded by T. and 10Th streets and New
! Hampshire avenue. John Nicholson and
| w. Harrison We're Interested in lIa6 and
| G. Wayman in 1901, and In 1872 it was IN
| the Peter estate. In square l.. south OF
the above. in 1895. were Morris & Nichol-
son. Uriah Forrest and Benjamin Stod-
| dert interested, VIM. O'Neale in 1909 and
! George Cover in 1870 two frame houses
! being on the latter In square south OF
! L. Mr. Goldsborough owned In 1911, four
lots were in the Peter family in 1912 and
J. c. Gardner had lease in 1876.
| In square 10 between 25th 18th. Z and
F streets Mrs. Bradean owned the south
| half in 1902 and Mr.. Peter the north half.
! Mrs DIR. Thornton in 1929 took title to
! three lots on 26th street, and the next
| year III. Gassaway and r. p. Dunlop each
a lot AMI l.. Frye two lots. Square -
south was Washington property In
square - was Moses Thomas interested in
/ 1878 Mr. Boyle in 1920 and Messrs: Lucas
and Cumberland in 1879.
one at the foot of the 18th street. over
! looking the river. and later he added TO
his grounds by purchasing the lot north.
He was for some years the chief clerk
| Of the Navy Department. and OF the
| family were some who had distinguished
| careers in the government service. and
today it is represented in the literary
| world
After living here for about fifteen years
he invested 10th street near tie ave
rue and in the neighborhOod of 18th and
F streets. and erected a number OF houses.
| the brick for which was burned near by.
| MessrS. Lucas and Cumberland engaged
| in the boat building BUSINESS. and the old
! folks long since passed away. The third
generation of the Cumberlands are en-
gagged in the same business. and the pop
| ularity of Cumherlands boaIhouse. ad-
| Joining that of the Analostan Boat Club,
| attests that the business was well founded.
Easily Undertakes Boathouse.
| In 1881 Capt. William Easily. long con-
nected with the navy yard. came to this
section. and soon thereafter established
the shipyard at the point which for years
bore his name. The advent of the Easbys
with the construction Of the extension
: of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal gave
promise of business activity and settle
ment.
Mr. Easily bought lot 3 in square Il. on
! the ID street front. and lot i, square 8. T.,
| fronting the river. at the corner of ID
street and later other lots and parts of
lots. The canal company acquired ground
! in squares IN. II. II and S. II. In a lit
| tie time. and for over thirty years. was
/ EaSby's shipyard feature of the neigh
! horhood. at times giving employment to
/ many. Convenient to the Georgetown
/ wharves. much business came from
there. and here was the revenue cutter
| Harriet Lane built. as were other vessels.
/ In the shipbuilding was John W. Easily.
| the son. who after. as naval construct