Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-26
SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND LYING
TO THE SOUTHWEST OF DUPONT CIRCLE
Not Until Were Was Formerly
Known as "Paddy Mageetown' Ground Was Valued for
Long Time a Only Half Cent Square Foot.
Astounding Growth of the Section

bought il. in the fifties, and used it as
a woodward.
Square 81. of twelve lots, facing New
Hampshire avenue. 10th. 21st. n and G
streets. fell to the United States In the
apportionment of 1907. In 1919 Capt
Robert Henley owned 1t, and twenty five
years later it went into the hands o.
| Thomas Corcoran. In the forties John
and G. W. Hopkins bought 1t for cent
per foot. Hopkins street has preserved
his name.
Twenty-Five lots were laid off in square
So, fronting 22d. 3d. n and 0 streets:
and they were divided in 1895. The United
States took those in the west half OF the
square, Morris and Nicholson the rest
In 1901 Theodocius Bailey and Philip Van
CORTLAND, members of Congress from
New York. bought two lots OF the Nor
ris and Nicholson holding. in the east por-
ton. In 1922 lot IL was bought by u
Adams and 16 by G. c. Grammer. eacn
fronting o street William Deming owned
lots to is. the west half of the square.
in 1923 and in 1910 G. G. Grammer owned
three lots on street. In the nrst as
sessment books E. Thompson and ]. Smith
were charged the taxes on ground at a
cent per foot, afterward at ore-haf
cent, and there it remained Tor several
decades. In the f1fties John Graham.
brother of Guy S. Graham, lived at 21st
and 0 street.
Some of the Early Owners.
Square ee. between Goth. 21st. o and
streets. of sixteen lots. was assigned to
Gen. Lingan, proprietor, in 1907, and In
1917 Thomas Corcoran and others owned
it. There is no change OF value from the
preceding and it was held for brickmak-
ing purposes, in which business Mr.. Cor
coran was extensively engaged, and later
much clay was taken from 1t.
The northwest square OF this section
No. IS, of twenty lots on 21st, ed, O and
streets in 1916 was divided, the United
States getting those lots in the west halt
and Morris and Nicholson the east half.
In 1901 Templeman and Stoddert had the
government lots. but there was no de-
velopment. In 1927 Jasper Cope bought
six of these lots and Benjamin l.. Lear
owned two, and two years after Col
Michael Nourse for half a century had
two lots on P street. In 1888 Polly Irvine
had lot on p and 22d ST reefs. There
were no improvements listed up to this
time. but the ground. taxed originally
for 1 cent per foot to Templeman and
Stoddert, had decreased to half cent
where it remained for forty years. in the
name of Jasper Cope. Mrs. Twine and
Mrs. eager we'll known colored people
were living on P street in the forties and
In the fifties some few others were on the
square.
Opening the Streets.
When 1t is considered that it was not
until war times that any OF the streets
here were opened: that the original grade
had not been disturbed save that 10th
street was partially graded, 1t Is easy to
regard some of the above named as pho
neers. Well down to the middle Of the
century rabbits and birds were killed by
the gunner. Needless to say, 1t was g
paradise for the boys OF the day, but q
few squares from the market and the
more densely settled section south, there
was plenty Of adventure for them. Now
| with well paved and lighted streets flank
ed by fire homes; and but few frames O
half century ago. the present condi-
lions are astounding to those who have
witnessed the growth OF the section.
JAMES CROGGON.