Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
THE0LD WATER FRONT
improvements Were Slow in
the Last Century.
BIG BLUFFS IN THE WAY
But They Made a Fine Vantage
Point to View the River.
BUILDING FIRST WHARVES
Those Who Owned Them and the
People Who Lived Near
| Them Years Ago.

the Potomac river there was little city
growth in the last century. for the water
front since become the steamboat land
ing. was hampered for commercial pur
poses by bluff whose base was washed
by the river. From the height of thirty
feet this decreased gradually southwark.
a wharf below the intersection of 9TH and
L streets. the nucleus Of the extensive
wharves of the present day. The travel
to and from this wharf was by a dirt
road i'm NJ street. cut through the bank,
first 9th street and then Az street being
followed to reach the central portion of
the city.
There was some activity about the foot
of 9th street. due to the location of Kelly
Lambelrs shipyard marine railway
there about 1910. 1t was ten years later
when there was an impetus given to the
Improvement of the river front here by
the establishment of Pages shipyard
north of the wharf first noted and the es-
Establishment of a new line of ferryboats to
Alexandria. Within this section. how
ever. there was scarcely any improve
ment until about 1860, but in the thirties
and forties one or two brickyards We're in
operation near the foot of 7th street.
Formed Natural Grandstand.
Though they had long retarded water
front Improvement. the bluffs were appre-
ciated by the few residents especially in
warm weather, for on them were few
trees where they could sit in the shade
and enjoy the cool breezes from the river;
and by hundreds as grandstand whence
to view the many regattas. rowing
matches and other sports in which the
island h0NS
Within Motley Young's farming lands
adjacent to his mansion some of his barns
and other buildings were in existence
when in 1902 corporation jurisdiction was
given. These were in the two squares
south of H street between Sth and 9th
and in that between It'll and Sth south of
II street. and in the appOrtionment be-
tween the United States and the proprie-
tor in 1896 they were vested in Mr..
Young. Mr.. Young also took title in
others. The United States took those be-
tween G. l. 9th and 9TH street and they
were included in the contract with James
Greenleaf to purchase and improve. To
these squares the names of Robert Nor
riS, John Nicholson and Thomas Law
were attached, but no building followed.
They, however. afforded good grazing for
horses and cattle, and there was also
some parts worked in corn. etc. In 1918
ten lots fronting each of the streets G. III.
9th and 7th. on square 46S. We're bought by
Richard Hendley, and in the forties Henry
NJ. Moffett and Benjamin Pollard owned
the square. which remained minus i'm
provement many years after.
In the squares south there is little his
tory other than that connected with
Greenleaf. In that south, AGO. Samuel
Byington. then master armorer at the ar
senal. invested in six of the thirty-four
lots in 1915: the year before John Adams
and David A Hall owned lots in square
40 south
Held by the Youngs.
The square between X and L. 9th and
It'll streets, Al. remained in the Young
family till 1910. when Alpheus Hyatt
bought lots minus improvement. The
square south, 472, was owned by the
Youngs until 1921. This. between L, NJ.
9Th and Water streets, had water rights
which have been greatly improved. Prior
to 1920 there was wharf, the land OPP
poste being in 1921 owned by Frederick
Cana. Joseph Pearson in 1898 owned
part of the wharf and property in the
square, including the corner of 9th and
NJ streets. Six years later part of the
square and wharf were owned by Will
liam Stettinus, and in 1898 Alpheus Hy-
att owned in square and wharf.
In the thirtieS there was a brickyard
in the northeast part of the square, work
ed by Thomas Crown, and there had been
some improvements made. R. Y. Brent
was listed for 1000. w. Stettinus ct al
So 900 and 81 600 for wharf Included in
these is the brick building at the north
east corner of 7th or Water and NJ
streets. known during the civil war as the
"Powhatan House." yet used for public
house
1t was in 1850 that George Page bought
In this square and esta blished a shipyard,
adding to his industries elsewhere. and
with George Mattingly in 1851 he bought
square All, north. The shipyard was To-
Gated north of NJ street, and it led to the
opening of 7th street. for, as before
stated, new ferryboat line to Alexandria
was established. for which the steamers
Union and George Page were built The
steamers William Sheldon, Champion and
other boats were constructed here. There
had been cut through the bluff in 18th
street a narrow wagon track, but pedes-
TRANS made their way to and from the
wharves by a long flight of steps on the
face of the bluff east of eth street whiNh
Mr.. Page had constructed. The necessity
of widening the carriageWay and laying
foot pavement was now apparent and
naturally Mr.. Page. who had been elected
an alderman in 1851, was an earnest adj
vocate.
The dominant issue for some in the
municipal campaign of '53 was as to
which side of 18th street should be given
a foot pavement it being conceded that
the corporation would not then provide
for pavements on both sides. Mr. Mat
tingy having esta blished brickyard on
9th street between X and l. streets, the
travel east of 18th street was augmented
and the Improvement of that side was
urged by many. including Mr. Page This
was fatal to the ambition of Mr.. Page
to succeed himself. for D. B. Johnson
was elected and the pavement went to
the west side.
About 1860 the steamboat business be-
came more firmly established by Messrs
George and Thomas Parker buying wharf
property, and In addition to other boats
landing here was the steamer Thomas
Collyer. which ran to Mount Vernon
The First Square Settled.
OF the squares on the west side of 7th
street that between H, 1 and Sth streets.
No 439. is believed to have been the
first settled. In 1913 it was leased to
William Moore for seven years and in
1920 George E. Ironside, a State Depart
ment clerk. was living in a frame house
at the southeast corner of 9Th and H.
streets This house. In the boyhood of
some gray-haired people, had an aged ap-
pearance and is thought to have been
erected by the Youngs, who were succeed
ed in the ownership of the square by Dr.
c. B. Hamilton. U.S.N.. in 1913 In the
thirties V Camilear, S. B. harper Benja-