Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-22
WHEN CITY WAS YOUNG
Southwest Section That Was
Unimproved for Years.
ORIGINAL REALTY OWNERS
Changes in Title Negotiated in First
Half of Century.
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES
Churches in Observation-Disclosures
Whose Salary Was Sole Leather.
Interesting Traditions.
ORIGINAL REALTY OWNERS
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES

between b, IL, Stn ana I'm Stee'S
southwest are areas of the city not devoid
of interest Within these lines were some
of the pioneers in the capitals develop
ment, interested as investors hundred
years ago. though the sole benefit derived
from their holdings was to be seen IN the
charging of taxes against the unimproved
land.
And indeed years passed when there
was not a single reference made to lots
within these bounds on the land records.
That there was some progress made is
apparent. but little was there till about
1910 when a volunteer fire company came
into existence for the protection of prop
erty.
Little public improvement had then been
made. No brick pavements had taken the
place of the few gravel walks which had
followed thes worn footpath through mud
and grass. With the exception of Mary
land avenue from 9th to 10Th. that being
graded about half it's width, other road
ways were unimproved and Of more utility
for grazing than for other purposes.
The squares in the lines of Motley
Young's farm whose mansion was south.
numbered 800. 1896 n. 3o1, 3D.. 3S' to
1885, divided into lots, were apportioned
toned between him and the government
about 1796. But in 1874 six squares, winch
after were vested in the government. had
been included in the contract with James
Greenleaf and they were not developed.
Square 325. between nth. 18th and {
streets south of Virginia avenue. was in
Greenleaf's name. Before 1900 i. had
passed to Morris and Nicholson. been
mortgaged to William Deakins and was
then in the names Of Joseph Ball and
Standish Ford.
vr,ar nil 1nf z
at the corners. In 1900 John Meany had
lots 1 and 6. the southeast and northwest
corners of the square. valuation OF
cents was soon reduced to l cent and
there remained for twenty years.
In 1924 Charles Price had the Meany lots
with lots and :. In 1890 numerous tax
deeds were recorded. w. Douglas had
lots g. and q. William Dening and Z.
selling the latter to John Dix. who later
had lot g. and BENJAMIN Williamson lot ;.
At this period the assessors fixed the
value at to 3 cents: In 1873 MIcha al
Douglass buying from the latter. The
next wear George Mattingly bought lot o
and B. Milburn lot :. the latter passing
TO G. P. Senestark and in 1887 to John
l.. Smith and l.. Shepherd
In 1898 John n. Ford bought lot 4. Vir-
gir'a avenue and 18th street. end here
built his residence. a comfortable frame
building. with the west side of brick. for
from the northwest the winds mad a clean
sweep Mr.. Ford. well known carpenter
became a messenger Of the interior De-
partment for Yeas and resided here a
long tire In 1941 w. B. Norris bought
lot ). Joseph Fitzgerald lot 3 and ].
O'Hare on 9th street. the latter erecting
a two-storv home here Tn 1912 four lots
including the corner of 10Th and G streets
were cvred by K. Coolidge. End shortly
after Willie n r. Bergman had two Of
these lots. and 2. The latter. clerk in
the registers office. resided in a neat
frame COTTAGE on the corner .ome wears.
ard Lerov II. Bergman of he Indian
Office and F. Dankworth. dra ftSma l.
lived on 10Th street.
The square south between nth. 12.h
a-d G streets and MARYLAND avenue. No.
800; of ten lots was in 1877 assigned to
Mr. Young but in 1904 had passed to
the name of Jacobus Merson. For fiftv
wears there was no material growth.
though for some reason i appears
that the earlv valuation of tho ground was
the same as in the square north. The an
praisement in 1870 was from to 10
cents pnr foot In that year II was owned
by Fl. T. Weightman and John F. Webb
under tax deeds. three wears after going
to Joseph Gales. and later the heirs Of
Merson redeemed it.
Used for Lumber Yards.
In the forties much Of it was used in
the lumber trade for an age-Harvey.
Lloyd e. Co.'S yards-and afterward the
late c. r. Church was in the same business
here. Mr.. Church acquired the square
and erected number of houses. and the
square is row the site Of many family
homes.
The triangular space within the lines OF
Virginia avenue. 10th and streets
square No. n. 251. of two lots was divide cd
in 1895. one going to Daniel Carroll The
west lot No. >, went from the govern
ment TO F. D. May in 1877 and through
s.. Elliot. ir.. and John Law it passed
till in 1905 ii was vested in John A.
Smith. Anthony Preston succeeding to
the whole square. Three cents. the first
rate of ground value. was reduced in
cents.
In 1899 John II. Tucker. who. through
his lorg connection with the city post Of
fee as a "nenny post" or lettercarrier.
had become generally known. bought i'm lot
I and improved the property, making his
home here many years. In 1891 Samuel
Crown and J. l.. Peabody owned in the
square. as did Francis r. Lord. in 1875.
and NJ. o. Buck and n. Tastet in the
forties The latter. long clerk in the
three-sto brick residence at the corner
of 10th and B streets. and next lived
John Mcpherson.
Square 351. between Virginia avenue.
10th, 18th and & streets. or sixteen lots,
was vested in Mr.. Young in 1897. hut here
Greenleaf was interested three years be-
fore. and afterward came Morris l. Nichol-
son ct al. The valuations were the same s
noted in the square north for forty years.
and until 1916 it whole had passed
successfully to S. Elliot. jr.: r. III. ellis
and A. Benning. Though no improve
merts are noted before this time. William
Harkins a painter. is said to have been
on G street in 1890. John w. Shiles and
Thomas B. Entwisle in 1916 bought in
the southeast section of 10th and c streets
and were in business some years as car
penters and builders.
The names and values mentioned in the
last named square can be repeated in
square 332. between 10th. 18th and c
street and Maryland avenue. to 1920.
There were but five lots. Of which Will
liam Hewitt. the city register. owned four
in that year: Lewis II. Machin, chief clerk
i'm the secretary of the Senates office.
buying lots to 4 the same year. Mr..
Machin erected here a fine brick residence
and lived here till about 1870 his place.
with it's we'll kept gardens. of flowers. fruits
and vegetables. being most attractive
one. Later S. NJ. Edwards of the post Of
flee. known AS Gen. Edwards. lived here
several years In 1890 William Douglas
bought lot i. and the following year ]. A.
Bender had part of lots l and =, erecting
a home here.
I'm 1889 William NJ. Morrison. long in
the book and stationery business on
PENNSYLVANIA avenue. bought at the corner
of 10th and G. streets, and this was long