Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-31
DAYS OF CITY
Where Convention Hall and
Market Now Stand.
UNSETTLED IN YEAR 1900
Progress From Rural Conditions to
Busy Urban Section.
IMPROVEMENT CAME SLOWLY
Changes in Proprietorship and Some
of the Early Residents and
Their Accomplishments.
IMPROVEMENT CAME SLOWLY

! ket stand the settlement was SLOW. II
would seem. however, that Greenleaf and
associates must have had optimistic
views in reference thereto. 4 number Of
changes in title took place around 1870
| The six squares numbered \ 80 80
and 5l6 and 5o5 TO 527. lying between Sd.
9TH and I streets. south of New York
avenue. were carved IN the Lynch and
Sands part of Port Royal with small
part in Oden's tract. and for many years
were bare of improvements. lying in the
open The ground was REGARDED as OF
Little value. for but half cent per foot
vas the assessment in 1902. and this was
| reduced to a quarter cent. and it was in
| the twenties when a cent per foot was
| reached. double that rate being assessed
I, in the thirties. Little street Improvement
was there. and if we except I street.
where the curbs were set and brick pave
| ment laid about 1912 and the road to
| Gales" as New York avenue was
| called. there were no we'll beaten tracks
| for vehicles or pedestrians
Meandering Wagon Road.
| In the thirties a meandering wagon
road had been we'll worn in the lines Of
New York avenue. for there was some
| travel to Gales or lexington. and the
Slaughter ilOusc oii A>ol LII SdPAtoi e'iSCS
above New York avenue. where flowed a
branch of Tiber creek. West of the pres
ent market the ponds in which. in the
i i"sirs ERE 's Supplied BY two or three
small runs, and from these the medical
profession and the BARRIERS were served
In those days the tonsorial artists prac-
ticed cupping and leeching as we'll as
barbering.
On the point in the lines of New York
avenue and l. street east of 9Th street, In
the twenties and thirties. the spring then
supplied the watts of Moores tan yard,
and the stocks of hides mostly came from
the slaughter houses farther north. For
years after Willow Tree spring was the
name attached. such tree growing near 1t.
In tho lines of New York avenue. 4th
and oth streets was square north Of ol3
formed. and it was the scene of the first
settlement. The nine lots We're in 1896 APP
portioned to the United States. and no
change was made In the ownership until
1923. Then James S. Moore purcha sed the
lots at the west end of the square and
esta blshed the tannery above noted.
erecting a few buildings thereon. which
were assessed for $500 In 1871 Andrew
Rothwell purchased the Moore property
and shortly after acquired the other por-
lions of the square. r, j. Powell. long
In the shoe finding business on 9TH street.
bought on New York avenue and erected
a home The late Gen. Powell of the
army was a son who. enlisting as a pri-
vate in the Washington Zouaves Capt
J. Tyler Powell. served through the war
winning promotion. and for some years
was colonel of the 9th Infantry. a few
years before his death he was retired as
a brigadier general.
A. D. Melchor Erects Home.
In 1s44 Mr.. Rothwell cut the square
into a number of sublots. which he
placed on the market Andrew D. Mel
Choir bought on 4th street first. and
afterward on New York avenue. build
ing on the latter a fine three-stor
residence Mr. Melchor was carpenter
and builder of reputation. and a daugh
ter for years was well known in must
cal circles as charming vocalist.
About 1S49 Frederick Iddins. a master
painter bought at 4th street and New
York avenue. erecting fine house, in
which a grocery was established. John
II. Howlet and others were on New
York avenue afterward
The X Street market square-Jlo-lorg
remained idle as to natural development
The twenty eight lots into which 1t was
divided were included IN the Greenleaf
contract of 1874. but were apportioned in
the division to Lynch & Sands In 1902
William Lorman had six lots; four years
after Joseph Taylor seven. which in 1863
went to Thomas Cotrell. then to NJ
Ward. and in 1872 TO James Eastburn
~ ii L.
the next year to Raphael Semmes. In
ISIS c. G.. Carroll bought the six lots
bought by Lorman in 1902. which,
through David A. Hale, in 1912 went TO
Lewis Johnson.
In 1891 John II. Hewlett owned three
lots on the site of the market, and here
he built home and followed his trade of
gardener for number of years. He soon
had a fine garden of fruit flowers and
vegetables and was quite successful tor
u he Snl6 and
moved to New York avenue.
Successful at Raising Peaches.
There was much interest displayed in
the English mode followed by Mr. How
lett in training peach trees against a
wall or fence. SO that they were fan-like.
and 1t was noticed he he'd fine fruit early,
Mr. Howletts son Henry was long we'll
known in building circles as a successful
contractor. and more than five school
buildings attest his skill. The father lived
TO be over ninety years of age
George Savage. long e hardware dealer
on the avenue in the fnrties residing on
n street near 9th street, succeeded to
this property in the tiftes. and, erecting
a fine dwelling facing + street made his
home here. Mr. Savage was a jealous
temperance advocate, who, especially on
Sunday afternoons. held meetings. and in
behalf of the cause rtsised his voice at
The square south of the above SIG be-
tween 4th 9TH. l and + streets. was the
most rapidly improved, after start was
made about 1910 Prior to 1900 were
its twenty-eight lots allotted Lynch and
Sands, Greenleaf and Benjamin Odi.e
sharing There was NJ change of title
till 1877 when John p. Ingle bought
several lots In the thirtes John Humes.
Elias Kane and John c. Brent each had
lots. George Cover and Inez B. Palmer
each having passed title TO the latter.
ed ten lots and made subdivision. In
1871 John T Clements. then superinten-
dent of the folding room at the Capitol.
came on the square buying two lots
fronting on I street on the corner of 9th
street Here he erected two brick
houses, renting one and taking up his
residence in the other. moving from 9TH
street opposite ST. Mary's Church. Mr.,
Clements was in his day carpenter and
builder and was active in local affairs
generally. serving in the councils. and
was one of the first settlers in standing
as well as in point of time
Pillar of the Church.
He was one of the organizers OF the
Assemolys Presbyterian Church. Maj J.
sion Office. is son.
William Truman. carpenter was
last with two houses and lots.
making his residence on one and
the widow lived here many years
Parts of lots were owaed by j McDer-
mot, F. e. Dant and Henry Howard, and
story brick houses.
Eranch