Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17

of public buildings. and two years later
he sold part of lot t. on the west end OF
the square, to Henry Hoffman The lat
ter erected there a threestory brlck
house and opened a tavern. moving there
from 9TH street opposite he Marsh. or
Center Market. This was later known
as Charley Shusters. and still later as
Dutch Georges Fer long time II was
the only house on the square.
Early Transfers Noted.
Between L. 9th and 7th streets north
vlded into twelve lots, and in tie hands
of Greenleaf in 1874. A transfer of lot 3
In 1906 was made to James Taylor and of
lots > and II. running through the center
OF the square. to Thomas Wannell IN
1917. Lot I at the southwest corner was
passed to r. r. Ward in 1925: lot g on
New York avenue. TO John a. Smith IN
ls23; lot 10 on l. street. to George cover
In 1870 and parts of lot 10 TO w. Martin
and l.. Ashton in 1882.
AS far as can be ascertained there had
square till the advent Of Joseph Straub in
1887. Mr.. Straub bought part of lot III
and afterward lot at the southeast cor
ner OF 9TH and l. streets. He erected
thereon modest home and kiln and went
INTO The pottery business, at the same
family lived there many years and the
business was conducted there till war
times. In 1888 James Hanley. printer,
bought lot at the east end of the square
ana there was afterward erected on 1t a
neat frame dwelling. In the forties the
well known Joseph harden lived there.
and subsequently George Forbes, press
man. The former when youth was en-
ployed at the old American Theater and
Travelled some with company as a prop
erty man. but at this period he was a
wheelwright. 1t was, however, as ca
ferer that he was best known, and when
managing an eating house he served his
patrons without stint
1t is related that he once had custo-
mer whose astronomical feats gave him
much apprehension. for the fellow was
accust omed to consume at his meals
enough for three ordinary men besides
being of no benefit to the house. After
weighing the subject a day or two Mr.
Nardin mapped out his course. One morn
ing as the fellow was en- route to his
breakfast Mr.. Nardin hailed him with
Here Tom. take this quarter and &c
in there pointing to neishboring saloon
and proffering the coin). Besides saving
me money, you'll save your health. too
for they will not allow you to overeat
yourself there" Thinking that it was in
used to pay for the breakfast in a neigh
boring saloon. and Tom remained away
from Mr.. Nardins several days. When
he returned It was with a subdued ap-
petite. The lesson proved a lasting one
and d beneficial one doubtless, for he
lived to an old age.
Old-Time Owners.
In 1898 ]. A. NJ. Duncanson owned lot g.
on It'll street, while Elias Kane had lots
4 and II. The next year Philip Otterback
owned the corner OF It'll and l. streets,
and S. Jerome Degges owned the adjoin-
ing lot south. Mr.. Degges was one Of the
we'll known family OF that name. For
years he was engaged in bricklaying. On
his lot he erected two-story brick dwell
ing, in front of which was a flower gar
den. He made his home there for some
years. John w. Tonge. a tin and stove
worker. lived there afterward. He is now
about ninety years of age and living In
Baltimore. In 1879 there were a number of
changes in title. II. Howard. w. Flaherty
and G.. Hill owning lot 1; David A. Hall.
fifth. Z. Ellis and B. Henning, Tot s. and
S. w. Handy. lots ) and II. The next
year 0. j. Collins owned lot /. and Mr..
Griffith leased lot &. Later on 7th street
there We're a few shops. A frame build
ing north of New York avenue. 1861, was
converted into saloon. which became
we'll known as the Blue Goose" The
painted front suggested the first part OF
the name. but the wherefore for the latter
part was never explained.
The square east of the preceding.
known as square S. 49,. on the lines Of
New York avenue. 9th and l. streets. con-
sisted of but one lot. which. in 1896. was
vested in the United States. and in 1888
was conveyed to the Columbian College
1t was undeveloped for many years. but
in 1857 it was purchased by the corpora
ton Of Washington and a building erected
for the public schools and fine engine
house. The Northern Liberties fire COM
pany was located here for few years,
but later the building for many years was
and has been devoted entirely to school
purposes under the present name of the
Abbott School building. named in honor
Of Prof G. l. Abbott. long teacher of a
private school at and 18th streets and
trustee of the public schools in 1914 and
long after.
Another square in which Greenleaf fig
ured. square 4Si, between 9Th and 9Th
streets and X street and New York ave-
nue., was long time coming into use. In
1898 the title to it was in Samuel De-
vaughns name. Today it is largely occu-
pied as a lumber yard. while on the X
street front are some small buildings de-
voted to business of various kinds.