Evening star., 1909-07-01
IN OLD WASHINGTON.

In the neighborhood OF Rodbirds Hill.
as it was then known. between lst street
east. 4th street west. X and NJ streets
north, there were many fine building sites
projected. in the plans for the city. but for
years there was no indication of improve
ment.
The hill had a steep descent from
about NJ street between North Capitol and
1st streets eastward to the Tiber. and
gradual in other directions The view,
,herefrom. was fine and interesting, for
the gradual. scarcely perceptibie. change
from the state of nature to urban condi-
tions was plainly visible,
Though at an early date Greenleaf and
through him, Morris & Nicholson. Pratt
Francis ct al. and other extensive operat-
ors became interested. material improve
ment did not appear until the twenties
Nor did the ground appreciate In value
till long after, less than a cent being as
sessed--in some squares but one-fourth
a cent.
J-nbroken was the land by street i'm
provements. The beds Of the streets.
cleared of trees, could just be defined.
North of Massachusetts avenue corpor a
ton laws did not interfere with the
shooting of game.
Rodbird's Hill in the second and third
decades Of the century was depicted or
ancient maps. Around this was open
tempt at gardening Along North Capt.
tol street was a simple wagon track. as
also one to the mill known as Youngs.
or Pearsons. on the Tiber.
Indeed until the civil war the mill
was operated. Long afterward its site
with the race, was favorite goal for
young people.
Named After Absalom Rodbird.
Absalom Rodbird came to the District
of Columbia in 1906 and gave the name
of "Rodbirds Hill to the locality in
1923 by settling on the northwest part
of square $40 between North Capitol
1st. L and NJ streets.
This square, in the Ben Oden tract
of twenty -four lots. in 1895. was appor-
toned. the west twelve lots to the
United States and the others to Motley
Young and Benjamin Oden. But Green
leaf was interested two years before.
In 1915 Daniel Bates became owner of
lots II to II. and In 1923 G. Venable
executor of Mr.. Bates. sold them. A.
Rodbird, ST.. bought lots IL. IS. II and
II in trust for his children for $50. and
A. Rodbird. jr., lots Is and Is.
A tWo-story brick and frame dwelling
on the corner. assessed at $3.50 in 1890
was the home for some years. Later the
and the daughter. Mrs. Jane Campbell
improved their portions.
In 1884 John p. Ingle owned lots l to
5 and "a, the southeast quarter. which
in 1898 were in Oden's name. In 1S4-
A Stopper owned the northeast quarter
lots, IS to %. and Peter Conlan lots {
to II, the southwest quarter. In 1853 a
subdivision was made by which an in
terror street was constructed and named
for the then President Pierce. Rust Hail.
cS:t-N l.. h,.{l1 1ty,rxc
now occupy the northeast quarter.
About the time of the settlement noted
above square $50 was settled. James
Brady building on the east side of Sd
street between X and L. streets, where
he had purchased In 1921 house listed
at $3.50. In 1890 to A. Smallwood was
listed $3.50 improvement on Sd street.
Between X, l. and Sd streets. west of
New Jersey avenue, square 55S was d.
vided into ten lots. In 1906 the govern
ing to Benjamin Oden. Greenleaf and
Lynch & Sands. In 1907 George Lewis
owned lot l. which in 1912 went to j.
Peltz In 1918 Thomas Carbery owned
lot s. which went to James Brady In 1921.
8. Mast owned o in 1890.
In 1882 j. A. NJ. Duncanson became
vested with 3. and William Peters with
o. A Smallwood owned on K street in
1884. In 1880 a lot each was owned by
B. Gwinny. ]. P. Donenberg. Elias Kane
-. "A.
Ing another. A subdivision was made of
this square in 1859
About 1880 a small house at the south
west corner of Sd and L streets was
listed to Batty Mccoy, colored. Four
years afterward Benjamin Mccoy bought
two lots there. 9 and 10. of George Coon,
for 5000. In this square. No. 526, twelve
lots went to Lynch & Sands in the ap-
portionment. Greenleaf had interests.
and John j. H. Warder bought lots 2. 3
and in 1911: r. c. Sand. ). in 1914;
Alex Suter, 1. II and u. In 1917: w. H.
Harrison and T. Atkinson. B. and G..
10. in 1884, D. A. Hall. 6 to 8. in 1896,
and James Sinclair, west one-half. In
1888.
In 1s45 subdivision was made. and
r. A. Hawke bought part lot 3. corner
4th and K. for $50. cents per foot.
In square 800. between New Jersey
avenue, 1st, K and l. streets, fourteen
lots in 1896 were apportioned. Benjamin
Oden taking title to four. Lynch &
Sands to one and the United States to
seven. Prior to 1927 there was little
change of title. some of it passing then
by tax deed to J. P. 1ngle. In 1929 two
additional lots were acquired by the gov