The Washington herald., 1909-01-02

The turn OF the year was signalized by
one Of the largest real estate deals for
many months
St Matthews Church property, at the
northeast corner Of Fifteenth and Il
streets northwest. has been sold TO Nc
Neil & Mcneil. attorneys. representing
clients, for g sum close to $4,000 The
deal for the property was engineered by
Alexander Mcneil. between Mgr. Lee
for the church, and the purchasers
The deeds conveying the property to
the new owners were executed on Deem
Der 81. and were taken Immediately to
Baltimore to receive the signature Of
Cardinal Gibbons. who holds title 70 the
property as archbishop Of the diocese.
The Tarers VIII be placed on record here
within the next few days
The property has a frontage of rs feet
on z street and $50 feet on Fifteenth
street II IS improved by the old church
building. which has been e landmark in
Washington for half a century. and by
two business houses. adjoining The
property comprises something over 2, 20
square feet. and Il is understood the pur-
chase price was between 81 and IS 5
square foot
Long on the Market.
TIE St Matthews Church property has
been on the market for long time, and
numerous negotiations have been made
for e. in times past Options have been
taken and deals started. which. for one
reason and another. failed Probably this
property has been the subject Of more
ruIaors fl real estate circles than any
ether IN Washington.
II $ underst sod that Mgr. lee and
Cardinal Gibbons have long felt the ur-
gency of realizing upon this piece Of real
estate to obtain funds with which to com
plete the new house Of worship IN Rhode
Island avenue. which the congregation Of
St Matthews has occupied for about ff-
teen years II IS said that anxiety on
the part of the Two eminent churchmen
has been the greater because Of the
growing demands q the parish for faciI-
tiles with which 70 carry on It's work
Many. Catholic families have been added
20 the parish IN recent years. and the
community from which St. Matthew's
draws It's support has seemed 70 the two
leaders 20 demand a splendid church,
which could not be fully realized until
the old property. which has grown valu-
able with the approach OF The business
interests OF the uptown district, could
be sold
Special Effort to Sell.
This feeling on the part Of Mgr. Lee
and Cardinal Gibbons caused them to
make a special effort recently TO dispose
Of the property. The effort has culrni-
mated n the sale 70 a local syndicate
Identified with local business enterprises.
who we're represented IN the negotiations
by TIE attorneys mentioned.
There IS much speculation as TO the
purpose and plans OF the purchasers, but
these plans the interested parties would
not reveaIe yesterday. They stated thar
Il would be some time before certain
natters connected with the Improvement
Of the property could be settled, and that
# would be unwise to reveal either the
names Of the men connected with the en-
terprise OF the purposes TO which the size
would be put
Suitable for "A Bank.
This property has been thought Ideally
suited 70 the purpose OF g large bank or
trust. company, and it is well known that
certain local financial institutions have
considered its purchase for that purpose.
Others have thought it a suitable site
for a rev hotel. and still Others have
suggested its purchase for q theater or
opera house Whether the new purchasers
VIII put the property to any Of the uses
mentioned. OF simply hold it for further
increase IN its value, cannot be stated
now definitely.
Il is. however. Of some importance and
much satisfaction that this large and
valuable piece Of property should be
handled by distinctly local people, who
are impressed with the increasing value
Of property at the point and about the
point where It is located.
One of the Oldest Churches.
St Matthew's Church. which formerly
occupied the property. is one Of the old
est churches in Washington. 1t was es-
tablished in 1899 by J. P. Donelon. and
for many years thereafter. and. indeed.
until the present time, it has been one
Of the largest and most important re-
igious bodies in the District OF Columbia.
From the old church emanated for half
a century a deep religious spirit. which
had an abiding influence upon the COM
munity Il was the scene of many great
events. one of which was the funeral OF
Gen. Philip Sheridan, which was one OF
the most imposing pageants ever seen at
the Capital.
About fifteen years ago, obeying the
trend OF the movement OF TIE city to-
ward the northwest. the new church
property was purchased in Rhode Island
avenue. and the parish, headquarters es-
tablished there For a few years the old
church was Used occasionally for various
purposes, but for the past six years II
has been practically abandoned. Empty
and alone, Il has stood a silent reminder
OF its former usefulness
It's massive pillars will now probably
soon be laid low, and upon the site nav
be expected 10 rise a structure devoted
solely 10 business purposes.