Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15
.OLD-T|ME MIL SEAT
Historic Landmark of Early
Washington Life.
FED BY THEIRS WATERS
Homestead Occupied for a Hundred
Years.
HOME OF THE CAzENAvE FOLK
Slow Change of Squares That
Passed From and to Government.
Georgetown College Lands.
HOME OF THE CAZENAvE FOLK

Mill Seat, which was carved into a num-
Der of squares. In 1871 that portion of
it upon the laying out OF the Capital city
fell In its lines. In this Mill Seat there
was for more than fifty years, until about
1910, what was known as Young's. Pear
sons and Logan's mill, successively-an
oidfashioned grist mill fed by the waters
of the Tiber. an overshot after an under
shot wheel being used. 1t was of frame,
and during its existence. as the popula
ton increased, business demanded its en-
largement
This mill and the frame house on the
hill east which fell in the lines of Della
ware avenue north of J. street, were the
only improvements during the first half
of the last century. The latter was used
as habitation for about a hundred years,
1t having been erected about 1IS9 as the
home of Mrs. Ann Cazenave the daugh-
ter of Mr.. Young, on her marriage to
Peter Cazenave, a merchant of George
town, who. however, lived here but a few
years owing to the death of Mr.. Cazenave.
During her residence here and later.
when occupied by the Youngs, Fenwicks
and others connected with the Young
family. the spacious room at the east end
was used a place of worship for the
family. friends and others. Services were
frequently conducted by Fathers Nicolas.
slave of the Youngs. when nearly ninety
years of age. stated to the writer that
as a child she had worshiped there when
the room was filled by white and colored,
bond and free.
Though there were but few people in
the immediate neighborhood. the state
mcnt is undoubtedly correct. for prior
TO 1920 st. Patrick's Church on r street.
Barry,s Chapel on the Point and Queens
Chapel in the country were the nearest
points for the Catholic wOrShin
Walked Miles to Church.
1t was. therefore. not uncommon for
the faithful to walk miles to attend
mass. The place in Mr.. Cazenave's day
is said to have been also the scene of
much sayety, for the principal characters
In laying the foundations of the city were
often guests here. and later, following
the death of Mr.. CaZenave. under the
name of Cazenovia. it figured prominently
in social life
North of * street. between 1st and
4th streets. there was. for the greater
part of the nineteenth century. an alb
sence of urban conditions other than
those above noted. From q branch Of
the Tiber, which entered the city limits
near the head of I'd street. eastward, the
land was somewhat hillN. and interspers:
ed in the primeval growth was cleared
land cultivated to corn and other crops.
and attic in the colonial style, facing
south. with porch extending its length,
well shaded by native trees, on the sum-
NIT of hill. reached by graveled car
rage way with the mill to the west
and here and there the out-buildings
stables. quarters. etc. of a well manag-
ed farm. made a picture of oldtime rural
life. That the place was appreciated as
late as the early fifties, is shown by
the fact that members of Congress. dur
ing several sessions, occupied it for
quarters.
Streets Fenced for Cows.
After the civil war it was occupied
by Michigan. a well known milllman
There had been but little change other
than that wrought by time. The dlapi-
dated fencing, much of it inciosing the
street bed. required repair by Mr.. Nelli-
gan to keep his cows al home The
streets had not then been cut through,
and 1t was difficult 10 locate them. The
rural aspect may be said TO have re-
ceived its first jar by the location of the
Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad some forty years ago.
The recent changes and addition of tracks
in connection with the Union station
has dspeled. in some respects. the idea
of that section becoming the residential
section. contemplated when the city
was first planned.
That this section. enchanting as IL was
to those who appreciated rural scenery,
did not appreciate rapidly in values is
seen con the assessment books. and since
much. of il was vested in the govern
men- the receipts for taxes We're next
to nothing. Little. however, was needed
to spend the Streets Not until the
thrties, when Mr.. Gales established his
hom. at lexington. near the head of
mand for a road. 1t was after the civil
war. however, following the location of
the deaf ard Gunb institution. that
roadway thereto was worn along VI
street.
Little Change of Title.
.As will be seen, there was little change
of title: in fact. sales were rare, and
the few transactions were by wholesale.
. entire squares figuring. In illustration
was that of the purchase by Mr.. Orr Of
the CaZenave property, the square within
Delaware avenue. NJ. \ and Sd streets.
Four of the seven lots in the square
south and five of the sixteen i'm square
ives. of the latter, were conveyed in $50
for $1,000, and w. B. Todd. IS late as
1851, bought of Georgetown College near
Is 100000 feet at less than mill and a
half W.o01D per foot in the eastern por
ton of this section. The CaZenave house
in 1880 listed at $1,000 value and, in
Guiding the land, at $1,000
Donation by Congress.
Square III. twelve lots. on X, l.. lst
and I'd streets as u. Carrolls land in
1871 was vested in the United States
| and in 1857 was included in the donation
of lots by Congress to educational and
charitable institutions under act of March
> 1883. 1t was decided By William No
land commissioner of public buildings.
to Georgetown College, with other squares
and lots. and thus was listed for taxation
for many years. but a fourth of a cent
being the assessed value. The triangle
east of one lot, square ia. in the lines
of Delaware avenue. X and I'd streets.
! was vested in Mr.. Carroll
The square between I'd, Sd. Il and |.
streets No. 74a was allotted to the gov
; eminent and its twelve lots were
held till 1887 and were included in tie
donation TO the Georgetown College. The
twelve lots on I'd. 4th. Is and l. streets
forming square IA. as MIR. Young's. we
vested in the United States in I1G. aud
Georgetown College in 1857 received tit
from the government.
In square H.. between J.. NJ and Is.
streets and Delaware avenue on which
twelve lots were laid out in the name of
IoIngS heirs and Mr.. Carroll. was d-
vided in 1So2. the government taking the
| six lots Of the west half Of the square,