Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-10
EARLY LAND OWNERS.

There were eight building squares laid
out between L. p. 9th and 1lth streets
northwest which totaled over a hundred
original lots, and In half q century the
number of men. women and children did
not exceed that number.
And. indeed, SO little demand was there
for building sites that the subdivision
into smaller lots seemed out Of place
Most of it, the northern portion especial
ly. laid In the open till about 1910. brick
making being carried on. as well as some
gardening. Prior to that time the only
sign Of improvement was two small
frames on the south side OF n street
between 9th and 10th streets, listed at
$40. and in the streets were the tracks
made by the brick carts and other We
hicles.
1t is not. therefore. strange that the
valuation of half cent per foot the cor
poratiOn placed on the ground In 1sG!
still prevailed in the thirties. though
some lots were rated at 11s and cents
per foot. All the eight squares are now
covered by comfortable brick residences,
etc. few occupants. however. can re-
call the shooting of small game and
blackberrying on the sites of their homes.
Blodget, Lynch and Sands and John Da-
Wilson's heirs were the original owners
and some of the ground in the division by
square 3ts3. between 9th and 10th, l. and
VI streets, of twenty lots. the United
States took title. but before 1t had been
INCLUDED iii the Greenleaf purchase. The
first value Was bali cent per foot, than
ii sixth for twenty years. in 1880 reaching
IA half cent. In 1Si3 ]. NJ. ellis bought lot
l at the corner of 9th and l. streets and
lot 3 on l. street. for $500. James Caden,
lot .. adjoining, and lots TO 20, the re-
mainder OF the square. J.. N. Ramsey
bought lot ~ on 9th street. which, with
ID adjoining, went to John Ferguson. Mr..
Caden then made subdivision of twen-
! bought of +. ellis lot |. with improve
ments for 81 ,aD and Samuel Butt, car
penter, LOT :. which he improved.
William +. Howell. in 1915 bought part
| lot |, the corner, and was here many
| years ii grocer and bacon dealer X.
! j. Jones had part o. this lo., III. Il.
Sweeney lot 10 In 1Si6 james W. Gar
ner of the Treasury bought lot 20 on 9th
street. Maj. HeiSs bought lot and George
ellis resided on the same lot.
| j. Il. Hillery bought a lot on the cor
ner of 10th and l. streets and III 1877 sold
the same TO John Murphy, who establish
ed the grocery which by his son Is car
red on today.
There resided. about 1Si5, on this
! square Zephaniah Jones. long u master
| bricklayer; James Berry, a carpenter:
James w. Garner and George w. Faes
Of the Treasury. On 9th street. and r. s.
! Bryant on the east side of 10th, in ad-
| dition to the above named.
West of the above between 10th and nth
| streets. square 34l was laid off for
! twelve lots, and Davidson's heirs took tile
| east half and the United States the
| other. Thomas Snowden In 1903 bought
| several lots. In 1910 Dav.dson's heirs
made a subdivision into sixteen lots fac
| ing east and west. IN 1870 &. l.. Calf
man bought sub :; for s9337 and con
! veyed it to j. j. FIR. and W. c. Ella
son bought lot =. In the next year SUI
3 went 10 r. Butt, sub to WilliaE