Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-11
Regarded as Necessity by Old
Washingtonians.
BUILDING UP THE SQUARES
Public Wells Preceded the Con-
struction of Homes.
SETTLEMENT ABOVE H STREET
Territory Embraced Between 18th
and 18th Streets N.W.-Where
Wells Were Located.

In the settlement of that portion Of the
Capital city above II street between eth
street and 18th street northwest and the
wild waste of commons known as the
slashes. the location of public pumps in
f1uenced the building UP of the squares
and the conversion of the waste to a
growing town.
With 9TH street a thoroughfare 10
Montgomery county, much used by the
farmers en- route to and from the old
Marsh, or Center, market, this street led
In the civic development of the section.
The water supply and settlement usually
were simultaneous. and ofttimes while
material for building was being depo sited
near the site of a house the owner would
start petition for a pump: in some
cases would assume the responsibility
and lock to the owners of adj cent ground
and the corporation for reimbursement
Some OF the pumps noted are now re-
membered by but few. a number Of ten
were used for only short time, new
pump with fine water causing those with
inferior water to be abandoned. There Is
no complete record of the pumps, and
what follows Is based mainly on the re-
objection Of William Tucker and the chill
dren of the ward commissioners who
were charged with their supervision.
Orphan Asylum Site.
On the west side of 9TH street, midway
between II and I streets. the Washing
ton City Orphan Asylum, now at 18th
and s streets, was located. about the
year 1915, In rented quarters and was
there several years. About the same
4. <l,, Lat he o. In
use as a building site and a pump at
kernan's door at the corner of III street
described in The Star of November 26,
supplied the public. 1t was a public
house under the name of the Farmer S
Hotel was conducted by j. Lyons, in the
fortieS. It became most popular resort
for country people. having large wagon
yard for their accommodat on, and was
afterward known as the Clifton House.
In the hfties. under p. w. Dorsey, it was
known as the Hand Tavern, but in few
years it took the name of Dorseys Hotel
and increased accommoda ton for teams
was provided by extending the yard and
constructing a brick building-of large
dimensions for that day.
South the establ shment of Ailer &
Fhysol had been established. and gro
ceries. paints. oils. glass, croc xery. -four.
feed and hardware were for sale. Mrs.
Alters notion and fancy goods store ad-
joined the other store. On this square
n
Bassett, saddle and harness maker; Z. 4.
Wineberger tailor, and p. Leydane. boot
and shoe dealer. Opposite them, in the
thirties, was n. b. Van Zandt, one of
the earliest claim agents. and for many
years Treasury clerk; William Hunter,
a clerk In the fourth auditors office. and
NJ Hunter. a blacksmith and whitesmth
About 1910 John Williams was located
on the east side of Sth street south of K
street and in the neighborhood were Will
George Harvey. painter: d. D. L. Leech
of the Post Office Department, S. IL.
Taylor, bricklayer, and others.
Crandell's pump. at the northwest cor
ner of 9th and ! streets, was popular in
the fifties.
At the southwest corner of 18th and X
streets, there was pump convenient to
the general public, attracted by the 1oca-
ton of the Northern Liberties market and
the fire company on what was but an
open waste.
Corner Of X Street.
BY 1915 it was well built up by resi-
dences and stores and on the corner of
K street the pump in front of Thomas
Corners blacksmith and junk shop had
a good patronage. George w. TIER
maehle was there in the tailoring bust
ness, as also DR.. S. Mitchell, \. Martin.
John Holt. II. r. Buckley, Mrs Aber-
crombc. Brown and Hyatt and E. De-
veney. dry goods dealers: A. Wagner.
carpenter: J.. G. Weaver, confectloner.
S. Wise. carpenter: B. F. Morsell. grocer,
and at the ! street corner 4. II. Young.
grocer.
North of * street. before 1910. Y. E.
King kept the grocery long after known
AS Spignurs. Mr.. Spignul was then a
dealer in the market. living north of *
street The water supply came from the
pump in Is street west of the store. and
it was known as Grif1iths On 7th street
were II. It. Parker, tailor: E. F. Queen &
Bro, grocers; c. F. Tatspaugh. grocer ::
Mrs. Smith. B. Henning, carpenter: Walk
or Lewis, S. III. White and Mrs. Hillary.
at the corner of l. street.
A pump nf good water at the south
west corner of Sth and l. streets was in a
neigkborhood of frame dwellings. where
the footwayS of red gravel, laid in the
forties. was provided for by the corpora
ton paving one-half the expense and the
property holders the balance. Joseph
Downing. Joseph Reeves, John Ferguson
and Squire Gilbert l.. Giberson We're some
of the neighbors: and. to Judge from its
long service, it having been among the
last removed. 1t was a valuable adjunct
to the sect on.
In the neighborhood of 18th street and
New York avenue good water was in de-
mand about 1910. as were also brick pave
ments. John Soussa was west of the
corner. and there are half a dozen small
brick houses yet standing there. The gro
Gerry of James E. Ager was here for sew
eral years. and in the forties the corner
site was improved by Michael Tally, who
conducted grocery business and a fruit
store eth street near this avenue r.
Stoops had a grocery here in 1850. AT
one time many of the patrons were
cclored residents, who lived on the north
front of the square, but by this TIM a
number of white families patronized the
store. as well as the pump. and the shoe
making shop adjoining fourished. a good
pump was there for seventy years.
The northeast corner of 9Th and !
streets was the location of fine pump
convenient to the residences of Michael
Reardon. many years deputy marshal
of the local and the Supreme Court of
the United States: William Jones, u well
known carpenter; Joseph L. Burnett,
proprietor of the pottery east, and George
McNeir, claim agent. and .. McPher-
son. carpenter, southwark.
From the northeast corner of 9th and |
streets came the water supply by pump
in the forties to John Scrivener. clerk
Thomas Lewis, bricklayer, and W. Elem
ner. merchant ia lor.
At the northwest corner OF 10Th street
and New York avenue, prior to 1910,
p ckrells stora had a pump in front. and
the water being regarded as containing
masnesia, there was ever a great run
upon It After Mrs. Pickrell, Georse
Seitz, baker. moved there, and 1t took
his name In later wears when q dr,,o