Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-19

completed; square of ground near the
mouth of Rock creek and several lots
near the foot Of list street west, on the
ancient Buckman's point, in the locality
known as Carrollsbu- &. The property or
| North Capitol street between b and
streets was the only piece improved
that in square Fl, west of the observatory
grounds, laid bare till about 1880, and
the lots on the point are yet devoid OF
imp. ovement.
1t was the intention of Washington,
after having served as the first citizen or
| residence near the Capitol. in the city
which bears his name, and he preferrsd 70
call 1t by it's original name Of "The Fed
e al CITY, He left full evidence OF this
in the building erected on North Capitol
street few hundred yards north of the
| Capitol and the walls Of which now form
the upper stories of a hotel but he died
about the time 1t was ready for oc-
cupancy.
| in square 634 fronting on New jersey
avenue between B and c streets. TO-
$3O6.66 and on october 3. TBS. he Dough
| the lot east No. 16. fronting 54h feet OF
North Capitol street of Daniel Carroll o
The latter lot was bought probably TO
speedy Improvement. for two month
| later he wrote to DR.. William Thornton
on the subject of building, and 1t appear
"
to Gen. Lincoln Of Boston that he hao
been induced tQ build two houses for the
accommodation of members OF Congress
| It also appears from his letters that DIR.
| Thornton was in charge of the work and
| that they were erected by Messrs. Geo &c
Blagden, master stone cutter, and John
Lenthall, clerk on the Capitol works, and
December 20 he sent a check for $500 to
enable Mr.. Blagden to lay in the ma
terial.
There il little doubt but that the
brick used In the walls was made In
the vicinity, the material being ~ hand,
and the walls were commenced In the
spring. lie erection of the building
was not completed till about the time
of his death in December. delays hav-
ing occurred in the delivery of the
glass. In tue meantime there was de-
Walton of he plan. Washington wish
ing to use it as his winter residence. 1t
was for that day a palatial building, COW
ering the entire front Of the lot, fifty
four and -one-half feet, three stories In
height wide entrance in the center and
the apartments large and well lighted, on
the brow Of the hill, and commanding an
extensive view. There is little doubt. had
Washington lived, 1t would have been the
leading private dwelling in the District.
Washington died December Is, 1893, and
ii was not occupied by any Of his family.
and a few years after 1T was, with ntae
alteration, restored to it's original plan
boarding houses. They were listed at
IS 600 and the ground at > cents per
foot by the corporation. and in the sched-
ule of property attached to his will he
was occupied by A. Frost. who. with
Philip Gadsden and Mrs. Ann Brodeau.
owned unimproved lots nearby. John T.
Frost Of the office o. clerk Of the House
OF Representatives. with fel ow-clerk
s. Burch. on the approach OF the British
in August. 1914. saved many Of the rec
ords by sending them out Of the city.
and others he removed to his house. The
enemy destroyed the papers there and
set fire to the buildings. completely de-
stroyins them and leaving only the black
ened walls.
Under a decree of the court the prop
erty was sold BY E G. . W mas'a
iish and W. S. Nichols for s:44s.is.
1871 cents per square foot-and the
former transferred his half to the lat
quentIy P. Morte. using the old walls.
built two houses. which were rented in
the twenties to John G. Mcdonald, long
a clerk in the office Of the secretary Of
held a similar position in the clerks
office of the House Of Representatives.
1t appears that the improvement of this
Of the neighbour God. for these. houses
with that of William Elliot. adjoining
on the south side for half a century
alone marred adjacent rural conditions:
In 1880 Messrs. Morte, Nichols and
Baker were interested. and in May the
houses and lots were offered at public
sale, but there were no bidders then.
In December following Nicholas Callen
bought tn property for $4,000. and in
December. 1883, sold it to Admiral
Charles Wilkes for $1,000. The latter
at the same time bought from Mrs.
Bradeau lot Is. adjoining On the north,
5.7Sa feet, for $500 The admiral was
then a lieutenant in the navy and about
1S40 was in command Of an exploring
expedition to the Pacific and antarctic
regions: and he made his home in one
Of the houses several years before NOV
ing to Lafayette Square.
The street was lowered somewhat be-
fore the civil war. rendering steps nee
essary to reach the doors; and in the
days OF Shepherd. when the nrsSani