The Washington times., 1911-08-09
OLD WARD BUILDING,
NOTED STRUCTURE,
HAS A NEW OWNER
Scene Of Spectacular Busi-
ness Exploits Of Man Who
: Was Tried For Murder.

The old Ward building at 931 D street
northwest has been sold. The papers
transferring the property from the
American Security and Trust Company
to Charles E. Myers have just been
put on record.
The building is a siX-story structure,
one of the oldest large buildings in the
old downtown section or the city. 1t
was built in 1854 by Frank A. Ward,
and Its history has been connected with
a peculiar romance of business success
failure, murder, and, finally, suicide.
When the structure was built Frank
Ward was one of the best known citi-
zens of Washington. He was a plo-
neer in the low-price dairy lunch busi-
ness in this city, and his establishment
six stories in height, was entirely de-
voted to his dairy business and to his
dairy lunch business, which occupied
the first floor. At the top OF the oulld-
ing even now bne may see metal
fiS1re of a cow in the cornice. When
Ward opened the business he tied the
key of the building to balloon and set
the balloon loose, saying that he would
not close the house until he 1alled or
died.
He succeeded well, and his lunch room
and dairy were patronized by almost
every one in the city. But reVerses
came, and he failed ten years later.
At that time young man by the name
of Morris Adler was shot and killed,
and Ward was arrested and tried for
the murder. -,,,
His friends, however. employed skill
ful counsel, and he was finally acquitted
of the charge. Soon after tnat ne com
mitted suicide by throwing hlmsen De-
fore a street car.
since that time the old building,
which occupies a lot 81 by lSS feet. has
been used for a variety Of purposes,
principally as a storage warehouse, and
Is today in a dilapidated condition, so
far as appearances go, but in realty
the old structure still is strong.
On the front of the building, at the
fifth floor, there is an inscription which
shows that 1t was designed by one OF
WashIngton's most famous architects,
Glenn Brown.
The sale of the property was made
by George R. Linkins, who Withholds
the price at which the property was as
given at Mr.. Linkins' office TO-DAY IN
reference to the purpose of the new
owner A mortgage of $4,000 was placed
on the property in connection with the
filing of the deed.
Wardman Buys Petworth Lots.
Harry Wardman has purchased nine
teen lots on both sides of Upshur street
between Seventh and Eighth streets,
Petworth, and is starting the construc-
ton of nineteen six-room houses similar
to those which he recently built on Tay-
Ior street, one square to the south The
sale Of the property was made through
the office of Swartzell, Rheem & Hen
sey. The operation involves an invest
ment of about $4,000.
New Home for Gas Company.
The Georgetown Gas Light Company
has purchased the property at the
northeast corner Of Wisconsin avenue
and pumbarton street for $4,000. The
property contains $500 square feet, with
a frontage of Sc feet on Wisconsin
avenue and IO7 feet on Dumbarton
street The sale was made through the
office of the J. H. Bradley Company.
A new office building for the company
is to be erected on the site.
Flat Building Sold.
The H. R. Howenstein Company has
sold to DR.. Claudius P. Hutchinson the
store and fat building recently con-
structed by this firm at GA II street
northeast for $500. The first floor Will
be occupied as a cigar and stationery
store, and the upper part as dwelling.