The Washington herald., 1911-08-05
CRU|T HOUSE IS
LAST RESIDENCE
IN CAFE DISTRICT
14O9 F Street Finally Gives
Way to Improvements. ?.

With the death a few months ago of a
lonely old maiden lady in a roomy, plain,
almost solemn brick house at 1409 F
street. the last vestige of residential F
street, as applied to that part between
Seventh street and the Treasury Depart
ment, passed into history. For when the
green shutters had been put into place
on the darkened house after the body Of
Miss Ann Cruit had been borne to its last
resting place, and the few servants had
packed up they belongings and left for
other parts. business or commercialism
at last held undisputed sway of that
part of F street comprising the princi-
pal shopping district OF Washington and
furnishing the principal promenade for
feminine buyers and masculine strollers.
Grim and forbiddjng the old house has
watched the changes for nearly two score
years. 1t has seen residences of the
highest officials Of past administrations
give away, uncomplaining, to the de-
mands Of commercialism. 1t has seen
other houses. like itself outstaying the
greater number of residences, finally give
up the fight. It was it's next door neigh
Dor, 1407 F street, almost a sister house
in pattern and size, which was built for
part OF the family old 1903 housed to the
last, lose its staid residential bearing
and give place for a display window and
a real estate office.
dor Sale" Sign Up.
Now its time has finally come The
for sale sign is plastered all over its
exterior, and the three remaining de-
scendants of the man who built it no
longer claim any connection or owner
ship.
To those who knew nothing of the his
tory Of the old place 1t always has
seemed strange that a residence should
so long remain in that location. Flanked
on both sides by business buildings, fac
ing the handsome New Willard Hotel
and the offices OF the International
Banking Corporation, almost adjoining
the Wyatt Building, one of the larger
of Washington's office structures, and
surrounded on all sides by the noises and
influences OF Washington's gayest sec
ton, the cafe district of the Nations
Capital. 1t has seemed strange that the
house could maintain. not only its resi-
Dental class. but occupants as well.
But to those who knew the story, the
reasons were plain enough.
The recent sale of the old house to
Col. o. G. Staples spells the final chap
ter Of its connection with an estate that
his descendants wealthy. Here is the
story:
A Fortunate Investment.
Robert Cruit was liveryman of mod
crate circumstances early in the nine |
teenth century. Having a slightly larger |
income than his living expenses demand |
ed. he decided TO invest in real estate |
Operating carefully and slowly, by 1850 |
he had bought in practically all the land |
facing on the south side of G street |
from about the middle Of the block be-
tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets
down TO Fourteenth street; the west side |
OF Fourteenth street, between F and G
streets, and the north side Of street
IN strip backing his G. street property
He owned practically the entire east
half of the block now bounded by Four
teenth. Fifteenth, F. and G streets
Just what Cruit paid for the land is
not known. Certainly he did not pay
On the average Of more than cents a
foot. But though the taxes on the prop
srty were heavy. Cruit refused to sell
even at a fair advance in price, and
when he died in the sixties. the prop
erty in question constituted one Of the
parts Of the estate.
Shortly before his death Cruit had
luilt what was then q handsome resi-
ience at 1909 F street, and another at
407 street for the use Of his married
laughter.
Three daughters survived Mr.. Cruit,
Misses Ann and Susan and Mrs. Kath-
,rine Evans, later Mrs. owen. To these
hree daughters the father left a life In
crest in the estate, the entire estate to
20 TO his grandchildren upon their death
rhe two unmarried daughters elected to
hare together the family home. 1909 F
treet. Their married sister soon moved
o newer residential sections.
Court Orders sales.
From time to time, by court orders,
portions Of the estate have been sold.
The G street portion was sold to Chris
ian Heurich about five years ago. Less
han two years ago Stilson Hutchins
ought the Fourteenth street strip, with (
he exception of that piece occupied by
he Wyatt Building. Later, part Of the
street strip was sold to a business
ouse. But. even after the death Of her
lister. Susan, Miss Ann Cruit refused to
love from her home. Year after year {
he lived there alone and she died there
lst November and that part could not ,
e sold.
About two months ago It was ordered