The Washington times., 1912-02-03
Miss Annie Shoemaker Paws
$33,7OO to Obtain New
York Avenue Properly.
AUCTION ONEER ASKED
ONLY $50, 900 FORT.
Bidding at Public Sale Thursday
Afternoon Was Spirited at
All Times.

Inc unusual happened this week
"nen piece Of real estate put UP Tor
sale AT auction without reservation
Orousht II per cent. moro than the auc-
uoneer declared to be q fair price for
the property.
On Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock
Thomas ]. Owen, head of the real g.
tate auction and appraisal nrm OF
Thomas j. Owen & Son, surrounded by
a good gathering OF real estate men.
investors. and casual spectators nut ON
the block for sale to the highest bidder
the property at the northwest corner
of Tenth street and New York avenue
northwest. a part Of the holdings of the
Shoemaker estate. 4.
Someone started the bidding at 10000,
but Mr.. Owen announced that $4,000
was a fair price and that anyone get.
ting the property at less than that hg-
quarters Of an hour Of bidding and
counter bidding the price was run up
to $50, 100 and sold to Miss Annie r.
shoemaker, one Of the heirs. This was
rust $500 In excess Of what the auc-
!. .tionecr and appraiser announced 1t TO
be worth. 49,
Paid srI q Square Foot.
At that figure the price was about
, S'i u S4udIc IoOt- ne plcCc cum
tains 3,O77 square feet, fronting SO
feet 10 inches on New York avenue.
: The improvements are old. The cor
ner has been occupied by druggist
for more than thirty years and the
second and third floor as a dwelling
A small frame dwelling is in the rear
, on the Tenth street side. In all the
| rental Is only $105 a month. demon
strating more clearly the value in
| which downtown corners are held.
The bidding was spirited from the
! time the old colored man ceased
changing big dinner bell and the
auctioneer commenced the sale.
Among those present were Randolph
T. Warwick, an investor in business
properties; Henry +. Woodland, an
other investor: Charles w. Fairfax.
Fairfax: Percy Russell, J.. Leo Kolb.
real estate men particularly interest
ed in New York avenue. properties;
Charles w. King, Jr. a builder who
. York avenue residences into business
houses and others prominent in real
| tv circles. to say nothing of the hang
ers-on; and curious small boys who
vast sums of money called out.
Mr.. Warwick, Mr.. Fairfax. and Miss
Shoemaker were the chief bidders. A
man, who said he was from the rural
bid en- this city corner, stayed In tho
game until the price rose to around
$4,000. then he lost interest. Then the
bidding sawed back and forth among
the three who seemed intent upon get
ting the property. When by advances
of 500 to $500 the price had Seen raised
| to $4,000, Mr.. Warwick took a long
breath and announced that lie was go-
ing into the drug store tc get drink
| Of soda.
Pleased At Jump"
Ply the time he came out the price
had reached $4,000. and the auctioneer
smiled his qualification at having
boosted" the price to what he had
announced the property to be worth.
But he did not stop there. Neither did
the price.
Mr.. Warwick with grim determination
broke into the game again, and Mr.
Fairfax smiIngly stayed" Whenever
either seemed to show signs Of outline
Miss Shoemaker stepped into the breach
and raised the bid. Thus It progressed
to the amusement of the crowd. to the
delight of the auctioneer. and the sat
isfaction of the heirs until Miss Shoe
makers bid of $50, 100 found no chal.
lenger, an6 the hammer fell.
This property has been sold, ladle!
and gentlemen, to Miss Annie Shoe
maker for $s3,7oo." announced MIR
Owen.