The Washington herald., 1912-11-21
CIRCUS GROUNDS
NOW HOUSE LOTS
Real Estate Trust Company Is
Building Houses on Vacant
Grounds.

Active work has started toward the
building up Of the old circus ground al
Florida Avenue and Biadensburg Road
Before 1t was a circus ground Il was
the property OF the Washington Brick
Company. and for many years It was
the center Of activity in the manufacture
Of building material and material for
sidewalks, brick then being used almost
exclusively for that purpose.
For about ten years after the site was
abandoned by the brick company the
huge hole from which the clay was taken
became a pond by the accumulation OF
water which ran in from the surround
Ing higher ground. II was here the boys
OF the Northeast section gathered for
play and often for swimming after
school hours, and the police annals OF
that day record many a drowning in the
old brick yard pond. Incidentally, II
was a prolific breeding place for mos
quitoes which swarmed from It over the
northeastern part Of the city. In time
the old pond was hlled with ashes and
earth from the excavations for houses
in that section.
The property has changed hands sew
eral times in the past five years. but
was finally purchased by OrIn @. Staples.
who sold II recently to the Real Estate
Trust Company. which is now engaged
in building houses upon the vacant
ground. II is understood that the last
transfer OF the property involved a pur-
chase price Of $4,000 The improving
company has mapped the tract into a
new subdivision OF Washington. which
has not yet received a name. The Real
Estate Trust Company Is erecting twenty
houses Of the two-story. six-room type
and n contract has been let for twenty
more near those now building. Construc-
ton OF the new houses is in the hands OF
John Nolan. and some OF the new
dwellings will be ready for occupancy
early next spring.
The new subdivision is bounded rough
" by Florida Avenue the Bladensburg
Road. Mount Olivet Road. and Trinidad
Avenue. Portions OF the tract thus
bounded is owned by other parties. and
improved by houses or business places,
but a great part Of the tract is available
for new houses and will hold nearly 900
OF them. which the new owners Of the
property expect to put up in the next
two or three years. 4 large part Of the
tract 10 on sloping ground. and viii sf-
ford solid clay foundations for the
houses. That portion OF the tract 'front.'
ing upon Florida Avenue is smooth and
level. and will afford ideal lots for the
small houses which it is proposed TO
erect.
Miss Annie Shoemaker purchased the
property at 1922 TO IDS G Street North
west at auction, the several parcels be-
ing bid in at an aggregate OF about
SIS 900. The property fronts f feet on
C street. and has depth Of l15 feet. The
property was sold in the settlement OF
the estate Of the late Mrs. Samuel Shoe
maker. The property. aside from the
ground. which is valuable, being in the
heart OF the business section Of the city
consists OF small one and two-story
buildings, which have been leased for
business purposes for several years No
announcement has been made by the
new owner with reference TO possible
improvements. but II is assumed that in
process of time the plot will be i'm
proved by more valuable buildings than
those at present upon IT,
A permit has been issued by The Dis
trict Inspector OF Buildings for the erec-
ton of a large modern structure at the
southwest corner OF Eleventh and E
Streets Northwest, and the demolition
of the old buildings on the site Is al
ready under way.