Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-24
OLD WASHINGTON.
JUDICIARY SQUARE PART ".
By James Croggon>

When the population of the city of
Washington numbered about $4,000 more
than 1900 resided in what was known
as the third ward, which extended to
the river There were anterior to 1874
but two public schools. one at the
corner of 14th and G streets northwest
ana the other at the corner of Sd and
streets southeast. Therefore, school
accommodations, especially for the
poorer class were limited. and these
two schools drew their pupils in part
from the remote parts of the city. That
in the western district was attended by
number who lived on the banks of the
Potomac and near the woods about the
northern part of the city. The other
school drew from the extreme southern
end of the city. about LIST and w streets.
as we'll as the neighborhood Of the
Spring Tavern. on the Bladensburg road.
In 1914 measures were taken to in
Der d OF that year the corporation passed
an act reorganizing the public school
system by dividing the city into four
public school became that of the first
dlstric, and the eastern that of the
third For the second district, which
took in all of the old third ward, the
central part of the ETY. north of the
Mall and canal, Col Peter Force, Maj.
Thomas Donohoo and John c. McKelden
were appointed trustees. and an ap-
erection CT a schoolhouse. permission
was obtained to erect the same on
Judiciary Square. the spot selected being
on the west side of the square, near
where F street strikes 1t, and thus
Judiciary Square had new building.
1t was small. plain structure. which
would be laughed at by the scholars of
today. The lower portion was used by
the male department and the upper por-
ton by the female department.
School Opened on Square.
The school was opened September 1,
1915. by DIR. Tobias Watkins and Mrs.
S. P. Randolph. There were about
hundred pupils during this first term.
some of them coming from the leading
old families, and among them can be
recalled many who made their mark in
subsequent life. A number later prac-
ticed law. One of them. Judge S. c.
Mills, occupied the police judgeship; an
other. William Elwood, became chief of
the fire department, and one of the
natives of the city hall. born in the
basement, was also pupil here, late in
life settling in New Orleans. A. H.
Regain attended here, and for many
years subsequently was in the employ
ment of the United States Senate
Among other trustees who served many
years were Valentine Har aftag vs and
John E. Thompson was teacher for a
short time before he was made principal
OF the fourth district school.
This school was occupied as district
school until the erection of the Abbott
School, on the corner OF 9th and l. streets,
which building was occupied conformity
with the Northern Liberty Fire Company
in the SOS. The school and fire company
soon proved uncongenial. and the fire
company went out of service about 1891
AS may be imagined. the pupils of this
school had much to distract them from
their studies by reason OF the jail ana
courthouse and infrmary nearby. and.
though the lot afforded wide expanse
for play, there was a fence around the
schoolhOuse. the inclosed space being deS-
ignatcd as playground.
Tent Shows and Fairs.
There were also often in the square
circuses and menageries, to say nothing
of temporary buildings erected for fairs
and balls, and the frequent parades of
some of the military companies whose
armories were in the lower rooms of the
city hall.
Among the menageries recalled are Van
Ambergs celebrated show. Welsh. Mann
d j. Delaven's circus, and among those
who appeared In them were Dan Rice, a
famous clown of his day, and Gardner and
FrancOni's hippOdrOme, and associated
with the latter is quite a romance. The
performer who was the central figure OH
the floral car was fine. robust, hand
some woman. measuring about six feet
in height. In casting her eyes around the
audience she captivated a rather diminu-
tive carpenter. and the result was that
after introductionS the marriage took
place. and the hippodrome lost one Of its
great attractions. the woman living in
harmony with her companion for some
a
to the circus ring.
A number have made their mark, not
a few of them in the army and navy dur
ing the civil war; one became a valued
officer of the coast survey, and in this
community today are to be found retired
merchants. builders professional men and
at least one capitalist who were on Dr.
Watkins roll when he opened his school
in 1915.
In 1874 a great mechanical fair was
held in a large frame building near the
southwest corner of the square. and for
weeks it attracted large crowds This
was the first time the recently invented
reaper and sewing machine were exhibit
ed, and they excited great curiosity and
created quite furore. Many predicted
that these two inventions would result in
crowdng out labor. and in every section
of the hall could be heard discussions as
to the utility OF the inventions for man.
kind.
The woman folks generally looked with
disfavor upon the sewing machine. but 1t
was not long before there was change
in sentiment.
Temporary Ball Buildings.
Several times inaugural balls were held
in large frame buildings erected near the
city hall. and some of the rooms were
utilized as dressing rooms. etc Lincoln 3
first inaugural ball took place here in
1861, and In 1878 that of Gen. Grants
took place in temporary building on the
east side OF the square.