Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-21
W|MSATT M0DERN|zES
CENTURY OLD DWELLING
Old Residence at 208 9Th Street
Southwest Is Completely Re-
modelled and Renovated.
Once the Property Of Daniel Car
roll, One Of the Original Pro-
prietors Of the District.

Interesting history attaches to the
old residence at 20S Sth street south
west. which recently has been extern
sively remodeled and modernized by its
owner, W. A. Wimsatt, from plans by A.
p. Clark, jr., architect. The house is to
be occupied by Mr.. Wimsatt's son, W.
o. Wimsatt.
A search of the records Of ownership
Of the property indicates that the house
bly, was built about 100 years ago.
Originally the property fronted on 7th
street, the house setting back a con-
siderable distance from the street line.
Between 1t and the street there was a
flower garden which is said to have
been one of the most attractive in
Southwest Washington.
What is now the front of the house
formerly was the rear, the west wall
being about on the building line of Sth
street. The flower garden to the east
OF the house long since has disappeared
and the space for many years has been
utilized by buildings.
Only Old Walls Remain.
The old house has been completely
modernized by Mr.. Wimsatt About all
that remains are the original walls.
New floors have been built and all the
partitions are new. New plumbing
has been Installed. all the rooms newly
plastered and new stairs built
When the work was started Mr. VIM
satt found that the lower walls were
two feet thick and the upper portions
were fourteen inches thick. All the
timbers used in the construction of the
house were hand hewn and the laths
were hand split.
The exterior of the honaa }ob
originally was plastered, has been Civ
en- a pebble dash finish A new front
porch of the true colonial type has been
built, and the space between the old
house and the adjoining building on the
south utilized for a porch. A drive
way has been built at the north side of
the house.
Home Of Slave Trader.
At one time the old dwelling is said
to have been the home of slave
trader. It is understood that he kept
slaves for sale in the basement. At
the windows on the north side Of the
basement the original iron bars which
formerly were at all the basement win
dows are still in place. Their size In
dicates that they were originally In
tended to prevent the escape of slaves
awaiting sale. The slave trader, who
10 said to have been named Williams,
was only a lessee of the house. and
his name does not appear in any Of the
early deeds transferring ownership of
the property.
The property originally was a por-
tton OF the extensive holdings of Dan
fsl Carroll Of Duddington. one Of the
original land proprietors of what is
now the District.
First Transfer Recorded.
There 10 record of a division made
November s. 1895. whereby Carroll re-
tanned title to lots 2. 3. and in the
block. while lots l, 8, Z and went to
the United States. This was at the
time when the government selected q
ten.mile square tract for the capital
OF the nation. BY the terms Of the
agreement between the original pro-
prietors and the government all the
streets were to become the property of
the United States and also a certain
portion Of all squares. In square asa
Daniel Carroll retained four Of the
eight lots into which 1t was divided.
The property on which the house now
stands'is officially dssignated a. the
north e3ARtn feet Of original lot and