Evening star., 1915-04-10
Report That Catholic Educa-
tionaI Institution Is to Be
Constructed.
GROUND IN SITE TOTALS
100000 SQUARE FEET
Embraces Middleton Tracts (Also
Known as Barber Tracts) in
Northwest Washington.

An educational institution to cost in
the neighborhood of 100000 is to be
erected on Wisconsin avenue, facing
Massachusetts Avenue Heights at
Davis street and running up the hill
to near Edmunds street, according to
information obtained today by re-
porter for The Star. The ground fig
uring In the transaction. which has
not been entirely closed, totals up
100000 square feet. and is valued by
the owner, w. s. Minnick, at 81 foot.
making land value of s3n9,o0o, and a
total investment of more than 100000,
If reports of the proposed improvement
are correct.
Information as to what the proposed
educational institution is to be could
not be obtained today. but it is re-
ported that the purchaser Of he land
is Baltimorean, and tnat the proposed
institution is to he under the auspices
of the Catholic Church. MIR. Minnick
said he had accepted a deposit of $1,000
on the preliminary transaction. and
that he had been shown the plans for
the proposed structure. which he be-
lieves will make a handsome improve
ment for this section of the northwest.
Inquiry Referred to Baltimore.
In the absence Of Rev. William T.
Russell at st. Patrick's Church today,
inquiries as to the possibility of new
Catholic educational institution for
Washington were referred to Ralti-
more
If 1t is true that such an institution
is to be erected at this point, the pro-
posed structure will be located within
a block and half of the Cathedral
foundationsof IS. Peter and Paul. The
Episcopal School for Boys and the
Episcopal School for Girls are located
within two blocks, at the intersection
of Massachusetts avenue and Wiscon-
sin avenue.
The property Mr.. Minnick has agreed
to sell is known among Georgetown
and Wisconsin avenue residents both
as the Middleton tracts" and the Bar
ber tracts Tunlaw road runs along
stands on the land, upon an eminence
which overlooks the whole city OF
Washington at the front, and the Po-
tomac river and hills at the side and
back. The dwelling is now occupied
by W. J. Mcmahon. policeman re-
in charge of the real estate firm OF
Ballard & Lanaham. who said today
that they had heard the property had
been sold, but that they had not ne
gotiated the transaction. A number OF
small parcels of land compose the
tract, among them. thirteen lots on the
front of twenty-five feet frontage each
In Historic Section.
The site is not far from Rosedale. on
the porch of which George Washington
sat and dreamed of the future city of
Washington spread out below him
which has since become a reality A
little farther up Wisconsin avenue also
is located the estate of John r. Nc
Cleveland Park and Richmond Park.
The American University is at the
back.
The Middleton tract or the Barber
tract" (by both of which designations
the land in question is known, adjoins
on one side the property of Edward
Brooke, junior warden of st. Alban' 8
Church, who lives at 1854 Wisconsin
avenue.
The tract contains 1.34 acres. Mr.
Brooke said today that he also hat
heard the property had been sold ant
that Catholic educational institution
would be erected upon it, but that he i:
not aware of the purchase price His
years ago at s25,000, but had latel
withdrawn it from the possibility Of
sale.
Great interest was excited today
among Washington real estate agents
by the report of the transaction, which
is one of the largest in months One
broker said that he had personally ne.
gotiated for the sale of the property
not long ago. and that an offer of $780,
900 cash had been laughed at by the
owners.