The Washington herald., 1921-10-23

active citizens associations In the
District none can consistently show
a larger membership or greater In
dustry than that of Columbia
Heights. For twenty-seven years II
has worked until IN the last general
membership drive" the paid enroll
-ment for It's neIghborhood alone
reached the 1000 mark Emorac-
ing roughly that territory between
Georgia avenue on the east and
Sixteenth street on the west and
from Florida avenue to Shepherd
street northwest. II comprises the
best of washington's residential
section
Elevation Of 200 Feet.
Columbia Heights gets its popu-
larity In large measure and takes
!. its name from the high elevation
Z. at which 1t lies above the older
d, part of Washington. According to
the Engineering Commissioners Of
fee, the highest point IN the
Heights II the corner OF T ourteenth
and Fairmont streets and IL 200
feet above sea level
A brief history of the Columbia
Heights tract was prepared by
Judge Charles s. Buhdy some years
ago and IL as follows:
" Columbia Heights proper occu-
n pies land which in the early days
p Of the District was known as the
u Stone farm Its first known pro-
.. prietor was william J. Stone, ST.,
uwho was born IN England, April IS,
f'17ss, and settled in Washington in
h1Sl5. He was an engraver and II
= is a fact of historical interest that
he cut the facsimile OF the Decla-
d. ration of Indepsndence on copper
for the Department Of State In 1923,
' and made 1t possible TO preserve the
lines OF that immortal document
. from the corroding tooth Of time.
In. 1S43 he planned and built the
Logan mansion, later purchased by
. the friends of Gen Logan and pre-
scented to him during his term as
Senator, and IL took the name Of
Calumet Place.
d, FOLLOWING Gen. Logan's death IL
was owned and occupied by his
widow. The later Senator, John
Sherman, bought the Stone farm in
January, 1881. It comprised 1915
acres and the consideration named
in the deed Of purchase is S175,ooo,
With the exception Of Calumet Place
it was subdividsd and plated into
lots and blocks in 1ss1-1Ss3.
Guaranteed Perpetual Sunlight.
Senator Sherman, after his long
residence in the Capital, rightly ap-
preciated its natural advantages
and determined to add thereto GER
tain artificial conditions essential
to the best home surroundings, thus
creating ideal residential sites on
this favored spot. Chief among
these conditions are space, sunlight,
air and plant life. These conditions
Senator Sherman guaranteed and
made perpetual by putting upon
record in the surveys ONCE the
covenant to go with every deed that
the front building line of all lots
north of Clifton street is fixed at
not less than thirty feet from the
street line on which the lots front.
The effect is that virtually sixty
feet have been added to the width
~ all STREETS in Columbia flights.
Thus the permanent space between
building lines is permanently fixed
II 120 feet Of which 80 feet on
either side is parking.
Still another safeguard likewise
q
with each deed, prohibits liquor
selling and all manufacturing and
mechanical trades, thus setting
or residential sites"
citizens Association Began In 1894
June 10, 1894, is the date when
he Columbia Heights Citizens As
:iation was organized. Among its
~
!chneider. father Of L. H. Schneider.
new in the electrical business, 1907
, street northwest. and Fred ].
Berger. until recently manager of
eoIPs Theater. Christian G. Schneider
vas one OF the owners Of the Gar
ield Hospital tract when It was a
homestead and yet outside Of the
hty.
According to the constitution adopt
ID at that time, the association
Tance all public interests in the Dis
ne territory (of Columbia Heights).
bounded as follows: Beginning at
Seventh street and Florida avenue
northwest. thence with Florida ave-
nue. to Sixteenth street northwest
% Shepherd street; thence east to
5eorgia avenue; thence south with
Georgia avenue to point of begin
ling"
Bad Streets In the '9Os.
A picture Of the scant settlement
f Ind great need OF. public improve
nents at that time was written ten
Tears later by George Simmons, who
-
, when this association was found
ID and 1t was organized for the
sd-and II was organized for the
. 'ostertng public improvements In this
. Iection-there were very few houses
o 100. there was not . street between
Florida and Whitney avenues by
, which one could go In a carriage
< rom Thirteenth street to Brightwood
venue Sherman avenue was des-
gnated as a sewer and Thirteenth
etreet. north Of Florida avenue, was
. rardly passable in places. The streets
we're such only in name and on pa
b yer. There-Was not a rod Of side
. Falk nor hardly a shade tree any
There east Of Fourteenth street"
Columbia Heights I'm 1904.
Mr.. Simmons then proceeded to
contrast the beginnings with the
Improvement then; he was writing
day. 1901
View the section today and see
What a change has been wrought.
Nell-condhioned streets, miles of
Isphalt and brick walks, hundreds
4 shade trees and hundreds of
plendid buildings. The extension
Il Eleventh street and the railroad
coension thereon are due almost