Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23

business nearer to the Capitol. The lad" states
that:
Benjamin More New Jersey Avenue, City of
Washington, has for sale salmon Boston Bay
mackerel, playing cards, apples and vinegar,
cheese and groceries, crockery, etc"
William Prout was an original proprietor, as
were several other members of the first legisla-
tive body His farm extended from close TO the
Eastern Branch to near Florida avenue north
east.
James Hobans name will always be INSOFAR
able with the White House, which he design
ed, and which he rebuilt after its destruction
by the British in 1914 In 1893, as worshipful
master of Federal Lodge of MaSonS, he march,
ed at the head of his contingent to participate
in the ceremonies incident to the laying of
the corner stone of the Capitol. His body is
said to have been first buried in st. Patricks
burying ground near Ninth and streets
northwest later taken to Holmeads at
Twentieth and S streets, and removed from
there to Mount Olivet, where 1t is hoped 1t
now permanently reposeS.
John Hewitt was appointed by President
jefferson register of wills for washington
County and he was also admitted to the bar at
the initial session of the District Circuit Court
He was also among the many prominent men OF
his day who were interested in the Washing
ton Library Co. Tt was probably his brother
James Hewitt who was the secretary of the
Second Chamber, but of whom nothing fur
ther seems to be known.
Though Mayor Brent may not have needed
special quarters from the beginning for his
own purposes, yet the City Councils appear
to have met on June IA, 1902 in Tunnicliffe's
Tavern, which then stood slightly to the east
of the Old Brick Capitol, at First and
streets northeast, selected as the site for the
United States Supreme Court building. Subse-
quently they evidently had used as meeting
place LovelPs Hotel, which stood on the north
side of Pennsylvania avenue between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets, for an item of $1406
was paid to William Lowell, on May 4, 1903, flor
rent of room" From here they moved to the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue between The
Star office and Twelfth street, and later, in
1906, to the Masonic Hall, which then stood
on the west side of Eleventh street between G
street and Pennsylvania avenue, where the
Post ONCE Department Building is now located.
The hail. which was % by SO feet, was erected
on part of lot /, in square 1913, and for many
years had as a close neighbor Carusis saloon,
which in the early days stood at the north
east corner of Eleventh and streets, and
later The Star, which for many years was
published at the southwest corner of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Eleventh street-just across
the Avenue from its present location
THE Masonic Hall-generaIly referred to as
- Union Lodge Room-had the second floor
fitted up for lodge purposes. and here the
Grand Lodge had its birth In 1871 and held
its meetings for a number Of years From 1905
to the end of 1920 not only the Board Of Alder
men and the Common Council had their offices
here, but the Washington Library and the
Vine Lyceum Society were tenants, and 1t is
assumed that the mayor also had his Office here
during the time it was occupied by the citys
legislative branch.
After being abandoned by the Masons for
lodge purposes, the Union Lodge Room Build
ing was used for various purposes, ultimately
being taken over by the colored Masons. who
occupied it up 10 within q few years of the
time the ground was cleared for the erection
OF the Post ONCE Building.
Robert Brent the city's first mayor. was
indeed a most unusual man. Nowadays If we
are successful in holding down one or two jobs,
with Mayor Brent. From 1901 TO 1917 he was
. justice of the peace; from 1902 to 1872,
mayor of the city; from 1906 to 1914, judge OF
the Orphans Court, and from 1908 to 1919,
paymaster general of the Army. All of these
Offices being held at one and the same time,
from 1908 to 1912, which surely indicates that
he was man Of unusual capacity.
OF course, Washington was but struggling
village when Robert Brent first took office One
of his first duties was the approval OF the act
Of November 10, 1902. which carried an ap-
preparation Of $500 for the purpose OF open
ing, clearing and rendering passable for wagons,
west Fourteenth, from North street." Today
as we drive our car up Fourteenth street and
await the signal of the traffic cop TO stop"
or "go," we never give the condition OF this
thoroughfare thought during the administra-
ton of Robert Brent as mayor OF the city. 1t
might be interesting to note that there were
In 1900 but 372 buildings In Washington proper,
l09 of brick and 1853 Of wood, and the popula-
ton but 3,210, which included 1885 white
males 1929 white females: free colored per-
sons, 123 and 623 slaves.
In 1903, the population had grown to 4,352
and in 1907 had reached q total Of 1852,
about the population Of Alexandria in 1900,
which then had 5171.