Evening star., 1932-09-18

September 26, brings to mind the fact that
ever since this department first came to Wash
ington it has been continuously on the move,
having been housed in this city in at least six
buildings, two of which were bulIt 1or ltS
especial use.
Its first home here was at the corner OF
Ninth and E streets northwest as we find from
an item printed in an old local newspaper, dated
May 30 1900, and from letters written by the
Assistant Postmaster General who made all
the arrangements for the removal of his de-
partment from Philadelphia to this city.
The item referred to says
abraham Bradley jr, Assistant Postmaster
General, today arrived in the Federal City from
Philadelphia for the purpose OF opening the
office of the Post Office Department. The total
number of employees Of the department, IN
cluding the Postmaster General and the Assist
ant is nine Mr.. Bradley says: 1T took us a
week to prepare to move, load, etc, and 1t will
take another week to get our things in proper
order
The removal was in the charge of Mr.. Brad
ley as Postmaster General Habersham Is alb
sent at his home in Georgia. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Bradley is not satisfied with the quar-
ters that have been selected for the depart
ment and that he proposes to lease the three
story house of DR.. John Crocker at the corner
of Ninth and streets northwest.
"As half the floors in DR.. Crocker's house
have not been laid and only four rooms are
plastered, more than week and a part OF
the first years rent, which will be about $780,
will have to be spent in putting it into shape
for its new uses.
"Mr Bradley expects to assign one large
room 27 feet by II feet, and two smaller
rooms Is feet by IA feet each, on the second
floor for the of the department. On the
first floor are two rooms, which 1t Is proposed
that the city post Office shall occupy later
On the third floor will be the living quarters
OF Mr.. Bradley and his family. 1t is expected
that the ofhces Of the Post ONCE Department
will be opened in these quarters before the
middle Of next month. This Is the first ex-
eeutive department to move from Philadelphia
to the Federal CITY.
THE first of Mr. Bradley's letters dated June
u 2. 1900, tells
we arrived here on Friday last, having had
q pleasant journey as far as We travelled by
daylight. Capt Stevenson, with whom I agreed
for a house before my arrival, was not ready
to give possession and the house was not con-
venient for us. I have therefore taken large
three-story house within few rods Of
Blodgetts Hotel, which will accommodate the
Office and my family and the postmasters
ofice. 1t is about equadistant from the Presi-
dents House and the Capitol"
Under date Of June H. he further states
1--WE have not been able to open the Office
and commence business until this day left
Philadelphia WEDNESDAY May May -, and arrived I1s,
left Philadelphia the 26th and arrived at
Georgetown June |. The situation of the city
is extremely pleasant, and it will probably be-
come the greatest city in America"
Checking up by Mrs. Thornton's diary, the
last Friday in June, 1900, was on the 30th and
not the 29th)
The old building which then occupied this
site, but which has long since been replaced
by the present structures at this corner, was
built by DR. John Crocker, who bought the
ground in 1897. He apparently came here to
engage in newspaper work, and started the
Washington Advertiser March 9, 1876, the Sec
ond paper published in the city, but soon gave
up this venture to devote his time to the prac-
tice of medicine.
For a while after it was given up by the Gov
eminent 1t was occupied by James Mccormick.
Joseph Gales jr editor of the National Intel
ligencer, came into possession OF it about 1916
and it became noted social as well as a
political center He removed from mere 10 MS
home in lexington August IS, 1929. At this
time he was mayor of Washington having
been elected July 81, 1927. by the Council, 70
11ll the unexpired term Of Mayor Weightman,
June g. 1928.
Father Matthews of st. Patrick's Church
then occupied the property, and later 1t was
used by Mrs. Burr young ladies' seminary,
and as boarding house, conducted by Mrs.
NJ A. Bannerman and others.
THE late Henry E. Davis who was born in
y the neighborhood in 1855, speaks of the old
building on this corner as "a spacious resi-
dence with a large yard and outbuildings, such
as stables, a smoke house and the like, the
whole approximately square lot extending
from the present Vatoldi Cafe, formerly the
home of DR.. Garnett, to the corner of street"
A little later, across the street, on the E
street side, was Gannon's row, consisting Of
four old two-story brick houses which were
located in the ravine that side of street,
though long since demolished. Up to about the
year 1910 long boats containing some six
cords of wood each, would come up the