Evening star., 1932-06-02
&. J. STELLWAGEN
DIES AT AGE OF II
AT RESIDENCE HERE
Continued From First Page)

'SonIlnueo from First Page)
supervising the business of the real es-
| tate company
In the development of Chevy Chase
and other suburban sections of the
city he was especially active He was
the power back Of the organization of
the Rock Creek Street Railway. operat-
ing from Chevy Chase and connecting
with lines on this side Of Rock Greek.
In this connection he erected the pres
ent bridge over Rock Creek at Calvert
street.
Later on the Rock Creek Street Rail-
way Co. purchased the Capital Traction
Co.. the provisions Of its charter giving
it authority to acquire other utilities,
while the Capital Traction Co.'S charter
did not contain this provision.
Director of Traction Company.
From that time until his death Mr..
Stellwagen had been a director more
than 40 years Of the Capital Traction
Co. and largely interested in its stock
He vas director in the Washington
Gas Light Co. for some years.
In the hotel Development Of the Ma
tional Capital MI Stellwagen's activi-
ties were Of Importance. In company
with few friends, six in number. he
obtained the lease of the Ebbitt Hotel
property many years ago, from Caleb
Willard.
Failing to renew the lease of this ho-
| tel. Mr.. Stellwagen prevailed on the
,owners Of the old Willard Hotel to erect
| new hotel from plans prepared by New
York architects, and with his five asso-
ciates leased the new hotel and operated
it for 20 years, surrende-ing the lease
October. 1921.
The Columbia Hotel Co was the title
Of the corporation which Mr.. Stellwagen
headed
This corporation, while operating the
New Willard, turned its attention to the
property at corner of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Twelfth street, then the home
of the PalaiS Royal. Ccntrol of the
property was oh. aimed and the Raleigh
Hotel wss added to the f,rst-class hos
Raleigh was developed. Mr. Steilws1er
resigned as president OF the Raleigh
Hotel Co. about two years ago
He was directly responsible for the
erection of the Capital Park Hotel, re-
tanning his connection with it through
out the last of his life.
In 1899 the Union Trust &, Storage
Co., with a capital Of sl200,000 later
increased to 100000, was organized
Mr.. Stellwagen became It's first presi-
dent and had given the benefit Of his
Judgment and experience to the COM
psny continuously since that time. con-
tinuing 10 dominate the T. J. Fisher
Co at the same time.
In organizing the Union Trust &
Storage Co.. it was intended to operate
1t in connection with the Terminal Sto-
rage Co.'S business, owned by Stellwagen
interests, but the banking end Of the
business developed so quickly and to
operated separately, the Storage Com
pany' being dropped from the Union
Trust Co.
He had charge Of the erection OF the
present home Of the Union Trust Co
at Fifteenth and H streets northwest
Later the bank and Office building was
doubled in size under his direction as
president of the bank.
Opposed Service Charges.
Mr.. Stellwagen was regarded as one
OF the most constructive business mer
the city has ever known. Many other
men have had wider investments. but
rarely has any resident had so much
to do personally with so much SOUND
business expansion. For years he was
active in the District Bankers Asso.
citation and is former president o,
the organization.
Mr.. Stellwagen was bitterly opposed
to banks placing service charges or
customers accounts when their de-
posits got below $50 s100 or 5000. III
is penalizing people for being poor,
he declared
He was a Democrat during much OF
his life, but in late years had been a
Republican. He YVES a member of the
Metropolitan, Cosmos, Chevy Chase
Blue Ridge Rod and Gun and other
clubs. He addended Epiphany Church
and was very active in assisting the
Episcopal Hospital. He was greatly
interested in young people and had
sent many through college at his own
expense.
Mr.. Stellwagen owned fine Summer
home on West River, known as the
Oaks. and also owned a rich farm near
Bethesda. Md. although he preferred to
live in the city. He had spent every
Summer for As years at the Poland
Spring House in Maine
Mr.. Stellwagen never sought public
Office. but he served as chairman of the
Inaugural Committee for the ceremo-
nies connected with the Inauguration Of
President Taft.