Evening star., 1932-01-31


IN the picture illustrating this story both the
! southeast and southwest corners of Twelfth
and streets are shown. The sign the
building at the southwest corner plainly tells
that 1t Is j. Baier's restaurant and here fire.
quently came the thirsty gentry to wet their
whistles, but nowadays the dispenser of liquid
refreshments hunts up his customers and de-
livers the goods to his home. No, this is not
the same old world for they really do some
things differently now.
Next to Baier'S saloon on street, is the
old Van Ness property built by Gen John P.
Van Ness and occupied by him and his wife,
Marcia from 1904 to 1914. Here they enter
tanned many noted guests, including Wash
ington Irving, in 1907, and again in 1911. Next
to the Van Ness house is the old Franklin
Engine House. This building erected in
1857, and was from this date only the site Of
the Franklin Fire Co. The building which was
removed to be replaced by this structure was
one Of the first buildings occupied by The Star,
and was its home from May, 1853. to Septem-
ber 1854. 1t was, according to an early ac-
count, erected by Everett g. Brother, and
used as a blacksmith Shcp and a coach fac
tory. writer who was contemporary with
the time observed that it was a quaint build
ing for newspaper office, but quite suitable
for making coaches" Entrance to the ground
floor of this building, the home of The
two large doors wide enough for wagon or
carriage to go through. The writer added
The Office of The Evening Star, upstairs,
was compact. Business manager, editor, re-
porters, compcsitors were all thrown together
in room. Happy family it Three
windows in front, the saShes of which extended
down to the floor gave plenty of light The
old singe-cylinder press, with a capacity of
perhaps not more than thousand impressions
hour, performed its daily mission in a shed
adjoining the building in the rear, and
power was utilized in place of steam, which
was not adopted until several years later"
DOWN Twelfth street, midway of the block,
- can be seen low building with little
windows near the roof. This Is the site of
the first police precinct, which no doubt has
sad recollections for many evildoers and many
who were just suspected Of being evil Next
to the south, and the last house in the picture
On Twelfth street, is the old Night Lodging
House which upon frequent occasions proved
. godsend to many = person in distress There
should be many just such places IN Wash
ington today.
Looking toward the uncompleted Washing
ton Monument. we see the sign OF the lumber
yard Of Nathaniel B. Fugtt, and looking this
gentleman up In the city directory for 1878.
find he not in the lumber business ct
that time, but WAS Q collector and solicitor for
the National Republican. However, at an
earlier date he was IN the lumber business at
Sixth street south OF Pennsylvania avenue,
which would probably mean Sixth and Consti-
tuition avenue. Evidently his lumber yard was
located as indicated by the sign In the picture
From this 1t Is quite evident that the photo
graph was taken around, or prior to 1870. and
the condition Of the monument would seem to
sustain this approximate date.
;etor .,&z
Avenue from the Post ONCE Department Build
ing is also interesting, for here at an early
date was q brickyard. followed in the 20's by
q frame building; the corner where The
Star Office now stands P. L. Duport kept q
fancy store. Later an exchange Office was
kept here some time. Then Charles Lauteu
leased this property in 1845 with the privilege
of buying, and was soon embarked in the con-
fectionery business and a chef won a high
reputation. In the eos, We are told there
were the grocery store of Joseph Gibson, the
book store of PiShey Thompson the shoe store
of James Lymington, the boarding house of
Mrs. Arguelles, the residence OF Gen. Walter
Jones, with his law Office, and J. B. German,
painter and near Eleventh street some small
buildings. North of the Avenue on Eleventh
street were the houses of John Williams, COL
ored; T. j. Mudd carpenter, and Mrs. r.
McReuna; and on Twelfth street. John Tucker
bell hanger; John Rawlings, carpenter and
William Young saddlers.
1t does seem a pity to remove the old Post
ONCE Building Somehow, to the layman,
there is a certain massiveness about 1t that is
not matched by the Government buildings now
being erected.
The cost of this building was 81, ,585, 1885, the
ground $685., ,490.77, and the smooth finish given
the granite above the mezzanine floor 1929 900
extra, making in all nearly three and half
millions Of dollars, and it is doubtful if the
building could be duplicated today for twice
that amount