Evening star., 1933-04-30

~ there were few church Struc-
NM lures in the embryo" city.
" " The first was, indeed, a most
humble sort of a meeting place
what had formerly been an old tobacco ware
ho,,se-located on New Jersey avenue southeast,
near D street. As hear as can be judged this
congregation, as early as 1880, was mission
of St. Johns Parish, Prince Georges County
which was created into washington Parish OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church by act Of the
Maryland Legislature Of December 26, 1874.
A few years after it had been determined to
move the Capital here, and the number OF men
working upon public and private projects be-
gan to increase, the necessity for better quar-
ters in which to meet naturally presented It
self for serious consideration, and so We md at
the vestry meeting OF July IA, 1895, the cele-
brated speculator James Greenleaf, Offering
to the congregation building site lot II. IN
square 456 the square bounded by Sixth,
Seventh and streets northwest The lot
faced street about midway Of the block.
Samuel Blodgett-another rich man who
came here to increase his wealth in city lots
and left with a deflcit-gave the vestry an
order for timber to build the proposed church.
For the time being the proposition was favor
ably entertained. and in order to provide ample
space the adjoining lot, No. 16, was purchased
But this Is just as far as building church on
this site went. However at meeting held
April 49, 18O6-though the old barn was still
recognized the parish church-a resolution
was passed directing it to be known as Chrlsts
Church But the site must have been aoan-
doned soon afterward, for on May II. lSOo.
we find the vestry considering two oners OF
lots-one by William Prout the site OF the
present church C street southeast, between
sixth and Seventh streets), and one by Messrs.
Law and Carroll about four squares distant
Mrs Samuel Harrison Smith substantiates
the history of the old church by telling us tnat
the New Jersey avenue congregation met IN
small frame building that had been tobacco
cbos sod Carroll. Snow.
ing that it was still being used for church
purposes in 1900, we find in the Centennial OF
Liberty of June 20 Of that year that Federal
Lodge Nc. IS (old number. would hold It's
annual observance of st. Johns day there
Federal Lodge was then meeting "at Brother
Frost's South Capitol street." but a few months
following this notice was located in the dwell
ing house of Mr.. Coningham in New Jersey
avenue" This is probably the Cornelius Con-
ingham referred to last week. who thought It
more profitable to operate brewery than to
practice madicine, but who we find in 1911 was
Offering his fixtures for sale.
In May, 1901, we find the Rev. A. I. NC
Cormick holding Sabbath meetings in the cor
ridor of the new war Office at o'clock.
Finally Mr. Prout's offer was accepted, and
the others declined with thanks. Subscr1p-
tions were directed to be taken for the erection
of two church edfices, one east and the other
west of Tiber Creek a little stream then how-
offer was conditioned on the building Of .
church within q year, all efforts were bent IN
that direction.
THE first purchase Of ground for st. Patricks
] Roman Catholic Church was made BY
Father Anthony Caf1rey on April II, 1904, and
the let's which were secured from the Commits
sioners, were Nos. and 6, in square 376, On the
original plat. They were the third and fourth
lots east Of the northeast corner Of Tenth and
streets around the corner from the present
st. Patricks Church.
For these lots 90 pounds was paid, and few
months later lot was also purchased, though
the deed signed BY Commissioners Scott and
Thornton, did not pass until 17oS, when It
Is presumed they had been paid for. It Is
not 80 easy to tell when the frst church was
erected for the inclination to keep records at
this period was not - strong as It Is today.
and the necessity TO do 20 apparently did not
seem near 30 important. However, the date
which f1ts in best with the facts is 1904.
Father Caffrey was undoubtedly very buav
nan, too busy perhaps With his spiritual duties
Z pare time to record every event that hap