Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08

Cobler bought the farm from Tucker for $4,000
and divided it into building lots"
A ND so in The Star of June. 10 of Il
year we find the following advertisement:
NOTICE TO UNION TOWN LOT
HOLDERS 4
"The fire which occurred on tn, 9Th,
instant, having destroyed our office, |
papers, etc, renders it necessary to post /
pone the drawing for the Union Town !
building lots until Monday next, at 8 I
O'Clock pm. when it will take place at !
our new office on Seventh street. a few !
doors above Odd Fellows Hall, until /
which time persons have the privilege of /
subscribing for the few remaining lots
at the present very low price, viz: $50; J
payable in monthly installmentS of So !
each; fer q lot "a feet front by $50 feet !
deep situated in the most beautiful and /
healthy neighborhood around Washing I
ton. The streets will be graded the gut /
tiers paved and edged with shade trees, !
without charge to lot holders.
Persons in arrears with their month
ly dues, are required to pay up or their !
names will be left out of the drawing.
Deeds IN fee timple,' guaranteed
& clear of all and every incumbrance' will
be given to lot holders paying up in full
at any time after the drawing on Mon
day evening next.
Office open from am. until :
O'Clock pm.
"JNO. FOX Secretary"
Mr.. George Simmons, who wrote Roadside
Sketches" for The Star 40 years ago. in speak,
ing of the early houses in Anacostia (its more
recent name to the old-timer) tells us:
The first house erected in the new town
after the subdivision was completed was the
old two-story brick on Harrison street. now oc-
cupied by Wetzers store and bakery George
F. Pyie's grocery store nearly adjoining on the
west, soon followed
But the Oldest house within the limits OF
the town today is the old Fox mansion on the
south side Of Jefferson street. which was built
many years before Anacostia was thought of.
1t was built by John Fox one of the founders
of the place, and was his residence until his
death. It is now occupied by w. H Richards.
AT one time 1t was the residence of Dr. A. M.
Green. Another very old building is the small
frame structure on Harrison street, little
west OF Anderson's blacksmith shop This
house was built by James Buckley, who was
bridgekeeper in the days Of tolls"
CLOSE by Buzzard Point, to the east and
~ Its near neighbor for nearly the entire
time the Government has resided here is the
Navy Yard, place near and dear to the hearts
of many Washingtonians
The first deed on record for this property
is dated March II. 1900. and is signed by Gus
tavis Scott and William Thornton, two of the
commissioners appointed by virtue of the act
of Congress entitled: AN act for establishing
the temporary and permanent seat Of the Gov
eminent Of the United States"
The squares conveyed at that time were ss3
and SS4. and the consideration was 81 900,
which was paid because Of a change in loca-
ton, although the Government received no adj
ditional amount of land and site that was
little, if any, better.
Inc deed was acknowledged by Robert Brent
and Corn Cunningham, two of the justices OF
the peace in and for Prince Georges County.
The first commandant was Capt Thomas
Tfngey, who held the ONCE until his death,
February %. 1929 when he was succeeded by
Capt Isaac Hull