Evening star., 1934-02-04

exhibited here. The site Is now covered by
the Willard Hotel, which also covers the site
of the Handsome three-story double brick
residence" which was erected on the southwest
corner of and Fourteenth streets by John
Kearney in 1900.
Kearney was an Irish architect who came
to this country in 1898, with his wife and
three sons Unfortunately, his life was of
short duration, for he died in 1903 in Charles
ton. S. c., where he had gone to superintend
the construction of the custom house for which
he had been engaged to draw the plans.
On the north side of the street was what is
said to have been "Cogans Tavern, at the
American Arms" referred to upon previous
occasion as having been in operation early
as August 8, 1874, and sold by Coglan in 1797,
to James Hoban, architect of the White House.
for 1000 pounds, and here was the Little
Hotel to which reference is made in the Inn
partial Observer of June 49, 1895, in a report
of celebration there by the Masons "of the
festival of St. John the Baptist" The notice
further states: The brethren will walk in pro-
cession from the lodge to the Capitol, where
divine service will be performed" Here Fed
eral Lodge, No. then No. l5) met In 1898,
and probably earlier.
ORIGINALLY there were six lots on the
~ south side Of block 224 bounded by Four
at Garfinckels corner block being at the
northeast corner of F and Fifteenth streets
On lot was the city post office. about 1901;
lot the residence of James Hoban,
who died there December 80, 1881; on lot was
the Little Hotel. The city post Office building
was standing 80 years ago, though not observ-
able from the street 1t was then owned by
Joseph E. Willard and was occupied as store
room by Thomas A. Brown.
On the southeast corner of Fourteenth and
2 Hctra uhara he Notin prpcc Puild
stands was in 1900. the residence of Davis
Craufurd whose daughter, Sarah c., married
Richard Forrest. Later it became the site of
the old Ebbitt House to which the writer has
frequently referred
Across the street. at 1333-1s35 F, stood for
many years the historic Adams house, where
= John Quincy Adams lived when he was Secre-
tary of State in the cabinet of President Mon
roe 1t was sold in 1882 for S31 900, which
was considered big price In those days. An
interesting site especially today when the chief
topic is banking and currency, is where the
Homer Building stands, at the northeast cor
ner of Thirteenth and streets. Here, in 1901,
was erected a building to house branch Of
the Bank of the United States, then located
at Philadelphia.
In accordance with its charter, this bank
went out of existence in 1911. In 1916 it was
revived and chartered for 20 years which
expired in 1896. It's directors, in 1917 in
cluded Richard Cults, Thomas Monroe. B.
Thurston, r. c. Weightman George Bomford,
William Harrison Smith, Thomas Tudor
Tucker William Brent, c. Graham j. Dean.
Thomas Swami w. S. Chandler and r. Par
rott Gen. John P. Van Ness was president
and Reuben Smith cashier.
The original building this corner was OF
brick and three stories in height, with old
fashioned gable roof. The bank continued to
occupy this building for some years, and was
in successful operation until the removal OF
its deposits to the Bank of the Metropolis in
1884 and in August, 1886, at the expiration of
the charter of the United States Bank its
property in Washington. consisting of 40 lots,
improved and unimproved advertised for
sale. From 1924 until 1886 Thomas Swami
was president and Reuben Smith cashier.
THE old bank building at Thirteenth and F
] streets has been devoted to business and
residence purposes ever since 1886. Col M. w.
Peasants chief clerk of the Office of Attorney
General, lived there for many years and died
there.
The building was afterward remOdeled, and
when F. street reduced in grade from 4
to 5 feet. during the Shepherd improvements,
this old building was remodeled and underpin-
ming and new foundations added.
"A peculiar feature of the monetary history
of the District in l820,' we are told, "waS the
practice of cutting paper dollars in such
way to make change. In May of this year
the banks adopted resolution which should