Evening star., 1936-01-12

its earlier congregation having moved
elsewhere. Then. just short dis
tance away, at No. 1929. lived Herman
Diebitsch, whose daughter married
Admiral Robert E. Peary. who is ac-
credited with having discovered the
North Pole in 1909.
In the next block, at No. 1922, lived
the Downing family, and here Robert
L. Downing, the tragedian. got much
of his early training as an actor. as
did number Of other local actors who
were associated with him at the time.
Mr.. Downing is still we'll and hearty,
and lives here in Washington.
The old Mount Vernon NJ z. Church
South stood for many years at the
northeast corner of Mount Vernon
place Cor K street, and Ninth street.
where is now the Machinists' Union
Building. This is quite an old neigh
borhcod, ard right around the corner
on Massachusetts avenue. west of
Ninth street, still stands old McKendree
M E Church. organized in 1914, and
nearby was once the sixth police pre-
cinct, with Lieut. NJ. A. Austin in
charge This was at a time when
Charles E. Vernon was the only cap
tain on the force. and his title COM
bined also that of inspector
John C. Harkness, architect an
builder. lived on the south side of N
York avenue, between Ninth and Ten
streets, and here he built row CI
houses which became known as Hark-
ness Row. This row is said to have been
built sometime during the forties, and
Rev. John c. Smith resided there for
a generation; Rev. Mr.. Gillis OF the
Ascension Church; George M. Bibb,
once Secretary of the Treasury, and
long connected with the solicitors
office; William H. West and Richard
Ella. long connected with the Treasury.
resided in this row. Thomas Mastin
resided at the corner Of Ninth street,
and others living on New York avenue
were G. S. watkins; Jehiel Crossheld.
printer; Joseph Bryan, carpenter and
builder; John Hoover, butcher, and
Joseph Davis, letter carrier.
1T IS rather amusing to read the
various names that were given TO
different sections Of the city IN the
early days, many of which were printed
in the city directory, such as Swan
poodle, Foggy Bottom. English Hill.
Butter Row, Rodbird Hill, Holy Hill.
Niger Hill (the block between Ninth
and Tenth and N and o.. Vinegar
Hill, Cow Town, Crow Hill. Hells Bot
tom and the Level (Which is as much
Of the name as the writer dare PRINT,
Six Buildings. Seven Buildings, Ten
Buildings. Round Top. Farnham Row,
Gapeseed Row, Philadelphia Row.
Union Row. Bloodheld and score or
more of other names, indicating loca-
tions with which the early resident
was quite familiar, and upon which
he depended more than he did the
citv directory.
The alleys too. were given unusual
names, and the city directory for 1866
contains such typical designations as
Cabbage Alley, Chestnut Alley, Goat
Alley. Marble Alley, Organ Alley. Tin
Cup Allev, Willow Tree Alley, Shimmy-
tail Alley and many others.
Back in the late eighties the south
east corner of Ninth and K streets was
occupied by a group Of frame build
ings, which we're destroyed by fire on
March 26 of that year. A. S. Caywood's
real estate Office was one Of those
burned out.
A building of more than passing i'm
portance was the residence Of William
Gait at 720 Ninth street. a member of
the firm of M. w. Gait g. Bro, whose
place of business, before moving 10
ll07 Pennsylvania avenue. was on the
north side of the Avenue between Sixth
and Seventh streets. In l843 James
Gait. evidently the pioneer in the
business in this city, was occupying a
site en- Pennsylvania avenue between
Ninth and Tenth streets, near the
center, as "clock and matchmaker"
though Mr.. Croggon tells US it was
John Gait who was the first Of the
family to conduct the jeYelry business
in Washington.
As early as 1885 John Mcleod
conducted, where what was later the
Gait residence. the Columbian Acad-
emy, known best, however, as John
McLeod's School, over the door Of
which we're the words: Order is
Heavens First Law" William Gait.
In his youth, attended this school and
took up his residence on the site
before the Civil War.
Mr.. Bryan in his history Of the
National Capital tells us: For three
years prior to 1914 the corporation
scholars we're taught with the pay
scholars of John Mcleod, an Irish
school teacher. who had opened o
school in 1903 on the west side Of
Eighth street. short distance north
| of I street southeast. After the
war with England Mr.. Mcleod sold
his school. property near the Navy
Yard and erected school building
with residence adjoining at the south
west corner Of Tenth and @ streets