Evening star., 1936-03-08

- given to one OF WaSnlng-
tons earliest settlements.
which included In part what
Is now known as Judiciary Square.
where the court house now stands. Its
name originated, we are told, when
that neighborhood was settled by some
English families on lots at one time
Cook.
belonging to Mr.. Shoemaker a clerk
in the Post Office Department. The
name of one of these families was
The late James Croggon said that
this area was given the name English
Hill prior to 1920 in order to dis
tinguish it from nearby settlement
on a rise of ground called Irish Hill" I"
though, as a matter Of fact, both
hills were largely settled by Irish
families.
Like "Swampoodle," "F'oggy Bot
TOM" Cow Town" and many other
early sections of Washington, Eng
lish Hill" had no prescribed boun-
daries, though Mr.. Croggon tells us
that the Tiber or Goose Greek was
reckoned as its eastern dividing line
and Washington Topham gives G
street in the neighborhood of the
Court House as its northern boun-
Diary and where the Northern Liber-
ties" began.
Robert Ball, at one time the
treasurer of the Association of the
Oldest Inhabitants, and at the time
of his death crier of the Supreme
80 nicfr or nf tx,f1
resided at 233 G street, near the Court
House for many years, and who
died there in 1897, was intimately
acquainted with this neighborhood.
He was born in Alexandria County.
D. C. (now part of Virginia). April
80, 1927, and came to this city in
October 1884. In 1853 he entered the
city post Office as letter carrier and
later became the first superintendent
of the letter carriers at the inaugura-
tion of the free delivery system. Un-
doubtedly Mr.. Ball acquired much ex-
perience in local postal matters, but
It Is hardly probable that his personal
experience in the delivery of mail was
ever quite so arduous and intimate as
was that of William Bailey, who. in
the year 1918, was the only letter car
fier in the District of Columbia, and,
Furthermore, his route extended from
!. Georgetown to the Navy Yard, and
>Hhis included the intermediate streets
the few settlements then along the
~It is related that Mr. Bailey per-
formed his daily task on foot, and that
great respect was paid him as he
passed through the streets and this
respect was cheerfully paid him un-
til he claimed it as personal right,
when to q degree it was accordingly
denied. In delivering his mail he
would loudly knock at the door with
q rap of his stick, and If the money
was not Immediately produced (since
this was before the days of postage
stamps he would not wait minute,
but would hold the mail until he
came around the next day.
MR.. BALL acquired his education
principally in the Rittenhouse
Academy, which was near the corner
of Third street and Indiana avenue
It was very important local institu-
tion in the early days of Washington,
and in referring to this school in 1902
Douglass Zevely said:
"Rittenhouse Academy with a his
tory particularly interesting among
institutions of that kind in this city,
dating back for 60 years, stood on the
south side of Indiana avenue adjoining
vacant lot on the corner of Third
street, which served as a playground
for the scholars for many years. This
ground on the avenue side Is now COW
cred by dwelling housese which were
erected in recent years for the late
Matthew G. Emery, and the Third
street side is also improved
I'm 1840, when the history of the
academy began, with Charles H. and
Joseph E. Nourse as teachers, 1t was |
q one-story building. When the late !
Otis c. Wight became the proprietor !
in 1s4s (or soon after) he had changes
made so as to give another story and
a basement, the latter being used for |
a primary department. In 1894, about |
the time Mr.. Wight retired from his |
profession, after long and honorable
career he sold the property to DR..
Henry L. Mann, who built two dwell |
tngs on the site. One of these was
rented by Mr. Wight, and it was there
he died In october, 1896, at the age
OF 10.
Among many others who were
once students at this academy, some |
OF whom are now prominent residents |
OF this city, 1t may be of interest to |
mention William F. Mattingly, the |
well-known member Of the District
bar; Gen. John M. Wilson, U. S. Army
tretired), at one time (his last active
duty Chief of Engineers; DR.. William
Pope Young, a representative Wash
ingtontan, and now secretary of the
Franklin Fire Insurance Co.; P. w.
Browning. the grocery merchant, and
g. M. Oyster, equally prominent in
business circles; also Noble D. Larner.
These were scholars during the time
the Nourse brothers had the school.
Il should have mentioned more
particularly with Mr.. Mattingly the
name of William A. Maury. Among
those who were scholars in Mr.. Wight's
time, now prominent members of the
bar, are Associate Justice Andrew c.
Bradley, Andrew 3. Duvall, and r.
Ross Perry; F. B. MCGUIRE, the sons
OF James Y. Davis, James Y. and
Eamuel T. (hatters), among those
representing the business community:
Comdr. Adolph Mark, U. S. NJ:
Comdr. Martin E. Hall, U. 8. NJ;
Col. McLane Tilton, U. S. Marine
Corps; Maj. Richard Wallach, U. S.
Marine Corps, and Maj. Franck E.
Taylor, U. S. Army, representing the
navel and military service. Maj. Tay-
lor was in the Artillery branch of the
Army at the time of his death in |
November, 1885,"
TN 1865 Mr.. Ball resigned his posi-