Evening star., 1937-06-06
Bv John Clagen Proctor.

east side OF the street, once occupied
BY pioneer families Of section for
many years known as the Island, have
been torn down and their occupants
have moved to other parts OF the city.
Few Of the-2 dwellings were new.
and tho writer nad II from MS. w.
ginia Handy West, widow N Charles
e. West, at one time . partner IN the
frm Of Rudolph, West & Co., that she
was born and later married in the
three-story brick house once known
as 238 Fourteenth street. Next door
to this was No. 240, between 1nde-
pendence avenue and c street. These
houses were built about 1859 by Mrs.
Vests father, Samuel w. K. Handy,
who employed George Dearing, con-
tractor, to do the work. Mrs. West
stated at the time the writer had an
interview with her several years ago
that she had learned from her father
that at one time the first floor OF both
of these houses had been used as Gen.
Caseys headquarters. In 1908 No. 23s
was sold to Alfred Costello.
Mrs. West recalled that at one time
her father was engaged in business in
a two-story store at the corner OF
Fourteenth and C streets. but later
moved uptown to Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. between Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets. the site of Cornwell's grocery
wore, where the Grand Army had ITS
headquarters for many years. Oppo-
site to her old home she said, at the
northwest corner of Fourteenth and c
streets, a man named Altman lived,
and had COWS. hogs and everything
that associated itself with rural life,
and, of course, she did not forget the
old artillery corral that occupied the
space upon which was later built the
old building of the Bureau OF Engrav-
ing and Printing, which still STANDS
on the west side OF Fourteenth street
On line with the south side OF 1nde-
pendence avenue.
A VERY interesting letter which the
"A writer received sometime ago
from Mrs. Mary Lloyd Willis has this
to say about this particular location
and vicinity:
Il was born in house which stood
Ut the southwest corner Of Fourteenth
and B streets, where the old Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing now stands.
It was part Of Government reserva-
ton under the jurisdiction OF the War
Department, devoted to the Quarter
masters Corps, and took In the area
from B to the alley on the middle OF
the block and west to the Government
greenhouses. This 'commissary' held
all the varied activities for the needs
Of the Army officers and rationing Of
pensioners of the city.
There WAS a storehouse, where
groceries were dispensed; bakery,
supervised by q Mr.. John Gately; q
wheelwright and blacksmith shop and
forge, and a butcher shop, under the
care Of, Jesse and Oliver and Rose
Varnell, and the cabinet shop. in the
charge of my father, afterward resi-
dent of Indian Head, Md. These
buildings all were frame, and our
house faced Fourteenth, and on the
north we had all the Monument Lot
for front yard. We looked out upon
the work of building the great shaft
as an everyday affair, and the monthly
coming Of Army men for their ration
was another familiar event. Oppo-
site us, still standing, were two small
bricks. in one of which a family
named McHugh lived. Further down
the street was the Handy home and
the Pettibone home, and below them
the Piepenbrings. On the west side
lived John Altman, a drover, and
across on a knoll the Young home, q
beautiful Colonial house torn down to
make room for the present new bu-
reau.
Just down from the Allman's house
20 the river ran q path, which we
witness the 'baptizing' Of the colored
folk, who came in omnibusses, the
men in decorous black and the women
in 4 sort Of lavender calico, the
preacher standing waist deep for the
immersions and those on shore join
ing in the 'Hallelujahs!
Just around on c street lived Mr..
HesSler, whose daughters still occupy
the home their father built. This is
No. 1855 Near them lived Mr.. Glass
and Henry Stahl and across on the
corner the Corcorans and Cullinans
and dear Miss Sally Shea, who kept
what would now be called a depart
ment store Until recently the house
next door was occupied by Miss Annie
Cullinan Of this same family I re-
member this house, No. 1858, quite
well. for we lived In it for a number Of
years after the commissary was no
more. Just beyond, in the middle of
the block, lived John ]. DAILY and fam
lily, who conducted a grocery for many
years.
Very many of the children of these
families are now residents in Wash
fngton, and 1t is like tugging at heart
strings to see the old places 60, but
also the progress and beauty OF the
city is dear to us, and we are glad to
zee the wonderful improvements tax
Ing their places"
THE Young house, referred to in the
: foregoing letter, which the sender
aid was q colonial house, and stood
On = knoll, is evidently the old Cas-
anaye- Young house. And this re-
minds the writer of a letter he re-
ceived recently from James Plaskett OF
this city, which reads:
MY sister, Mrs G. S. Davis of
Lorton, Va, while with us the past
Winter, recalled she had about 1890
stayed with an aunt living where the
Agricultural Department annex Is now
located. ,she attended the school
which hi5 recently been ra1ed to
make way for the engraving annex.
4 abort distance west of this point
MAS what must have been at one time
3 dne estate. but was then rather
dilapddated. It was spoken Of rs the
haunted house. The house could be
seen from the trains going South just
After crossing Fourteenth street, and