Evening star., 1937-08-29
BY John Cl0gen Proctor.

ing completed in Judiciary
Square cannot mar an already
a ruined landscape in that WELL
known reservation. nor can 1t improve
It very much, for the damage was
done when the Court of Appeals Build
ing was erected there some years ago,
and even before this. wnen the Pen
sion Once was placed in this park.
Though once q nice, quiet. residen-
tiAl neighborhood. this vicinity has
lonf since given way to business gen.
ASa1y, and to a change OF residents
who may not be as particular In the
upkeep Of their dwellings as were the
old-timers. who once lived near the
court house and who had a special
sentiment and pride in their homes
However, many OF these earlier resi-
dents are with us no longer, and the
come degree of respect cannot be ex-
pected from the newcomers, but as to
the reservation itself, Congress is
certainly largely to blame for its de-
facement and the people of the Dis
trlct are not beyond censure for aiding
and abetting in running what was for
many years following the Civil War a
lovely park, rather than fighting for its
retention as a much-needed place for
public recreation.
1t might not seem 80, but in this
area. extending from D to G streets
and from Fourth to Fifth streets,
known of1icially as Reservation No. 8,
there are l9 acres of ground, which
"a
the time the city was laid out into
lots and squares.
THE first settlements made on Judi
ciary Square. or in that area be-
tween Fourth and Fifth and D and G
streets, was by Irish laborers employed
IN erecting Government buildings, and
Who simply used the rule Of squatter
sovereignty, and without asking any
Questions, built their shacks there and
perhaps stayed there until elected or
until they decided to leave
These ancestors of some OF our fore
most families spread out even to the
blocks to the south, and for many
Tears this part Of the city was known
throughout the District as Irish Hill
English Hill being close by to the east
and northeast. In this connection.
en- Irish friend Of the writer's In
recently speaking of these localities
baid the sons OF the Emerald Isle final
y ran the English away from English
Hill, and took possession Of that place
also. However this may be, we do know
That the Irish gradually worked their
way enthusiastically, forming a con-
eiderable settlement known in later
years AZ "Swampoodle," where the
dog catcher just loved" to 60
There was much poverty in Wash
tlgton when the city was in its in
fancy. perhaps ever in greater pro-
portion to its population than there
has been at any time since, and for
this reason a poorhouse was one OF
the earliest buildings needed, espe-
oially during the Winter months, when
construction work was practically at
. standstill. For this purpose a hos
pital building-probab bly, mere wood
en shed-which stood within the
bounds Of Judiciary Square, was pur-
chased from the Federal Government
BY the Levy Court OF Prince Georges
County. Nd. in 1901. The functions
OF this court. according to Williams
Eogart Bryan, were to assess property,
collect the taxes, look after repairs
TO the roads and the repair and con-
etruction O. county public buildings,
take care Of bridges. make allowances
tor the support Of the poor, appoint
eonstables, overseers, etc.
THE Circuit Court Jail, or jail Of
Washington County was the next
building erected, 1t was plain, OBJ
long structure. one end Of which was
fitted up for the jailer and for years
l. housed prisoners under commit
r1ent for trial or under sentence, run
away slaves and the INDECENT insane
and those confined there at the in
stance of their families. For years
Cartwright Tippett occupied the posi-
t;on OF jailer, being succeeded by
Thomas Williams, who filled the ONCE
hntil about 1847, when Robert Ball,
sr was appointed, being assisted by
his son. Robert Ball, jr., then mere
lad. but who was some 20 years later
placed IN full charge
In time, of course, this small struc-
t1re became too small and unsuitable
for jail, and Congress, being con-
vinced that it had really become so,
by act Of March 3. 1889, appropriated
a31 900 for a new three-story brick
building. to be erected In the north
east corner of the grounds, or, to be
more definite, at the southwest corner
Of the intersection OF Fourth and G
streets
Robert Mills. who designed the
Washington Monument, the Treasury
and other Government buildings, was
the architect while. according to Mr.
Croggon. Stanton Bros were the
bricklayers. Incidentally, both OF
these brothers later served as men,
bers Of Congress.
This jail. after serving its purpose,
ras removed in 1874 and It's materials
sold and the proceeds devoted to the
improvement Of Judiciary Square.
However. while 1t existed, it was gen.
orally known as the Blue Jug" from
the color it was painted
After the removal of the earlier jail
from the E street site to Fourth and
g streets. the e street building be-
came the Washington Inflrmary, and
was . hospital for soldiers during the
early part Of the Civil War, until 1t was
destroyed by fire.
0N BOSCHKES map Of the District
Of Columbia. drawn from sur
veys made during the years 1856 to
1859. four structures are noted in Ju-
dietary square-the City Hall (now
known Is the court house, the infirm-
sry, the Blue jug" jail and the old
brick school house which stood on the
east side Of Fifth street, 4 little north
Of r.
This building WAS erected some time
during lS45, since the school reports