Evening star., 1938-03-06

foot. About 1884 Baron Surrier sue
ceeded the count as Minister, and
occupied the residence for few years.
There was a small house near the
corner Of Thirteenth and 1 streets in
which a colored woman. Aunt Betsy
Pearl lived. Andrew Twine married
her daughter and later erected a small
brick house. About 1885 the property
of the count passed into the hands of
R. lie Colt, and later the buildings
were owned by Commodores B. w.
Kenyon, Granville S. Cooper and S. S.
Gouvenur, and Surg. H. S. Haskill,
U. S. N. The last two named and the
Rev. DR.. Smith Pyne of st. Johns
Episcopal Church were residents there
in the forties, and Gen. Winfield Scott
occupied one Of the houses some time
in the fifties.
"TN THE meantime there had been
some settlement in other portions
Of the square Mrs. Mary E. E. Allen
bought lot IA and John McDuell IL
and IL on Fourteenth street; John
Onsley, 27 on Thirteenth street. In
1881, A. M. Laub had Is and ls on
Fourteenth street, which he sold to
James w. Shields in 1884 In 1886,
j. Watson had lot II and Thomas P.
James lot 6 on H street. In the forties
Mrs. A. K. Lowe had lot IL on Four
teenth street.
Mr.. McDuell erected a row Of two
story frame houses on Fourteenth
street which were listed at S2,500. Mr..
Ousley, gardener at the White House,
had two-story dwelling on Thir-
teenth street taxed at q $700 value.
Mr.. Shields. a messenger in the Treas
ury, erected three-story frame resi-
dence on Fourteenth street.
In the forties, other than those
already named, the following were
residents in the square: Robert Reeves,
Martin Renehan, Mr.. Gallagher and
Thomas Odell on Thirteenth street;
Mrs. McArdle, John P. Helton, John
Trenholm on Fourteenth street, and
Thomas Williamson on I street. Mr..
Renehan, as his name indicates, was
of Irish origin, and for years was q
doorkeeper at the White House. Here
he fully sustained the reputation of
his nationality for wit, and his wit
ticisms through the many distin-
guished pepole he met were given
worldwide circulation. 1t is related
that in President Tyler's day he
averted threatened dismissal by ask
ing the President, if he intended to
drive the last Martin from the box
| IN Io
told him some complaints had been
made of his conduct. And do you
believe them?' Renehan replied. 'Tis
very bad man no one finds fault
with, and your excellency is . very
good man, for I've heard hundreds
say much worse things about you
than you would dare say of me-"
THE first settlement in the square
was made in 1909 on lot 10, at
the corner of Fourteenth and H
streets, by Henry Smothers. He aft
erward opened the school for colored
children and continued its manage
ment as late as 1924 John w. Prout
succeeded to ownership Of the school,
and he held the property for the next
10 years. Before 1920 Col. r. Cults
and Richard Smith owned many lots.
In 1927 Lethe Tanner, q veteran Of
the Cook family, bought the corner
lot, and for so years or more the
Tanners and Cooks lived there. Their
property was listed at a value of 81 400.
There was two-story frame dwelling
on the corner, in which Mrs Tanner
conducted variety store.
"The schoolhouse was small frame
building, and in this holding Mr. Prout
was succeeded by John F. Cook in
1884. Mr.. Cook served as schoolmas-
ter till his death in 1855. 1t was here
that the Colored Presbyterian Church,
which for many years afterward stood
opposite Mcpherson Square, was first
organized in May. 1S42. The school
teacher was the first pastor, and was
as successful in the church as in the
school. His sons, John F. and George
F. Cook, both became teachers of note.
The former taught his own school
near Sixteenth and K streets until
the colored public schools were estab-
lished in 1867. He later became COL
lector of taxes and Is now q member
Of the Board Of Education.
George F. Cook succeeded his
father in the H street school and was
the first superintendent Of the COL
ored public schools. Among the FAM
lilies who were represented in Cooks
school were the Lewises, Shorters,
Thomases, CAROLS, Datchers, Poseys
and Dodsons. Those being the days
Of slavery and prejudice. the pupils
were taught under some difficulties,
for at times incendiary remarks or
publications and escapes of slaves by
the underground railroad would excite
the white neighbors Of the school and
boys would vent their spleen by ston-
ing the schoolhouse and pupils"
But the Chain Buildings, which
stood near the site Of the George
Washington Hospital, were most likely
the most historic buildings erected in
this square. They stood back from
the street, with wide stretch Of
pavement in front, bounded by iron
posts and chains One, as stated, was
for time occupied by Gen. Winfield
Scott, the center one by Count Dene-
mon and the third one by Mrs. Alex
ander Hamilton, who lived with her
daughter, Mrs. Holly, where she was
surrounded by the gifts presented to
her husband-one Of our greatest
Americans by devoted and loyal
friends.
We can still appreciate what these
buildings must have meant to many
when they were standing, but how
much greater would we appreciate
THAN ~ thsv v,arA sfanAinn s.nvi