Evening star., 1939-04-02

was the proper locality for the per-
manent seat Of the Federal Gov
ernment. Lees surrender to the So
called funding bill in the end made
this possible.
Thomas Law.
Thomas Law, the first occupant Of
this residence, who was the young
est son of the Bishop Of Carlisle,
married in the spring Of 1796 Eliza.
beth Parke Custis, daughter of John
Parke Custis and granddaughter Of
Mrs. Martha Washington, as well
as descendant of Lord Baltimore.
The Laws did not reside long In
this house, but soon moved to a
residence built by Thomas Law on
the west side of New Jersey avenue
between B and C streets Sc, where
is now the House Office Building,
and where he entertained such
notable persons as Louis Philippe.
Count Volney, Niemcewitz, Richard
Parkinson and many others, and,
most naturally, Gen. and Mrs.
Washington were frequent guests
there.
Richard Bland Lee of Leesyl-
vania, in Prince William County,
Va, who also occupied the Sixth
and N street residence, as stated,
was Representative in the First,
Second and Third Congresses.
1t is probable that he came to
Washington in 1914, for it was in
that year that he was appointed
one of three commissioners to super
intend the re-erection of the public
buildings destroyed by the British
on August "a of that year, the other
members being John P. Van Ness
and Tench Ringgold Their meet.
ings were held in the old Blodgett
Hotel Building on E street between
Seventh and Eighth streets.
Appointed Commissioner.
Later, in 1915, he was appointed
by President Madison commissioner
to adjudicate claims arising out Of
the loss or destruction of property
during the War of 1812-18l5. Sub.
sequently, in 1919. he was appointed
by President Monroe judge OF the
Orphans Court of the District Of
Columbia, and served as such until
his death in Washington, D. C..
March II, 1927.
The writer is not certain If Judge
Lee died in the old Law mansion.
but, if he did. additional signifi.
canoe attaches to the residence, be.
cause of the fact that he was un.
doubtedly one OF the founders of the
National Capital. He is buried In
Congressional Cemetery, and his
grave is appropriately marked.
Of course, there have been many
changes in South Washington, es.
pecially in recent years, and several
blocks of houses along Maryland
avenue, east of Sixth street. have
already disappeared from view, and
the neighborhood looks strange. In
deed, to those who knew it years
ago and those who once resided
there. Nearly decade ago. the
writer interviewed the late Levin G.
Handy, one of Washington's early
photographers, who was born on
THE Island" and who lived in the
same house from the time of his
birth to the date of his death.
Mr.. Handy's Gallery.
Mr.. Handy's home was then AT
494 Maryland avenue, where is still
his Photographic gallery. and in the
talk the writer had with him he
was asked to point out the homes
of his neighbors when he was
young man, and, beginning al
Fourth street and going west on
Maryland avenue toward Sixth
street, he mentioned the following
early residents:
John G. Thompson, father of DR..
Millard F. Thompson; Peter Pear"
son, father of the well-known
printer, Joseph L. Pearson; Jackson
Yates, John Knox of the express
business, the house later being oc-
cupied by Strauss. the clothier; al
what is now 492 the Ergood family,
including Jesse C. and Jesse c., jr4
the latter once a Ninth street grocer,
and quite likely the father of jesse
L. Ergood, member Of the Asso-
citation OF Oldest Inhabitants; at 494
the Handys, and the next house
west family named Cox; at 49a
Henry Lee, pioneer undertaken, who
it is said, invented the old ice box
used by undertakers before the pres
ent method of embalming came into
general use. His business is still In
existence.
At what is now house 500 lived
George E. Noyes of Gray & Noyes,
founders and machinists; next lived
(See PROCTOR, Page C-10.)