Evening star., 1939-04-02
Fourth Street
SectiOnOnce
Two Large Federal
Structures to Be
Built There
By John Clagen Proctor.

South WaShington-Or the Island,
as old-timers might call it-once a
fine residential section of the Cap
ital apparently is destined to become
a city of Government buildings.
Gradually, but surely, this part OF
Washington is being taken over
for governmental uses, and more
and more taxable property is being
taken from the Districts tax book
whereby the Federal Government
becomes the richer and we, the de-
fenseless people of the District OF
Columbia, the poorer, since we have
to make up in added taxes for every
foot of ground the United States
takes title to in the Nations Cap
ital. To all of which we might re-
mark as would the boy in the street,
"Ain't it the truth" and to which
the sage might add: None are so
deaf as those who will not hear"
or, None are so blind as those who
will not see"
Well, over on the island they are
soon going to erect two large Gov
eminent buildings. The Social
Security Building is to be erected
in square 534, which is between
Third and Fourth streets and Mary
land avenue and c street. In the
block Immediately to the south, or
square 535, the Railroad Retirement
Board is to be housed in building
suitable for its uses. And, to the
credit of the Government be it said,
that these buildings will soon pay
for themselves in the saving of rent
that is now being paid for rented
quarters for these agencies.
Uncle Sam Moves Fast.
But the early residents of the area
thus to be improved, who have not
already moved to other parts of the
city, must do so ere long, for when
Uncle Sam decides to raze the build
ings in these blocks he will probably
not parley over the matter, but will
move swiftly, and the mere reciting
of such sentimental lines as wood
man spare that tree" or house"
II it happens to be that kind of an
object, will not delay matters at all.
On the east side of Fourth street
between Maryland avenue and c
street, some of the tenants and
former owners are already vacating
their old homes and places of busi-
ness. On the opposite side of the
street, which is not included in the
planned improvements, number of
old homes were pointed out by Mrs.
Sarah M. Memler, who spent her
childhood days in this vicinity and
who accompanied the writer on one
of his recent trips to this neigh
borhood.
No. 212 was singled out as the
early home of Aaron Neff, but later,
in conversation with William Neff,
he said his family had resided at
223 Fourth street, which would be
two doors to the south of the first
number given. Aaron Neff was
Grand Army man, and member of
Lincoln Post No. 3. He was rail-
road man and originally came from
York County, Pa, and his wife,
whom he met in Baltimore, was
from the same county in Pennsyl-
vania. Their children included Miss
Blanche Neff, now clerk of the Mu-
nicipal Court; Lottie, the wife of
George w. Smith. battalion chief of
the District Fire Department, and
William, before mentioned.
200 Block Residents.
Some years ago Andrew May re-
sided at 20l in this block, later
keeping a grocery store at the north
east corner of Fourth and c streets.
George Wooldridge's drug store was
once also at the southwest corner of
Fourth street and Maryland avenue
He is said to have specialized in dog
and cat supplies. An early occu-
pant here was Sophia Fuss, grocer.
DR.. William E. Poulton once re-
sided at No. 227, and this house was
formerly owned by George Bowers,