Evening star., 1940-02-11

ground where a building might be
erected for the care of the poor,
but this request was not granted.
And 1t should be borne In mind
that the cost for caring for the
poor in the first few years of the
city was greater than that appro.
priated for street Improvements.
After the first City Council came
into existence, in June, 1902, the
question Of caring for the INDECENT
seems to have been always before
that body and by 1906 it was stated
by the Common Council a."
We cannot comfortably or econom-
ically provide for our own numerous
poor or furnish the alternative. Of
work or expulsion from our streets
to the struggling vagabond beggars
which the seat of Government
draws together, and who are as
much pest to the members of the
National Legislature as a nuisance
to the resident inhabitants"
Bryan. in his History of the Ma
tional Capital" says: LAS early as
1907 it was estimated that there are
annually 400 or 500 persons whom
their affairs bring to the seat of
government during the sittings Of
the National Legislature be-
sides these idle and dissolute persons.
An appropriation for the relief Of
the poor was made by the first City
Council and was continued each
year, but with such a rapid rate of
increase that in the course of four
years the decision was reached to
build poorhouse, not only where
the poor and infirm could be cared
for. but also where employment
could be given to those able to work,
and in this way they could contrib
ute to their support"
Named Poorhouse Hill.
In 1907 the corporation purchased
for 5000 square 448 as a step toward
creating a place where the poor
could receive humane and proper
attention. This square is between
Sixth and Seventh and M and N
streets NV, and after a building
for the aged had been erected the
locality took on the name Poorhouse
Hill, because of its elevation and the
purpose for which the site was being
used.
Soon after this square vas pur-
chased brick structure was erected,
parts of which are believed to be
still standing on the M street side
of the block, having been converted
into other buildings. Says Croggon:
Before the close of 1907 it was
opened for Use. Besides accommo-
dating INDECENT poor, the 'peniten-
tiaries,' as offenders against the city
ordinances were called, were con-
fined there, and portion was used
as the dwelling of the intendant. As
may be supposed, the situation being
commanding and the structure i'm
posing, 1t was attractive to those on
the outside. and from the reports
many of the inmates, whether pa
tients or prisoners, were satisfied to
be there, though the latter were
made to work.
At that time the potters field was
located in the northeast section of
this square, and here many who died
during the cholera epidemic of 1883
were buried. and 1t was probably
here that Old Man Orr and his wife
found last resting place. .'-
When, in 1843, it was determined
to relocate this institution, the cor
poration had subdivision made Of
the square into 73 lots, which were
sold at public auction May 10 of
that year. Some of the purchasers
were the Rev. DR.. G. w. Samson,
Caleb H. Shreve, Michael Hoover,
Mr.. Ward and others. The lots
brought on an average of $50 each,
or from 3 to S cents foot.
In 1845 new site, down by the
Eastern Branch on Reservation No.
13, having been granted for q build
ing known as the Washington
Asylum, was used to house the aged
and infirm. This building was de.
stroyed by fire about March, 1857,
and new building took its place
a year or two later, and here the
asylum remained until it became the
Home for the Aged and Infirm and
was moved to Blue Plains.
Georgetown Institution.
Through the generosity Of John
Barnes, Georgetown was able to
acquire . poorhouse at an early date,
the cornerstone being laid by the
Masons In 1881, ''in the midst Of .
large concourse of citizens and in
the presence Of the Mayor, recorder.
aldermen and Common Council Of the
town." The Rev. Mr.. Wallace, then
pastor Of the Methodist Protestant
Church, preached a most eloquent
discourse.
Prior to 1846, when Alexandria
County was retroceded to Virginia,
this part of the District of Columbia
also was solicitous for those Of its
residents In want, and as early as
1900 was providing for their care.
One Of its early poorhouses stood
until few years ago on highway
No. !, near Del Ray. At an early
date the ground upon which 1t was
erected was owned by Richard H.
Roberts and wife, who transferred
title to William Duncan, and later
T. B. Pinn and wife transferred it
to the city and Council of Alexandria
m Il