Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-06
Some Still
Living Had
Been on Rolls
Northern Liberties
Scene of Activities
For Institution
By John CIaqeff Proctor.

plot at Sixth street and New York
avenue for "a years, has finally
disappeared, and a new structure
Is now being erected in its place.
Naturally this will be sad news to
thousands of men and women, who
as children, and as boys and girls
IN their teens, attended this school.
No doubt some members of the
earlier classes are still living, as well
as a few of their teachers who
helped to lay the foundation for
their careers, and to them and their
pupils. wherever they may be, or
whatever they may be doing, I'M
doubtedly fond memory still clings
to this old building, once prom
inently located in the heart of what
many of our senior Washingtonians
still love to call the Northern Lib
critics.
However, this was never an Off
cially authorized name, but like
Topsy, was a designation that just
grew, and yet, common consent al
lows many things, and so we not
only find it mentioned in the city
directory for 1843, but even its To-
cation Is there given as anywhere
north of F or G or H streets north,
its eastern and western expanse not
comprehended even within the prob
abilities of a surmlse." And then
the compiler of the directory adds
in a footnote:
This appellation initiates so much
against appropriateness. and conse-
quently good taste, and, indeed,
everything else that can be based
on an idea of definite meaning, that
1t seems only worthy of a record
upon the tablets of slang; but, like
all things that are not controlled
by laws of precision, identity, or
location. it is seemingly understood
by every one: because it is easier
to rest satisfied under doubts that
have no immediate effect, than
undergo the labor of investigation
to arrive at facts. The only percep-
tible adaptation of this name to its
locality is that it is north of some
where, hence north and unbounded
in its extent, hence liberties The
two compounded making northern
liberties: or it may be the mimic
representative of a portion of the
city or county of Philadelphia bear
ing the same name; if this be so,
1t is difficult to tell what could be
the medium of association by which
1t established its synonym in Wash
tngton."
Boundaries Shown.
Another authority designates the
Northern Liberties as being that
part of the city said to be bounded
by English Hill and the commons
on the east. the first ward on the
west. downtown on the south, and
the Clashes on the north"
Originally the site of the Abbot
Building was occupied by fire en-
CINE house, erected in 1855. Soon,
however, it was remodeled for public
school purposes and used as such
from 1856 until the building just re-
moved was begun in 1875, and &C.
cupied the following year. Referring
to this more recent building, Supt
j. Ormond Wilson. in his report of
April l, 1876. has this to say:
This old brick building that stood
upon a triangular lot of ground
bounded by New York avenue and
Sixth and L streets NV, was orig
inally ereceed for an engine house,
but was remodeled, and has been
used as a school house since 1856
The building contained only three
school rooms, and one of these was
very undesirable. The trustees rec
commended that this building be i'm
proved and enlarged by the addition
of two wings, so that in all it would
contain nine school rooms, play
rooms. teachers rooms and rooms for
a janitor. The Commissioners of
the District favorably entertained
the recommendation and directed
Mr.. Thomas M. Plowman, inspector
of buildings, to prepare plans for
the proposed changes. His plans
were approved and contract for
the work was made. The modifica-
tions in the old building were so eX-
tensive that the contractor preferred
to take it down and to erect, with
out any additional charge. an entire
new structure. This he was allowed
to do, and the work is now nearly
completed The entire cost of this
improvement, including heating the
building by furnaces, inclosing the
grounds, and furniture. will prob
ably be about $4,000. In honor of
Mr.. George j. Abbot, who served as
q member of the board from 1845 to
1855, and rendered the schools most
efficient and valuable service. the
Board of Trustees has named it the
Abbot School Building"
Named After Mayor.
At one time Mr. Abbot was private
secretary to Daniel Webster, and
later United States consul to Shelf
field, England. The building referred
to by Mr. Wilson as having been re-
moved was named the Berret School,
after James G. Berret, Mayor of
Washington. 1858-1861. but after the
new school at Sixth street and New
YORK avenue was given tne name
George j. Abbot. the name Berret
was given the school that once oc-
cupied the southwest corner of
Fourteenth and @ streets NV, prior
to the erection of the present build
ing on that site. The earlier building
was erected in 1857.
Though the Abbot Building, re-
Gently razed, was begun in 1875, it
was not occupied until the following
year, and then apparently by only
five male classes-three primary and
two secondary. In Miss Sallie A.
Dalton's primary class for that year
diplomas were awarded to Frank W.
Amrein, Francis Watkins, Edward
Columbus. Martin E. Hoyberger,
Charles E. Mahoney, Charles D.
Watkins, William F. Peabody, John
S. Cissel. Frank c. Roach, David F.
Parker, Charles L. Taylor, George L.
Loeffler, Harry w. Andrews, John N
Oliver, Bernhard U. Behrend, Alfred
H. Speake, George H. McDuell, Fred
erick A. Fckstein. AlOVsiuS A. King