Evening star., 1941-02-09
By John CLaeen Proctor.


ing a tremendous building boom,
which is noticeable in every section
of the District and in every depart
ment of industry, and which even
extends far into the adjoining States
of Maryland and Virginia. Business
structures, apartment houses, hospi-
tails. educational and charitable in
stitutions, dwellings by the thou
sands and huge public buildings that
cover several blocks of ground each,
are now, or have recently been under
construction, or are in contempla-
ton.
Indeed. II some old resident of
Washington had gone to sleep 20
years ago and were to awaken today
and return to the city-as Rip Van
Wrinkle is said to have done else
Uhere-he would certainly be
amazed at what has taken place
during his long rest.
Only a few days ago the writer
noticed the razing of a building at
1912 Massachusetts, avenue. where is
to be erected large structure for
the National Catholic Welfare Con-
ference. on thoroughfare where the
change in certain sections has been
marvellous in the last half century.
This new Catholic Welfare Build
ing will stand in a part of Wash
ington early known as Port Royal
a name that goes back as far as
1885, when 500 acres of land, then
In Charles County. Nd, we're pat
ented to John Peirce. When the
agreement of March 80, 1871, was
entered into between the commits
sioners. on behalf of the Federal
Government, and the proprietors of
the land then within the boundaries
of the territory taken for the Capt.
tai City. the proprietors of this tract
we're Edward Peerce, James Peerce.
Joseph Coombs, Junior and Enoch
Jenkins. Soon afterward, however,
title to the four separate parcels
comprising this tract Of land ap-
pears in the name of Samuel David
son, John Davidsons heirs, Lynch &
Sands and Dickens, Morris &
Nicholson.
The lower or southern line Of Port
Royal began approximately at
Eighteenth street between E and F
and passed along the center of the
ground where stands the White
House to about New Jersey avenue
and L street. The northern line
extended from Eighteenth street be-
tween L and M to near First street
between P and @. The western line
was at Eighteenth street and the
eastern line at about First street, all
in the Northwest part Of Washing
ton. And that part of Massachu-
setts avenue from about Sixth to
Fifteenth street, cuts through this
grant of land given to Edward Peirce
during early Colonial days.
Homes Established.
Three of the four parcels of land
comprising Port Royal were of about
equal SIZE, while the remaining
parcel was about one-fourth the size
of each of the others. Samuel
Davidson. who took title to the tract
to the west, shortly after the agree
ment of March 30, 1871, was signed,
coon TOOK up his residence in small
log building, II by 20 feet, on Seven
teenth street between L and M
streets. John Davidson, who took
title to the middle section about the
same time as did Samuel to his
part. had his dwelling in about the
center of the northwest quarter OF
the square bounded by K, L, Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets. The house
was Of frame, 20 by 80 feet, and con-
tanned but four rooms, two of which
we're in the attic. On each side of
the main building was log cabin,
IL by 20 feet, probably for the use
Of servants and for the kitchen.
James Croggon, writing of this
neighborhood in 1900, says:
"Tn the southeast corner of the
square, near Twelfth and K streets,
was log stable, 20 feet square, and
directly south, about the center of K
street, log cabin. The barn, "a by
10 feet in dimensions, was on Mas
sachusetts avenue, nearly opposite
the Church of the Ascension. There
was fine spring of water near the
house, the water passing down Thir-
teenth street. A graveyard was on
K street, west of Thirteenth street.
Prior to the improvement of the
square by the erection of the Frank
lin row, some 10 years ago, there was
q large orchard there and the house
wes occupied by a Mr.. Fry and
afterward by Mr. jenkins, the
place bearing the name of jenkins
until it went into the hands of Mr.
Guista, who conducted a vineyard
and garden on the home place fol-
nearly half a century. The Church
of Our Father and a number of fine
buildings, including the Livingston
now occupy the ground and some Of
Mr.. Guista's family yet live there"
Christian Hines says there was
yellow frame house Immediately in
the rear of Franklin row Cnorth side