Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-01
BY John Clagett Proctor.

of the District of Columbia, in the last
year or two, has jumped to more than
$4,000, with an added metropolitan
population-just over its borders, in
Maryland and Virginia-enough at least
to increase the total population to about
$4,000, some Of the city's intersections
are not only busy ones, but at times are
congested with throngs and masses Of
people.
Just which one of the Capitals inter-
sections Is the busiest one, it is hard to
say, though 1t Is safe to assume that
the traf1c at and Fourteenth streets
Is Ut least equal to that at any other
point, for here, especially during the
working hours, this intersection is not
only crowded, but at times assumes al
most the proportions of trafic jam.
Naturally, however, this has not always
been the case, for within the memory OF
many this neighborhood was once a
peaceful, residential section, where some
OF Washington's first families lived in
handsome homes. However, after 1864,
when the Metropolitan Railroad was
chartered, and the one-horse cars from
the first began to serve the public, the
street soon began to turn into business
thoroughfare-very gradually at first,
but more decidedly as the years went by,
until the 80s, when the dwelling houses
began to be more rapidly turned into
stores and business houses.
Though the neighborhood Of Four
teenth and F streets was not the first
section to be settled by merchants yet
1t was one Of the earliest parts Of the
city in which hotels and taverns were
conducted, and it was only as recently
as January, 1925, that the old Ebbitt
House, one of the early and most popu-
lar Of Washington's public houses, was
removed to make way for the National
Press Building.
David Burnes' Farm.
The history OF the Ebbitt House and
its site Is interesting and runs back to
the days when it was a part OF David
Burnes' farm. This Scotch proprietor
Of Washington had died intestate and
his daughter, Marcia Burnes, later Mrs.
John p. Van Ness, being his only heir,
the property was inherited by her. In
1902, the same year Marcia married Mr..
Van Ness, she transferred lot 10 to
David Dorsey, who on August 2, 1907,
decided the north Is feet to Richard
Forrest, and September 20, 1907, the
south "a feet and 6 inches to John
Murdoch. In 1924 Richard Forrest
decided his Is feet of lot 13 to Julius
Forrest and in 1857, through the heirs of
julius Forrest and by default under
trust by one of the grantees, lots Is and
IA were transferred to William Ebbitt.
Lot IL went from Marcia Burnes to
David Dorsey, then to John Murdoch,
who transferred title to William Blanch-
ard, whose daughter, Jane Farnham, in
herited 1t In 1850, and who sold her
interest to Caleb Willard August 4, 1866.
Title to lot Is, which adjoins the corner
lot on the r street side, was transferred
by the Commissioners in 1902 to the heirs
of Walter Stewart. In 1917 John Hoge
transferred this lot for the heirs to
Thomas T. Stephenson. The latter held
1t two years and decided it to Thomas
Triplet. who In turn sold the lot on April
10, 1925, to Gideon Beall, who on the
same date decided 1t to Richard Wallach,
Mayor Of Washington from 1861 to 1867.
Wallach sold to johnson HELEN. and
Caleb Willard was vested with title
through various deeds dated March 30,
1868.
These four lots. II, 10, IA and Is, COM
prise the ground upon which the Ebbitt
House stood. The Press Club Building
includes other lots or parts Of lots in
addition to these. In describing an old
photograph before the Columbia His
torical Society some IS years ago, John
B. Larner told his audience that the
Ebbitt was composed of four dwellings
and that prior to 1856 here was con-
Quoted what was known as the French
mans Hotel, which was quite likely kept
by a Frenchman as the name would i'm
ply. After this date William E. Ebbitt
kept a boarding house here and In this
way 1t came to be known as the Ebbitt
House. Mr.. Larner also adds history to
its title by telling us that, in 1868, Mr..
Ebbitt transferred his ownership to his
law, Albert H. Craney, who the
following year, conveyed the property to
c. c. Willard.
Historic Homes.
The early residents of this corner had
as neighbors some very distinguished
persons. At the east end of the F street
side of the Press Club, it is said, once
stood the home Of Aaron Burr, sur
rounded by paling fence, and in his
garden was a fine well of water, which
was sufficiently copious to supply several
OF his neighbors besides himself with
aqua pura.
Across the street, at 1333-1335 F street,
stood for many years the historic Adams
house, where John Quincy Adams lived
when he was Secretary of State in the
cabinet of President James Monroe, and
1t was at this residence where Mrs.
Adams gave ball which was not sur
passed in grandeur for many years. 1t
took place January 7, 1924, on the eve of
the anniversary Of the battle of New
Orleans, which occurred January 8, 1915
and was in honor of Gen. jackson, who
attended together with company of
about 1000.
Of this ball an early account says: III
was In commemoration of the victory OF
Gen. jackson at New Orleans, and
doubt If there ever was social function
In this city, indeed, this country, which
created more of a social and political
sensation. 1t was the talk of the entire
hot