WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 20 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 20 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 20 Bates St NW to Goldie Mae and Jesse W. Campbell Jr.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Campbells borrowed $3,125 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • January 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 20 Bates St NW to King D. and Martha J. Ash.
  • Jan 1951 the Ashes borrowed $3,125 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • April 1955 Mr. and Mrs. Ash sold their half to Ellsworth Gray and his mother Irene Gray.
  • June 1955 the Campbells sold their half to the Grays, bringing the home under one owner.
  • October 1955 the Grays borrowed $1,513 from trustees Abraham Chaifetz and Bernard Platshon in order to pay ALERT Engineering and Home Improvement Co. Inc.
  • October 1955 the Campbells, and by extension the Grays, lost their home to foreclosure and it was repossessed by Evans, Levin and Taube due to an auction.
  • November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416),  Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold half of 20 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Between 1971-1972 Basiliko was released from three mortgages and the next document has the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) as the owner, so we are left to assume around 1970 Basiliko sold the property to RLA.
  • June 1980 (doc #8000020294) the DC RLA sold/transferred this and other properties to BSA Limited Partnership. BSA is possibly short for Bates Street Associates. It is paired with doc #8000020221 a contract between DC RLA and BSA Ltd Partnership.
  • April 1982, BSA Limited Partnership, signed by general partners Lawrence J.  Brailsford, George Holmes Jr and Jack W. White, returned the property to the government of the District of Columbia.

I have no idea what happened with the Grays. It’s like they lost one half to foreclosure and gave up the other. I tried to track what happened as the Colonial Investment Co only sold Basiliko half of 20 Bates. By the time the DC RLA handed it over to BSA there is no distinction between halves and wholes.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 32 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 32 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold the whole of 32 Bates NW to Barney and Carrie Campbell.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Campbells borrowed $3,800 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • March 1962 the Campbells were released from their mortgage owning 32 Bates St NW free and clear.

I have no idea what happened after 1962. There is a gap between the ownership of the Campbells and when Carneil Galbert, Clyde McCallister and Mary McRae sell the home to Annie Galbert Crosland and Chester Galbert in 1977. What happened with the Campbells? IDK.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 34 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416),  Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 57 Bates to Sophia and George Basiliko.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 34 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 34 Bates NW to James E. and Katherine G. Campbell.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Campbells borrowed $1,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 34 Bates St NW to Annie J. and Lee G. Robinson.
  • Dec 1950 the Robinsons borrowed $1900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • September 1956 the Campbells lost their half to foreclosure and the property was repossessed by Badt, Evans, and Taube.
  • Sept 1956 Harry and wife Jennie Badt sold or transferred part or all of their interest in the property to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416),  Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 57 Bates to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • May 1963 the Robinsons were released from their mortgage, and owned their half free and clear.
  • August 1970 the Robinsons sold their half to George & Sophia Basiliko. The Basilikos owned both halves.
  • August 1978 Sophia and George Basiliko sold the property to the Bates Street Ventures Partnership.

Only one foreclosure and the other original buyers sold to slum landlord George Basiliko and his wife, who then sold it to the Bates Street Ventures Partnership, not to be confused with the Bates Street Associates.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 36 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 36 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 36 Bates St NW to Sallie Ayers, separated and Valiree Myers, widowed.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Ayers and Myers borrowed $1,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 36 Bates St NW to Ella and Thomas Dyson.
  • Dec 1950 the Dysons borrowed $1,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • July 1953 the Dysons via intermediary Edith E. Matthews transferred/sold their property to Ella Butler (??formerly Dyson ??).
  • September 1959 Ayers and Myers lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction the property was repossessed by Badt, Evans, and Taube.
  • September 1959 Harry and Jennie Badt sold/ transferred their interest in this and other properties to the survivors of Nathan Levin.
  • November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416),  Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 36 Bates to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • December 1961 the Dysons were released from their mortgage.
  • November 1977 Ella Butler sold her half to George Basiliko Inc.
  • August 1978 George Basiliko Inc sold the property to Bates Street Ventures Partnership.

There was only one foreclosure and the remaining owner sold to slum land lord George Basiliko. However, neither the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) nor did the Bates Street Associates (BSA)  have anything to do with this property. The Bates Street Ventures Partnership appears to have been a different entity.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 38 Bates Street NW

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 38 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 38 Bates St NW to Jessie E. and Matt J. Broadie.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Broadies borrowed $1,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 38 Bates St NW to Henry Cain Jr.
  • Feb 1951 Cain Jr. borrowed $1,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • June 1952 Cain sold his half to Albert Ethelbert Este and Ernestine Mabel Este.
  • September 1961 the Broadies were released from their mortgage.
  • Insert MYSTERIOUS GAP
  • July 1978 there is a contract (doc 7800024140) between the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) and the Bates Street Associates, Inc. (BSA) There is no corresponding deed located, but the property was transferred to BSA.
  • April 1991 ROXBOROUGH & TILLERSON, CHARTERED, represented by George E. Tillerson III, replaced A. Levin and R. Weightman as the trustees on Cain’s mortgage. And the subsequent document released Cain from his mortgage.

I have no idea what happened after 1961. The Broadies disappear. Cain (also listed as Bain) disappears. The Estes are no where to be found. As far as I can tell there were no foreclosures. But somehow this winds up in the hands of DC RLA and BSA.

Weird.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 53 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 53 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 53 Bates NW to Mrs. Claudia McConnell Bailey.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) Mrs. Bailey borrowed $2,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 53 Bates St NW to Ellen and L.J. McClure.
  • December 1950 the McClures borrowed $2,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1962 Mrs. Bailey was released from her mortgage.
  • November 1966 the McClures were released from their mortgage.
  • November 1971, Mrs. Bailey, the heirs of LJ and Ellen McClure and  their spouses (Arthur and Mittie Elizabeth M. Jackson, Henrietta and Teamer McClure) sold the whole of 53 Bates to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
  • July 1978 there is a contract (doc 7800024140) between the DC RLA and the Bates Street Associates, Incorporated (BSA) There is no corresponding deed located, but the property was transferred to BSA.

It starts off well. The original buyers purchase their halves. They pay off the mortgages and they are able to pass it on to their children or sell it. And they all sell to DC RLA who then sells/ transferred it to BSA.

Mrs. Bailey may have been separated from her husband Matthew Bailey. They were married October 20, 1943 in Washington, DC. He was 50 years old and she was 44. They are captured in the 1950 census where they lived at 917 8th St NW(?). He was a caretaker for an apartment building and she worked as a clerk for the War Department. In the census they are the same age, 57 and both from North Carolina.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 40 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 40 Bates St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 40 Bates St NW to Mr. Bennie Lee Stevens, Mrs. Eliza Jane Stevens, Miss Sadie Stevens.
  • Jan 1951 the Stevens borrowed $1,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 40 Bates St NW to Mae E. Stewart.
  • Jan 1951 Stewart borrowed $1,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1955 the Stevens transferred via Lillian M. McGowan to their half to the now married Mrs. Sadie Stevens Turner.
  • November 1961 the Stevens were released from their mortgage.
  • January 1962 Stewart was released from her mortgage.
  • March 1978 Stewart and Amos and Sadie Stevens Turner sold their halves as a whole to Redstart Corp.

This was a good story. People purchased property and paid off their mortgages, without a single foreclosure, and were able to sell their property.

 

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 44 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 44 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 44 Bates St NW to Theophilus C. Harris, a single man.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Harris borrowed $1,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • January 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 44 Bates St NW to Mary Ellen and Walter Trusty.
  • Jan 1951 the Trustys borrowed $1,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1960 Harris, still unmarried, sold his half to Lillian L. Giles.
  • October 1962 Mr. & Mrs. Trusty were released from their mortgage.
  • February 1963 Helen M. (aka Mary Ellen) and Walter Trusty borrowed $950.00 from trustees Charles W. Morgan and Ralph O. Weed in order to pay George C. Franklin for goods or services.
  • May 1965 the Trustys borrowed $5,500 from trustees Gerald J. Lustine and Frances G. Simon in order to pay Harry Goldstein.
  • December 1965 Theophilus C. Harris and by extension Lillian Giles, was released from his mortgage.

This worked out for the various parties involved. No foreclosures. Mortgages were paid off. All was well.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 42 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 42 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 42 Bates NW to James E. and Virginia Goree.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 1951) the Gorees borrowed $3,800 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • September 1952 the Gorees split the house and sold half to bachelors Albert and James Zellars.
  • September 1952 the Zellers borrowed $1,735.57 from Colonial Investment Co’s mortgage arm trustees A. Levin and Weightman.
  • December 1952 the Gorees borrowed $1,735.57 from trustees A. Levin and Weightman.
  • February 1953 the Gorees and Zellars were released from the Goree’s December 1950 mortgage.
  • September 1954 the Gorees lost their half to foreclosure and it returned to the possession of Evans, Levin and Taube via an auction.
  • November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416),  Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold half of 42 Bates St to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • March 1965 James Zellars, Albert and his wife Bettye F. Zellars sold/transferred the property through Benjamin Simon and his wife so that Albert and Bettye were the owners of that half.
  • March 1965 Mr. and Mrs. Zellars borrowed $4,160.85 from trustees Ben I. Berman and J. Gerald Lustine, in order to pay Harry Goldstein/ Day-Mar Contractors. They were released from this in 1988.
  • March 1972 James and Albert Zellars were released from their mortgage.
  • December 1977 George Basiliko Inc sold his half to Albert Zellars, bringing the property under one owner.

Side note. I’ve stayed in this house. It is currently one house, not two flats. I feel I need to apologize to the former owner for not defending her better. I’m sorry.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 27 Bates Street NW

In lieu of a February Black History post, WSIC continues, because it is Black History.

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) was a late 19th century charitable capitalism experiment that ended in the 1950s. This blog started looking at the homes that were supposed to be sold to African American home buyers, after decades of mainly renting to white tenants.

Looking at WSIC properties they tend to have a pattern where the properties were sold to a three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans as the Colonial Investment Co. for $3 million dollars. Those partners sold to African American buyers. There was usually a foreclosure. In 1956 Nathan Levin died and Colonial Inv. Co. vice president Harry A. Badt took his place in the foreclosure paperwork. Then the property wound up in the hands of George Basiliko and or the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). Then there were the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.photo of property

Let’s see what happens with 27 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded February 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 27 Bates St NW to Elizabeth and Theafers Kidd.
  • December 1950 the Kidds borrowed $1,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • March 1956, the Kidds lost their half (the other half wasn’t sold) to foreclosure and Evans, Levin, and Taube repossessed the property via an auction.
  • March 1959 (doc# 1959019387) Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 27 Bates St NW and other properties on the block to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Between 1971-1972 Basiliko was released from three mortgages and the next document has the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) as the owner, so we are left to assume around 1970 Basiliko sold the property to RLA.
  • Around 1978 the DC RLA sold/transferred this and other properties to the Bates Street Associates. A contract (doc #7800024140) DC RLA and Bates Street Associates, Inc hints to a deed I can’t locate.

So that was a bit unusual. The loan $1900 was the lowest price I’ve seen, but even then, there was a foreclosure. Then the usual pattern goes on as the property passed from Basiliko, to DC RLA then to Bates Street Associates.

Theafers Kidd was a 25 year old African American truck driver for a food store when he and wife Elizabeth (nee Stevenson) purchased half of 27 Bates Street NW. Mr. Kidd’s first name has several variations. With Social Security it is Theafers and Thofice. I have found Thofice, Theafeis, Theafus, and Theophilus. Whatever his name was he was born March 27, 1925 to Daw Kidd and Dannie Porter in Lower Crack /Low Peach Tree, Alabama.

He and Elizabeth married March 5, 1945 in Jefferson. AL. They must have made their way to DC as they and their children appear in the 1950 census. In the 1950 census the family lived at 3624 11th St NW Apt. 10. Mr. Kidd was a truck driver. Mrs. Kidd was a housewife caring for their two children, 4 year old Anna and infant Theofus Jr.

U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016
Theafers Kidd Jr., 1970, Coolidge High School. Source: Ancestry