This is a post for something in the future, so I will try to be vague, as not to ‘spoil’ that post. While doing some research for a Truxton Circle house, I came across a couple who appeared to have been in an interracial marriage. They were married well before Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which was used to outlaw the Loving’s marriage in the case of Virginia v. Loving. However, I discovered, with this family, race can be a fluid and changing thing.
Hester DeaN
Hester Dean Seeney. Source- https://nativeamericansofdelawarestate.com/
Hester Dean was born January 28, 1868 to Catharine Morgan and Robert Dean in Delaware. Her parent’s history was recorded for the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians of New Jersey in 1980, from an early 1940s source. That history intertwines with the Seeney’s history and American Seventh Day Adventist history.
In the 1870 census the Dean family were living in Kenton, Delaware and listed as ‘White’. This is the opinion of the census taker, so they were either White or white-passing. From an oral history Catharine’s mother was a White woman. Continue reading Multiracial Family in 1920s DC- a Truxton Circle Story
I’m getting back to some other land records related posts. The DC Recorder of Deeds is changing up its website, putting stuff on the cloud. I’m not keen on the new format. It’s a pain. So I’m trying to write these up before March 1st.
1700 Block NJ Ave NW, 1930. Brown= AfAm residents; White= No data
In this series of looking at the odd numbered side of the 1700 block of New Jersey Ave NW from 1920 to 1930, I decided to look at the other end of the block. The change from 1920 to 1930 for most of the block was from white renters to black home owners. My post The sell off of the 1700 block of New Jersey Ave NW pretty much explains the why.
The White Renters
In 1920 the Irish-American Tobin family lived at 1713 NJ Avenue NW. It was headed by James Edward Tobin, a 54 year old stone cutter. His wife, Jennie, maybe Mary, I’ll get into that later, was a 48 year old housewife. Both of their parents were Irish born. They lived there with 31 year old daughter Bertha Edith (later Bertha Huber) who worked as a cashier for a dairy.
There is some confusion about the wife. James was previously married to Mary Jane Dowling, who died in 1910. According to the Washington Herald she died April 3, 1910 at 1713 New Jersey Ave NW. Looking at marriage records, James and Jennie Dowling married May 13, 1885. One could assume Mary Jane was Jennie, but Mary Jane died in 1910, so who was that Jennie occupying the role of wife in 1920? It appears she was Jennie Brun White, who in 1910 was married to BG (Basil Grigsby) White and living in Brentsville, VA and was the mother of Raymond White (1895-1947).
James died in 1938 at the age of 72 in Arlington/Cherrydale, Virginia, where the couple had moved to by the 1930 census.
He was survived by Jennie B. Tobin, son William H. Tobin of Hyattsville, MD; daughters Nora E. Fanning and Bertha E. Huber of Washington, DC.
The Black Homeowners
According to previous research, Frank E. Smith purchased 1713 October 1920.
Looking at the DC Recorder of Deeds records, in 1923 Novella M. and Frank Edw Smith Jr. sold the property to Ernest W. Hensley. In 1925 Alice E. (nee Conley) and Ernest W. Hensley took out two loans from the United States Savings Bank (trustees W.E.G. Penny and Wilbur H. Zepp) totaling $4,500. Later the Hensleys sold 1713 to George W. and Hattie R. Johnson.
June 1925, the Johnsons and Frank Smith were released from the mortgage Smith took out in 1920.
The home remained in the Johnson family until 1987 when the executor of Julia Moxley Johnson’s estate was sold. Julia was the widow of George Johnson Jr. George Sr.(died April 6, 1938). Sr’s death was reported in the April 8, 1938 Evening Star page 12. I would have a link, but the LC is also changing up its website and there is no permalink for particular pages in a paper, but I can give a link to that day’s edition.
With names like Smith and Johnson, I am unwilling to do the genealogy search for these people. But I thought with a death year, I could try looking for George Johnson. I found a death notice for Robert Daniel Johnson who lived and died at 1713 NJ Ave (but not on the 1930 census) and died May 1, 1931.
The Johnson men were drivers. George W. Sr. was a 48 year old driver for what looks like an electric construction company. George W. Jr. was a 25 year old taxi cab driver and 26 year old nephew Vernon Gilmore was a chauffeur for a private family.
There were 5 people in the house. George and Hattie (41), their two sons George (25) and Joseph I. (13) and nephew Vernon.
Julia Moxley was 28 years old when she married George Johnson Jr. in 1934. Julia Johnson died May 1980, if I have the right Julia Johnson.
Earnest or Ernest Wagner Hensley was an Alabama born clerk working for the Federal government in 1920. He and wife Alice lived at 780 Harvard Ave NW in the 1920 census where they lived with 4 year old daughter Alice K (1915-1930). Ernest was described as a tall slender Black man for his WWI draft card. Around 1917-1918 he and his wife lived at 1823 6th St NW. During WWII they lived at 2111 Flagler Pl. NW and he worked at the post office at North Cap and Massachusetts Ave NW. In the 1950 census he and Alice were still at 2111 and he was still working for the USPS.
Finally, we have come to the end of the WSIC sell off. If any Truxton Circle properties have been missed, please reach out. A total of 187 properties have been examined.
Below is a map of the properties in bright green.
It may seem like a small number of houses, but they are in the heart of the neighborhood and give Truxton Circle one of its distinct architectural features, the 2nd floor bay window.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 64 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 64 Bates St NW to Blanche M. and John W. Thomas.
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Mr. and Mrs. Thomas borrowed $3,025 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 64 Bates St NW to Charles and Charlotte Harris.
Dec 1950 Mr. and Mrs. Harris borrowed $3,025 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
February 1955 the Harris lost their half to foreclosure and through an auction it returned to Evans, Levin and Taube.
November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416), Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold the foreclosed half of 64 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
February 1963 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were released from their mortgage.
April 1978 Basiliko Inc sold half of 64 Bates to Bernard C. and Lenora E. Maddox.
July 1978 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas sold their half to Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, bringing the home under one owner. And it remains in the ownership of a Maddox today.
So there was a foreclosure, which led to partial ownership by Basiliko. But eventually, one original buyer was able to pay off their mortgage and sell to a couple.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 66 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 66 Bates NW to Margaret L. Hickerson.
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Ms. Hickerson borrowed $3,025 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 66 Bates St NW to Alfred H. and Janie G. Moore.
Dec 1950 the Moores borrowed $3,025 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
October 1955 the Moores lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction it was repossessed by Evans, Levin and Taube.
November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416), Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold half of 66 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
February 1963 Ms. Hickerson was released from her mortgage.
January 1972 (docs# 1972020429, 1972020430) Basiliko and the heirs at law of Ms. Hickerson who died around February 8, 1971 sold the house to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
September 1972 the DC RLA got the remaining Hickerson heir, Mason Alston, via John Mason Hickerson to sign over interest.
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.
There was only one foreclosure. Part of the property was sold to slum landlord George Basiliko. In 1972 Basiliko and a large party of people who were somehow connected/ related to the original buyer sold it to DC RLA, which then passed it on to BSA.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 68 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold the whole of 68 Bates NW Clara B. and Edward Hazel.
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Hazels borrowed $6,050 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
April 1958 the Hazels sold the house back to Badt, Evans and Taube.
March 1959 the Hazels were released from their mortgage.
March 1959 (doc# 1959019387) Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 68 Bates St NW and other properties on the block to Sophia and George Basiliko.
Between 1970-1972 Basiliko was released from a couple of 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 not listed.
So this was a bit unusual. After about seven years the original buyers sell the property back to the Colonial Investment Company, which then sold it to slum landlord George Basiliko, who then sold it (as far as I can tell) to the DC RLA who then passed it on to the BSA.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 70 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold all of 70 Bates NW to Beatrice B. William D. Hunter.
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Hunters borrowed $6,050 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
January 1958 the Hunters sold the other half of 70 Bates St NW to Badt, Evans, and Taube.
November 1961, as part of a large property package (doc 1962000416), Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold half of 70 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
December 1961 the Hunters borrowed $1,768.53 from Telsyndicate with trustees Martin J. Quigley and Robert G. Weightman.
May 1962 the Hunters were released from their January 1951 mortgage.
January 1975 the Hunters were released from their Telsyndicate mortgage.
April 1978 George Basiliko Inc sold half of the house to the widowed Beatrice Hunter.
So this was a mix. No foreclosures. Slum landlord Basiliko did own the property from 1961 to 1978. The family that was the original buyer managed to hold on and buy the other half back. Skimming the deed records, it appears the house remained in the Hunter family until 2010.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 24 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 24 Bates NW to Emma E. and Robert C. Rose.
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Roses borrowed $2,875 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 24 Bates St NW to Joseph L. and Myrtle E. Terrell.
Dec 1950 the Terrells borrowed $2,875 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
December 1959 the Terrells were released from their mortgage and owned their half free and clear.
October 1961 the Roses were released from their mortgage owning their half free and clear.
May 1969 Robert C. Rose died.
September 1970 widow Emma Rose and the Terrells sold 24 Bates to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency for $10,800.
June 1980 the DC RLA (doc #8000020294) transferred many properties, including 24 Bates, to the BSA Limited Partnership (Bates Street Associates). There is an associated contract (doc 8000020221, looks complete) stating BSA’s responsibilities.
No foreclosures. Both original buyers were able to pay off their mortgages. But for some reason they sold their halves to the city.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 26 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded July 11, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold 26 Bates St NW to Leon and Lucy M. Owens.
Dec 1950 the Owens borrowed $6,250 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
September 1967 the Owens were released their mortgage.
The house remained in the Owens family until the mid 1990s. This is a pretty good story. No foreclosures or any of the other stuff that follows.
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.
Let’s see what happens with 28 Bates St NW:
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 28 Bates Street NW to Eva K. and John Bell Brown.
December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Browns borrowed $3,125 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
February 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 28 Bates St NW to Henry and Mildred R. Larker.
Feb 1951 the Larkers borrowed $3,125 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
August 1953 the Larkers lost their half to foreclosure and the property returned to Evans, Levin and Taube through an auction.
August 1953 (doc #1953035098) Evans, Levin and Taube resold the foreclosed half to Edward B. and Mercedes F. Bundy.
August 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Bundy borrowed $3,556.19 from trustees A. Levin and Weightman.
December 1965 the Browns were released from their mortgage.
September 1967 the Bundys were released from their mortgage.
February 1972 the Browns and the Bundys sold their halves to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
June 1980 the DC RLA (doc #8000020294) transferred many properties, including 28 Bates, to the BSA Limited Partnership (Bates Street Associates). There is an associated contract (doc 8000020221, looks complete) stating BSA’s responsibilities.
There was only one foreclosure and that foreclosure was sold to a household that eventually paid off the mortgage. Both households paid off their mortgages and then sold it to the DC RLA.
