Month: February 2025

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 72 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 72 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 72 Bates St NW to Gladys M. and Leon W. Lucas.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Mr. and Mrs. Lucas 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 72 Bates St NW to Elizabeth and Robert Anderson.
  • December 1950 the Andersons borrowed $3,025 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • July 1954 the Lucas lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction it returned to Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • June 1959 in a larger property package the foreclosed have was sold by Badt, Evans, Taube, Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 72 Bates to to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • September 1961 the Andersons were released from their mortgage.
  • November 1971 the Andersons and the Basilikos sold 72 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.

One foreclosure which was sold to slum landlord Basiliko. One of the original buyers with the Basilikos sold it to DC RLA who then passed it on to the BSA.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 74 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 74 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 74 Bates St NW to Elsie R. and Ernest P. Ellis.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Mr. and Mrs. Ellis 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 74 Bates St NW to Lillian Craig and Lithia Wilson.
  • December 1950 Craig and Wilson borrowed $3,025 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • June 1952 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis sold their half to Joseph L. Francis.
  • November 1961 Craig and Wilson were released from their mortgage.
  • October 1963 Francis and his wife, Lithia Wilson, now Lithia Wilson Andrews, husband Calvin Andrews, through trustee Margaret E. Hartung put the property in the name of Lithia and Calvin Andrews.
  • October 1963 the Andrews borrowed $6,000 from trustees Eugene P. Alexander and Earl M. Lapin, to pay Monarch Construction Corp.
  • November 1963 the Andrews borrowed $6,000 from the Montgomery Savings Association, Inc. with trustees Peter T. and S. Thomas Stathes.
  • December 1963 the Andrews sold half of 74 Bates to Joseph L. and wife Lou D. Francis.
  • December 1963 the Andrews through Margaret E. Hartung sold/ transferred the property to Lithia Wilson Andrews. (It feels like there was a divorce or something.)
  • January 1964 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, and by extension Joseph Francis, were released from the December 1950 mortgage.
  • August 1970 the Mr. and Mrs. Francis and the Andrews sold 74 Bates St to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency.
  • June 1980 the DC RLA (doc #8000020294) transferred many properties, including 74 Bates, to the BSA Limited Partnership (Bates Street Associates). There is an associated contract (doc 8000020221) stating BSA’s responsibilities.

This was a good, but confusing. No foreclosures.  No Basiliko. However, the RLA did get their hands on the property. But on the bright side, it is how we got the lovely Mary Ann Wilmer who was very involved in BACA. She bought the home from the District of Columbia after the city got it back from BSA.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 76 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 76 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 76 Bates Street NW to Frances C. and Kenneth J. Allen.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Allens borrowed $3,150 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • January 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 76 Bates St NW to Bessie M. and Elbert Walker.
  • Jan 1951 the Walkers borrowed $3,150 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1962 the Allens were released from their mortgage.
  • June 1963 the Walkers were released from their mortgage.
  • October 1984 Frances C. Williams, formerly Frances Allen, and the Walkers sold 76 Bates to Edward A. and Elesa J. Kassoff.

This worked well. No foreclosures, the original buyers owned the home free and clear in the 1960s. The owners then sold the home in the 1980s.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 22 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 22 Bates St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 22 Bates NW to Rollie W. and Rosalee V. Moore.
  • Jan 1951 Moores 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 22 Bates St NW to Ernest D. and Mary M. Peeples.
  • Jan 1951 the Peeples borrowed $3,125 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • August 1958 the Moores lost their half to foreclosure and it was repossessed by Badt, Evans, and Taube through an auction.
  • August 1958 Harry and Jennie Badt sold/ transferred their interest in this and other properties to the survivors of Nathan Levin.
  • June 1959 (doc #1959024641), as part of a large property package, Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors, and their spouses sold half of 22 Bates to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • April 1960 the Peeples lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction it was returned to Badt, Evans, and Taube.
  • April 1960 Harry and Jennie Badt sold/ transferred their interest in this and other properties to the survivors of Nathan Levin.
  • August 1960 the Evans, Taube, the N. Levin survivors and their spouses sold their half of 22 Bates to George Basiliko.
  • Between 1970-1973, when Basiliko paid off four loans, there is no document located but ownership went from Basiliko to the DC Redevelopment Agency (RLA).
  • July 1980 DC RLA entered into a contract (doc # 7800024140) with Bates Street Associates (BSA), Incorporated and usually this is paired with a deed that was not listed.

There were two foreclosures, they were not resold to home owners, but instead slum landlord Geo. Basiliko. The documentation is not great but I see that it went from Basiliko to the DC RLA and then BSA.

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.