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.
White Renters
There were two families living at 1717 NJ Ave NW in 1920, the Dalzells and the Britts.
The Britt family did not form until 1914 when Walter W. Britt married Elsie F. Hopkins. In 1910 Walter was a 23 year old soldier at Ft. Meyer in Virginia. In 1920 he was a superintendent in the insurance industry. Elise was a stay at home mom for their 3 year old daughter Lillian Custis.
There appears to be no record of the Dalzells (or Datzells as they are spelled in the 1920 census) in the 1910 census. It did not help that the head, Howard Hays Dalzell lied to the census taker about his age. Howard was born July 1878 in Ohio. In 1901, Howard worked for the Census Office. In 1920 he wa a clerk working for the Treasury Department. His wife Kathryn worked as a binder at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, They had 2 boys, Howard Depue (7) and James (5). Howard D. was baptized at Western Presbyterian.
The Dalzell family was a little different after leaving NJ Ave. By the 1930 census, Howard H. had died in 1928. They had moved to Arlington and the widow Dalzell worked as a clerk for Treasury, like her husband in 1920, and they owned their home. In 1940 they moved back to DC, where Howard was a the head with his wife, her brother and his mother.
Black Homeowners
October 1920 M. Harvey Chiswell sold 1717 NJ Ave NW Mayo J. and Sarah Scott. The Scotts financed the purchase from W. Chiswell and Harry A. Kite. But in January 1924 the Scotts lost their home to foreclosure and Samuel Kite, Harry A. Kite‘s brother, was able to get the home in an auction. Anne Todd Kite and Samuel E. Kite Jr. borrowed $1,700 from trustees G. Percy McGlue and William P. Normoyle. January 1924 the Kites sold the house to Ida Dorsey.
May 1926 Mrs. Ida Dorsey borrowed $400 from FW Hill. March 1927 the Kites and Mrs. Dorsey were released from the Scotts’ 1924 mortgage. Between 1929 and 1944 Ida Dorsey Scott she takes out nine more mortgages. October 1951 Ida Dorsey Scott sold the home to Charles L. Poles.
Between 1951 and 1961 Poles took out three mortgages before his estate (he died) sold the house in 1962 to Frank J. Marcellino. Marcellino owned the property until 1989.
As a side note, Rev. Ida D. Scott died at DC Village in 1956. She was survived by siblings Mrs. Agnes Fleming and Jerry Tyler and foster daughter Gwendolyn Wade.
