Most Truxton Circle residents of the past are regular Joes or Joannas. They lived, they worked, they moved away and eventually they died. Many were cooks, laborers, cops, teachers, and barbers. Some were doctors or ministers.
For the past couple of years, I have been writing up quickie bios of these regular people. I’ve searched genealogical sites, DC land records and sometimes a run of the mill Google search. It’s usually the Google search that reveals someone has a Wikipedia page.
Dr. Peter Marshall Murray
Dr. Peter Murray doesn’t have much of a Wikipedia page. If you want to learn more about him and his life in DC (his career took off in New York City) wander over to my September 2021 post about Dr. Murray when he lived at 1645 New Jersey Ave NW.
Dr. Carrie H. Thomas
Dr. Carrie H. Thomas lived at 1629 New Jersey Ave NW and her Wikipedia page is in danger of being removed. I’m not sure what she did to warrant having a Wikipedia page. She was a teacher….. I got nothin’.
Eloyce Gist (Mayme E. King-Patrick-Gist-Wood-Savage)
Eloyce Gist, director, actress & co-director of Heaven-Bound Traveler.
It was the Google search that revealed who she was. I was looking for Mayme Gist, and got several Eloyce Gist hits and discovered this hair dresser was also a filmmaker. Not only does she have a Wikipedia page, she has an IMDB page, and two posts on this blog.
Mr. Saunders was a botanist among other things and played an important role in bringing the seedless naval orange to America. His Wikipedia page has a few of his highlights.
Pocahontas Kay Pope
Like Dr. Carrie H. Thomas there isn’t much of a Wikipedia page for Mrs. Pope. She does have a better Baha’i wiki page. The current Wikipedia page says her gravestone is lost because Black people’s gravestones were used to prevent erosion of the Potomac. That sounds a little off to me. The more fleshed out Baha’i site they wrote, “In 1960, the graves at Columbian Harmony Cemetery, including that of Pocahontas Pope, were relocated to the National Harmony Memorial Park in Maryland”. She owned and lived at 1500 1st St NW and knew several other featured TC Black Homeowners.
Do you know of any other Truxton Circle residents from the past with Wikipedia pages?
Welcome back to my series where I plug in the address of a Washington Sanitary Improvement Co rental home in the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America newspaper search and see what relevant articles come up. If I feel like it, I’ll look at the Washington Post/Washington Star search in ProQuest. Then we’ll see what pops up. I’ll leave it to you to make up your own story.
In the 1920s a manager or distributor of the Washington Times lived at 141 Bates, so there were too many posts related to newspaper promotions. Also it appears a resident of 141 Bates owned 1234 R.I. Ave NE, as there are classified ads about it. I’m leaving out a number of 1920s posts.
Enemy Aliens Who May Be Banished from the District– The Washington Times, December 11, 1917, FINAL EDITION, Page 6– Very anti-immigrant news. A tailor named Joseph Offenbacher, 38, 141 Bates street NW, lived here for 3 years and was outed as being Austro-Hungarian, along with many other resident aliens.
Police News- Auto Hits Streetcar– The Washington Herald, July 30, 1919, Page 3. Frank Hill of 141 Bates street northwest had his car damaged when he and a streetcar collided at 6th and Mass Ave NW.
Movie Tickets to be Given Today– The Washington times, December 04, 1923, Page 9. 141 Bates street northwest was listed as a substation where children presenting 8 coupons got a ticket to the Jackie Coogan movie “Long Live the King.”
Times Gives Children Chance to See ‘Bread’– The Washington Times, July 26, 1924. Part of a promotion for a Metro-Goldwyn film. Donate a loaf of bread and get a free ticket. 141 Bates street northwest was listed as a location.
Many Loaves of Bread Given– The Washington Times, July 29, 1924. 141 Bates street northwest was a Times branch location where people could drop off bread for movie tickets. Bread would go to the Salvation Army.
‘Sallies’ Give Bread to the Needy– The Washington Times, July 28, 1924, Image 13. Part of a film promotion in partnership with a charity to provide bread to the poor. 141 Bates street northwest was a drop off location.
Boys! Play Ball. Here’s a Gift You’ll Appreciate– The Washington Times, April 21, 1925, Page 16. Baseball ball and mitt give away for 10 subscriptions. 141 Bates St. rear was a branch location.
Star Boys Club Again to Have Section to View Big Leaguers– Evening Star, September 03, 1926, Page 26. Robert Hild of 141 Bates street was a new member of the [Washington] Star Boys Club.
Deaths-Wolfe, Willis T. – Evening Star, April 08, 1941, Page A-6. Husband of Lucy and father of Charles M. died at home on April 6, 1941. Home being 141 Bates st. n.w.
District Traffic Deaths Rise to 66 as Man Hit by Streetcar Dies– Evening Star, October 12, 1944. James H. Porter, 31, of 141 Bates street N.W. was a streetcar operator.
Man Killed by Car of Policeman In Probe of Earlier Auto Death– Evening Star, June 16, 1948. Stuart J. Gay, 34, of 141 Bates St N.W. died crossing Baltimore Blvd at Murkirk in PG Co. Gay was a Merchant Marine veteran and was in service during WWII. He had
lived in Washington for the last 11 years. He was native of Charlottesville, VA. He worked as a carpenter there before coming to Washington. Gay was survived by his widow. Trosy Gay, and three daughters; Frances, 14; Sylvia, 12, and Jacqueline, 5.
Hacker Killed by Police Car After Probe of Earlier Fatality– Evening Star, June 16, 1948. Stuart J. Gay, 34, of 141 Bates street N.W. death.
Policeman Cleared in Traffic Fatality– Evening Star, June 25, 1948, Page A-14. Stuart J. Gay, 34, of 141 Bates St N.W. was struck crossing Baltimore Washington Blvd.
Auction Sales- Thos. J. Owen & Son, Auctioneers– Evening Star, December 20, 1961, Page C-16; December 15, 1961, Page D-7. Auction for Sq. 552 lot 35 (141 Bates St NW), appears minimum price was $8,000.
So I’m doing newspaper searches for Washington Sanitary Imp. Co. houses, and I’m doing 1930 Truxton Circle Black Homeowners. Then I thought, why not do a quickie newspaper search just covering the years of the Powell’s ownership, 1921-1971. The Library of Congress has the Evening Star and other DC newspapers that are not the Washington Post, up to 1963. So from 1963 to 1971, I’ll search the Washington Post.
For Sale- Houses– Evening star. [volume], October 03, 1920, Page 19. FOR SALE- TO COLORED FAMILY- 120 Florida Ave. N.W.
Bay-window brick. 8 large rooms and bath on two doors. Hot-water heat and gas. Newly papered and painted. Lot to alley. Room for
garage. Possession in 30 days. The price is right and can sell on terms. T. B. BROWN CO.
Pedestrian Struck by Automobile Dies– Evening star. [volume], February 20, 1924, Page 7. A motor vehicle driven by Hellia Tennen (Temmon? ) of 120 Florida avenue northwest, came in contact with a barricade on the bridge over Rock Creek at P St.
D. C. Soldier Listed As Captive of Reds More Than 2 Years– Evening star. [volume], February 23, 1953, Page A-4 – Pfc. Jesse L. Staton, was one of 4 soldiers wounded. His wife Mrs. Hazel M. Staton, lived at 120 Florida avenue N.W.
Deaths-Powell, Charles S.– Evening star. [volume], July 30, 1954, Page B-8. On Friday, July 30, 1954. CHARLES S. POWELL of 120 Florida ave. n.w. Notice of funeral later. Arrangements by Frailer Funeral Home, 389 R. I. ave. n.w.
Deaths-Powell, Charles S.– Evening star. [volume], August 03, 1954, Page A-10. On Friday, July 30, 1954, at his residence, 120 Florida ave. n.w. CHARLES S. POWELL, devoted husband of Mrs. Willie N. Powell, brother of Mrs. Georgia A. Patterson, uncle of Edward A. Patterson and Mrs. Dorothy Bank. Many other relatives and friends also survive. After 2 p.m. Tuesday. August 3, friends may call at Frazier’s Funeral Home. 389 Rhode Island ave. n.w. Funeral Wednesday. August 4. at 10:30 a.m. at the Asbury Methodist Church. 11th and K sts. n.w. Interment at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.
Charles Samuel Powell was born on May 15, 1886 in Newnan, GA. He married his wife, Willie, in 1917. He worked for the Federal government as a clerk.
Looking at the 1933-1934 General Assessment the property (0551 lot 174) both Charles and his wife Willie N. Powell were on record for owning 120 Florida Ave NW.
They purchased their house 8/5/1921 from Mary Dewey. It appears they borrowed $1,160 from trustees Bradford & Smith to purchase the property.
They borrowed again in June 1924 $2,250 at 7% interest from trustees Purcell & Zepp. Again in February 1927 from trustees Kraft and Goldstein for the amount of $1875. The Purcell & Zepp debt was settled in 1927.
There were a lot more debts and releases (settled debts) in the 1920s and 1930s. There are so many, I will not mention them individually.
In April 1941, the Powells borrowed $4000 from the American Security and Trust Company. That same day they also borrowed $292.37 from trustees in a matter related to the Superior Construction Corporation. This leads me to believe they were having work done on the house. It appears they paid off their debt to the American Security and Trust Co. (then the National Permanent Savings and Loan Association) in September 1963.
In the 1950 census, their birth state changed to Texas. That’s probably incorrect. They were still at 120 Florida Ave and they had three roomers below the age of 29.
The house was sold in 1971 by the remaining spouse, Willie N. Powell. Charles had died on July 30th, but no year was given on the documents. She had sold it to DC’s Redevelopment Land Agency or basically, the DC government.
Boy, 16, Crushed to Death by Auto, Eleven Injured– The Washington Herald, May 30, 1922, Page 2. The auto that was involved was driven by Augustus Rubino, of 139 Bates st nw.
Classified- Wanted to Rent– The Washington Times, May 29, 1923, Page 19. Appears the resident of 139-A Bates was looking for a new place that was convenient to cars in DC or MD.
Hen in Detective’s Backyard is By-Product of Crime Merger- Abandoned by Thief Who Steals Automobiles to Aid in Chicken-Pilfering Business-Evening Star, June 20, 1930, Page B-1. Henry Blankenship of 139 Bates street had his automobile stolen from in front of his house.
$20,000 in Bonds Stolen from Auto– Evening Star, October 09, 1937, Page A-2. Lulu Fowler of 139 Bates street, was walking on 3rd St, between N & O St NW when her purse was stolen by 3 boys.
Marriage License Applications– Evening Star, August 04, 1949, Page B-9. Nelson V. Tubbs, 22, 139 Bates st, nw to marry Beverly J. Trite, 18, of 137 Bates st nw.
I’m going to try something. Sometimes I find interesting information just plugging in an address. So I have searched “137 Bates” a Washington Sanitary Improvement rental and looked to see what popped up.
These are in chronological order. Make your own story of them.
Classified Ad-Situations Wanted Male- AM LOOKING FOR A POSITION STRONG AND healthy- Willing. 137 Bates St. nw. The Washington Post (1877-1922), Mar 22 1907, p. 14.
Hold for Attack on Child– The Washington Post (1877-1922) 24 Dec 1907, p. 4. Frank R. Riley of 137 Bates St NW was jailed for attacking 10 year old Mary Butler of 1303 Klinkers Ct NW.
Thinks Strange man Robbed Them– Evening Star 19 Feb 1909. Frank R. Riley of 137 Bates NW was robbed at 2nd and East Cap Sts.
Tired of Living- Frank Riley Drank Laudanum with Suicidal Intent– Evening Star 21 Feb. 1909. Frank Riley’s sister found him and he went to the hospital.
Once Kidnapped Now He Is At Vera Cruz– The Washington Herald 07 May 1914. George Nelson Miller, 20, of 137 Bates NW, was a coalpasser aboard the Florida at Vera Cruz. His mother was Mrs. Margie M. Johnson, also of 137 Bates NW.
Three Divorce Suits Filed– The Washington Times 23 Dec. 1927. Nancy E. Miller of 1920 L St NE named George N. Miller of 137 Bates NW as a correspondent, accusing him of misconduct. Jacob Halper was his lawyer.
Miller, George Nelson (obituary)– Evening Star 21 April 1942;22 April 1942 . He died April 19, 1942. Husband of Mattie P., father of Lorraine C. Miller. Son of Margie Harleston Johnson. Last address 137A Bates St NW. Buried at Arlington.
Marriage License Applications– Evening Star 04 Aug. 1949. Nelson V. Tubbs, 22, of 139 Bates St NW to marry Beverly J. Trite, 18, 137 Bates St NW.
Marriage License Applications– Evening Star 05 Feb. 1952. Earl Davis, 18, 137 Bates St NW to marry Shirley Greene, 18, 816 6th St NW.
Douglas Son Among 109 Up For Induction- The Washington Post (1923-1954), Sep 06 1953, p. 1. Local Board No. 7- Charles A. Davis of 137 Bates St. nw up for the Army draft.
Gang of 4 Accused in 18 Housebreakings– The Washington Post (1923-1954), Oct 02 1953, p. 33. Ringleader Bronston T. Weldon, 23, of 447 Ridge St nw, implicated Earl W. Davis, 19, of 137 Bates St. nw in house break-ins.
34 Lose Auto Permits, 77 Get Suspensions– Evening Star 03 Aug. 1958. Bernard Davis was suspended for no license or registration.
Marriage License Applications– Evening Star 02 Nov. 1958 Lonnie Lovely, 20, and Jeanne Ferguson, 22, both of 137 Bates St NW.
Permits of 44 Drivers Are Revoked By District– Evening Star 21 Jan. 1960. Earl W. Davis had his license revoked for an accumulated record of at least 12 points.
Public Notice- Invitation for Bids– The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 28 1980, p. 1. The DC Department of Housing and Community Development sought bid from licensed contractors for 137 Bates St NW and other DC properties.
115 LEGAL NOTICES– he Washington Post (1974-), Nov 08 1982, p. 1. The Department of Licenses, Investigations and Inspections might provide an occupancy permit for 137 Bates Street NW.
What I hoped for with the 1930 home owners is to see from start to finish, the purchase and then the later sale. The problem with the 1920 Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle series, was that the Recorder of Deed records don’t start up until 1921. The few 1930 owners became owners in that early 1920s period and we don’t see how they came to be owners.
According to the 1930 census Isaiah and Eva L. Green owned 122 Florida Ave NW (Square 551, lot 173). They purchased the property October 27, 1927 from John M. and Lillie Nickels. They purchased the property with a loan from J. Logan Hopkins for $4,250 and what appears to be a loan from the seller, John M. Nickels and parties Bridgette and Canton for $2,350.
October 24, 1930 the Greens took a $5000 loan from the American Security and Trust Company/ National Permanent Building Association. The same day there was another transaction that looked (if it isn’t simple I have no idea) looked like it was transferring a $788.21 debit to John M. Nickels to a pair of other investors. The next month they were released from their 1927 Hopkins debt. There was another release for a Nickels/Bridgette 1927 debt. Then they took out another Nickels/Brigette-Caton debt for $400.
In 1946, the Greens, this time Isaiah and Lena, took out a $3,500 loan from the American Security and Trust Company/ National Permanent Building Association. That same year, they paid off the 1930 American Security and Trust debt, as well as another 1930 debt.
The last record for the Green family is a 1951 deed, where the executor of Lena T. Green’s estate, Ruth A. Jackson, sold the property. She died in 1949.
The Greens owned the property from 1927 to 1951, 24 years. It started with Eva and Isaiah Green and ended with the estate of Lena Green.
In 1957 there was as survey of churches in the Northwest Urban Renewal Area, which included Shaw, Downtown, and the area we’ll call Swampoodle. One of the churches was St. Phillips.
St. Phillips sat at 1001 North Capitol St NE. It was a Baptist church. In 1957 it was a decent sized church with about 1,000 members. It was a mostly white collar mostly African-American congregation.
This is one of those situations where the person on the census says they are the owner but they aren’t THE owner. In this post, we’ll look at the actual owner and her relationship with the owner listed in the 1930 census.
According to the 1930 census Gregory E. Woods, a 26 year old African American postal worker, lived at 132 Florida Avenue NW (Square 551, lot 168) with his sister Elyse and several lodgers. He was listed as an owner. When I looked at the 1933 General Assessment, the Woods listed as an owner was Julia A. Woods.
I took a quick peek at the 1940 census. Gregory was still at 132 FL Ave NW, but listed as a renter. A little older, at 37, and married to a woman named Elizabeth. They had two daughters and a handful of lodgers. No one there was named Julia.
Then over to the Recorder of Deeds’ online documents, which would tell me if Julia A. Woods was a relative. Nope. She borrowed and repaid money alone. No one else was named. When a deed popped up in 1951, Julia Woods wasn’t named. It wasn’t clear what happened. Civil Action case #3299-50 is cited, but that could be anything.
Because Julia and Gregory have the same last name, I believe they are related. A Julia and a Gregory Woods share the same household in 1920 at 336 U (You) Street NW. She was the 46 year old wife of Rev. William D. Woods, then 51 years old, and mother of several children, of which Gregory was one.
Julia Ann Johnson Woods Hairston
Julia A. Woods, was born Julia Ann Johnson, daughter of Maltilda and Edward Johnson in the 1870s in Virginia. She married William D. Woods December 27, 1899 in Bedford, VA. They had three daughters and two sons. March 31, 1920 Rev. Woods died at his home at 336 U St NW. His funeral was at Florida Avenue Baptist Church. Julia married again November 3, 1927 to Edward Monroe Hairston, they divorced December 13, 1947 in Roanoke, VA.
In the 1940 census Mrs. Hairston lived in New York City with her daughter Elise/Elyse White, and 2 year old grandson Charles R. White. She was also listed as living with Ed Hairston in Roanoke, VA in the same 1940 census with his adult children and mother in law.
Did she ever live at 132 Florida Avenue NW? Yes, as we will see later. According to the Evening Star, she died there. According to the June 7, 1950 Evening Star, Julia Woods died at the age of 83 on FL Ave. Widower Edward Hairston died in 1954, and Julia was listed as his last spouse.
Gregory Edward Woods
Gregory Edward Woods was born July 28, 1902 (1903) to Julia Ann Johnson and William Woods Sr. in Roanoke, VA. He grew up as a PK (preacher’s kid) Roanoke. He was the second son and child. He went to school and at some point he went to college.
In the 1923 DC city directory his address was 132 Florida Ave NW and his occupation was a student. Looking at that same directory, his mother Julia is also listed as a resident at 132 FL Ave as a widow. According to the public family tree on Ancestry (must be logged into AncestryLibrary) he graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in 1927.
Coming back to the 1930 census, Gregory E. Woods is still at 132 FL Ave. NW. His mother Julia has assumed to have returned to Roanoke with her new husband. He lived there with his 21 year old sister Elise, who was unemployed. By 1940 Elyse/Elise got married, moved to NYC and got work as a social worker. They also had three families of lodgers living with them. According to the family tree, Gregory married Elizabeth Ann Lomax on August 28, 1931. However, the family tree is wrong about the death of Rev. Woods, so the quality of the information is questionable.
In the 1940 census there was an Elizabeth A. Woods as Gregory’s wife at 134 Florida Ave NW. She was about 11 years his junior and was a housewife. They had two daughters, Clarissa and Shirley Ann. The home was still a rooming house, with the Browns, Turners and the Bradeys and a single woman named Mary A. Price.
Since the 1950 census has been recently released, let’s look there to see what was going on with the family. The residents of 132 Florida Ave NW were Gregory, Elizabeth, 18 year old Clarisse, 16 year-old Shirley A., and “70 year-old” Julia A. Woods. They still rented to roomers, James and Anna Brown workers in the laundry business and a 78 year old widow, Lizzie McClure. Elizabeth was no longer a SAHM, but was a government worker, working as a card puncher for the Department of Agriculture.
We know from the records, the family lost 132 Florida Ave NW after Julia’s death. It’s unclear why the family didn’t hold on to the property, as both the parents were employed with stable federal jobs. One of the daughters was old enough to get an adult job. In July 1982, Gregory E. Woods died. He is buried with Elizabeth, who died in 1984, at the Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, MD.
This is a reference post regarding Washington Sanitary Improvement Company’s (WSIC) properties.
Square 552
Lots 33-35 would have been 137-141 Bates St NW
Lots 49-60 — 1529-1551 3rd St NW
Lots 61-79 — 138-230 Q St NW
Lots 80-94 — 201-229 Bates St NW
Lots 98-100 — 132-136 Q St NW
Lots 104-106 — 131-135 Bates St NW
Lots 107-119 — 207-231 P St NW
Lots 120-131 — 1501-1523 3rd St NW
Lots 132-147 — 200-230 Bates St NW
Lots 148-150 — 201-205 P St NW
Lot 811 (now lot 221) — 130 Q St NW
Lots 816-818 (was 101-103) — 119-123 Bates NW
Lots 819-820 (originally part of lot 25) 125??-129?? Bates St NW. <- This will require more research.
Square 615
Lots 65-66 — 22-24 Q St NW (may need more research)
Lots 134-140 — (now 285-292) 31-43 Bates St NW
Lots 170-179 (now 811-818)— 46-60 Bates St NW
Lots 195-207 (now 293-304) — 55-77 Bates St NW
Lot 236 — 94 Bates St NW
Lots-237-244 — 15-29 Bates St NW
Lots 245-252 — 30-44 Bates St NW
Lots 253-256 — 45-51 Bates St NW
Lot 257 (now 806) — 12 Q St NW
Lots 258-265 — 62-76 Bates St NW
Square 617
Lots 169 to 183 (now 224-238) — 14-42 O St NW
St. Phillips sat at 1001 North Capitol St NE. It was a Baptist church. In 1957 it was a decent sized church with about 1,000 members. It was a mostly white collar mostly African-American congregation.