Mari – Page 5 – Truxton Is In Shaw

Detective Stories with AI- the 1700 Block of New Jersey Ave NW- White to Black

Yes, Mari found a new toy. I’m going to take a little break from the deep research while I clean up the data. Playing with AI made me realize that the WSIC posts aren’t uniform in the information they give, so I will need to fix that. In the meantime, here’s an old post, where I had Grok write it in the style of Raymond Chandler. It is a hoot.

The street stretched out like a tired old dame, worn thin by time and the heavy tread of too many soles. New Jersey Avenue NW, a name that carried the weight of a forgotten promise, sat in the shadow of Truxton Circle, where the air hung thick with secrets and the ghosts of yesteryear lingered in the brickwork. It was 1920, and the odd-numbered side of the 1700 block was a pale-faced affair—white renters huddled in their rowhouses, clutching leases like lifelines. By 1930, the tide had turned, and the block was a sea of brown faces, Black homeowners staking their claim on a piece of the American dream. The shift wasn’t no accident, no gentle drift of fate. It was a deal, cold and calculated, with the scent of money and desperation trailing behind it.

I dug into the dirt of it, the way a PI might sift through a dame’s lies to find the truth. The census told one story—white to Black, a decade’s flip of the coin. But the land records, they sang a darker tune. Around July 1920, M. Harvey Chiswell swooped in like a vulture in a cheap suit, snatching up 1707 to 1715 from Charles W. and Amy S. Richardson, then 1717 to 1721 from Ella S. Du Bois. She kept going, greedy fingers closing around 1725 to 1731 and 1733 to 1741 from Mason N. and Ada F. Richardson. The whole stinking stretch of New Jersey Avenue fell under her shadow, a monopoly built on deeds and dust.

Come August, the Evening Star piped up—H.A. Kite was set to patch up 1701 to 1741, a repair job to pretty up the bones of those old houses. But Chiswell wasn’t holding onto her prize for long. She flipped them fast, like a grifter unloading hot goods. September saw 1701 go to Grace L. Jackson for $4,100, a loan stitched up tight with W. Wallace Chiswell and Kite’s names on it. October rolled in, and 1707 went to Susie J.R. Johnson, 1711 to Maria Jones, 1713 to Frank E. Smith, 1717 to Mayo J. Scott and his wife Sarah, 1719 to William H. Randall and Katie. The list ran on—1715 to Fred H. and Hester Seeney, 1709 to Julia G. Holland, 1703 to Amelia Green by December. Every sale inked with Chiswell’s mark, every loan tied to her web of trusts, 6% interest bleeding the buyers dry.

The block wasn’t just sold off—it was carved up and fed to a new crowd, African Americans stepping into homes that white folks had fled. The why of it hung in the air like smoke from a cheap cigar. Maybe the old tenants saw the writing on the wall, the neighborhood tilting toward something they couldn’t stomach. Maybe Chiswell saw a profit in the shift, a chance to cash out before the winds changed again. Whatever the game, the 1700 block morphed into a testament to grit and gamble, a place where dreams were bought on credit and paid for in sweat.

I lit a cigarette and stared down the street, watching the shadows play across the rowhouses. The sell-off was a heist dressed up as progress, a shuffle of papers that rewrote lives. Truxton Circle didn’t care—it just watched, silent as a dame with too many secrets, while the block turned over like a card in a rigged deck.

Construction memories- Dust gets everywhere

I’m having the bathroom redone in my current home and I forgot how dust gets EVERYWHERE.

You’d think after 4 renovations on the TC house, I would know. But I forgot and second guessing our decision to stay put.

I was a single woman for renovations #1 and #2. I stayed around for the kitchen redo in 2003. I stayed with Scott & Matt on 1st Street for the big to do in 2007/2008.

After getting married, I did the basement and put on an addition. We stayed with Rose across the street then rented a friend’s place on the unit block of Bates St NW for the addition. Even with the basement, and the plastic barrier, dust got everywhere.

So now we’re doing a 1st floor bathroom renovation. Silly us left doors open and dust really got everywhere. We had moved the kid upstairs because his room was right next to the bathroom. After a few days we moved up with him.

And no. Those plastic barriers do not keep all the dust out. Anyone who has shared a wall with a place undergoing renovations knows, that stuff is like a ghost and travels through walls.

So that’s why posts for the next month or so is going to be meh or non-existent.

1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1723 New Jersey Avenue

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.

White Renters

The Gray family were the only renters in 1723 New Jersey Ave NW in 1920. It was headed by George Abbott Gray, a 53 year old house painter. He lived in the home with his wife, 52 year old Sarah Ellen (nee Peters) a German-American housewife, their adult children and a roomer. Son George Leslie Gray was a 25 year old machinist and daughter Emma RW a clerk at the War Department.

The census prior Emma lived at 1723 with her grandmother Harriett A. Gray a 69 year old widow. It was just those two, sharing the address with the Lamb family. Her father, mother, brother, and maternal grandmother were living not far away in LeDroit Park at 666 Elm St NW.

The senior George Gray died in 1925, so he would not appear in the 1930 census. The widowed Sarah Gray lived with her daughter Emma who was a clerk for the US Veterans Bureau. Son George L. Gray was working as an auto mechanic and living with his wife Edna at 660 Kenyon St NW.

Black Homeowners

The earliest document for this house appears to be a deed from August 25, 1924 where Robert Oscar Underwood, acting as executor of the estate of Robert DuBois Underwood transferred the home to Clara M. Ward. I am left to assume Robert D. Underwood was the original purchaser from the Chiswells who developed and sold the 1700 block row of homes to African Americans.

Clara Ward appears to have been working as a go between as in the next document, on the same day, Ward transferred/sold the home to Mary L, Johnson and Fannie C. Stewart. Johnson and Stewart took out a loan for $1,850 from trustees WC Prather and Robert W. Savage. The next year, on October 7, 1925, Johnson and Stewart sold the home to Cora B. and Ernest Boozer. The Boozers borrowed $2,625 from trustees Lucie R. Pollard and Arthur C. Proctor. It was the first of seven mortgages before their heirs sold the home in 1966 to East Coast Equities Inc. Earlier in 1963, Ernest Boozer’s name was removed from the property as the couple had divorced. Cora Boozer died in Rock Hill, SC on June 6, 1965. Her brother Fielding Robinson Jr , was her heir, along with his wife Mae.

Cora Bell Robinson Boozer, was born in Columbia, SC August 8, 1910. Frank was also born in Columbia, SC but in 1899. In the 1930 census Cora and her husband Ernest lived with half a dozen lodgers. Frank was a 35 year old barber and Cora worked as a servant in a hotel. Their tenants included a janitor, a laborer and an elevator operator.

Fun with A.I. – The Eloyce Gist Hell Bound Train Podcast

So once again I played around with A.I. and got something, not 100% right. It isn’t exactly wrong either. It’s a POV that isn’t mine and I’m not really on board with it.

I can imagine my research being taken over by some young producer type who ‘jazzes’ it up, and this is what you get.

I plugged in several Eloyce Gist blog posts here and my script for the ASALH conference and got this:

1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1721 New Jersey Avenue

White Renters

There were three households living in 1721 New Jersey Ave NW in 1920. There were the Burgess family, the Matthews family and the Burtons.

Let’s start with the Burgess family. It was headed by William F. Burgess, a 33 year old chauffeur. He lived with his wife Annie and their three children, Della (10), William E (8) and baby Boyd R. Prior to living on New Jersey Avenue the family lived at 723 Morton St. NW during World War I. Continue reading 1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1721 New Jersey Avenue

1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1719 New Jersey Avenue

White Renters

1719 New Jersey Ave had two households living in the town home in 1920. One was a single person, 72 year old widow Harriett A. Gray. The other was the Hessler family.

Harriett Gray was born in 1848, possibly in the District of Columbia. Unfortunately, there was more than one woman named Harriett A. Gray born in 1848. The other one was born in Maine, another in Illinois. She was living alone and did not have an occupation. If she was related to the Gray family living at 1723 New Jersey Av NW, then she is Harriet Ann (nee Abbott) Gray who died in 1929.

The Hesslers or Heslars were a 29 year old father, 31 year old mother and their 7 year old son Earl. James Kelly Heslar was born February 16, 1891 in Brown, Ohio. In 1910 he was a single teacher in Ohio. He married Mollie Caldwell in 1911. At some point he moved to Washington, DC and worked as a clerk for the War Department. By 1930 the family was back in Ohio where they owned their home.

Black Homeowners

William H. and Katie Randall bought 1719 NJ Ave NW from M. Harvey Chiswell around October 1920. Katie and William Herbert Randall were the owners up until 1960. Between 1922 to 1960 the Randalls took out 9 mortgages. In a 1970 loan with the Perpetual Building Association, the borrowers were William E. and Janice B. Randall. Those Randalls lost the home to foreclosure in 1973.

William Randall was born February 2, 1888 in Washington, DC. He married Katie Pauline Thomas September 4, 1920. In the 1930 census William was an independent ice dealer. They lived there with adopted daughters Lillian N. (9) and Audrey V. (7). They also had a lodger, 26 year old Lewis Chase who worked as a government messenger. In 1940, William, but this time W. Herbert, was working as a ‘delivery boy’. He died in 1949. In the 1950 census Katie was living at 820 L St NE with 29 year old niece and former foster daughter Lillian M. James, and 5 & 4 year old nephews William E. Thomas and Kenneth I. James. It’s unclear to me who William E. Randall was to the couple.

Fun with A.I. and the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company houses

So I asked an AI to look at the web pages for 14-42 O St NW and summarize them. AI is imperfect. It incorrectly believed the George Basiliko purchased homes in 1950. I can see where it got that idea in some of my posts. sigh.

From Grok:

The web pages from the blog “Truxton Is In Shaw” (blog.inshaw.com) detail the history of properties along O Street NW in Washington, D.C., focusing on the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) and its sell-off of rental properties in the 1950s. Each page examines a specific address (ranging from 14 O Street NW to 42 O Street NW) and traces the ownership timeline, primarily from the 1950s onward, using deed records and historical context. Here’s a summary of the key themes and information across these pages:

The WSIC, originally established to provide sanitary housing for working-class families in D.C., began selling off its properties in the early 1950s as part of a broader shift away from rental management. The houses discussed—located in the Truxton Circle area of the Shaw neighborhood—were typically sold to individual buyers or small investment entities between 1950 and 1952. Each post outlines the specific deed transactions, including dates, parties involved, and, where available, subsequent ownership changes into the late 20th or early 21st century.

For example:

42 O Street NW (sold November 17, 1950) went to George Basiliko, a notable real estate figure, and later changed hands multiple times.
40 O Street NW (sold October 31, 1950) was also acquired by Basiliko, with ownership details extending to 1981.
38 O Street NW (sold October 31, 1950) followed a similar pattern, purchased by Basiliko and later sold to others.
Properties like 36 O Street NW (October 31, 1950) and 34 O Street NW (November 17, 1950) highlight sales to individuals or couples, with some remaining in families for decades.
Earlier addresses, such as 14 O Street NW (sold January 29, 1951), often note fewer subsequent transactions, suggesting longer-term ownership.

The posts collectively illustrate a post-World War II transition in D.C.’s housing market, where institutional landlords like WSIC divested properties to private owners, reflecting broader societal shifts toward homeownership. The author, Mari, uses these histories to explore Truxton Circle’s evolution, occasionally noting challenges in tracing ownership due to incomplete records or unclear deed references. The series underscores her focus on hyper-local history, tying individual homes to the neighborhood’s changing identity.

1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1717 New Jersey Avenue

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.

1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1715 New Jersey Avenue

White Renters

According to the 1920 census 1715 was occupied by the Perkins family. It was headed by 39 year old machinist Brooke. He lived with his wife Florence Moore (nee Shettle), a 35 year old sales woman at a bookstore, 13 year old daughter Florence E., mother Eliza Isbelle McComas Shettle (65) and aunt Anna McComas (55) who worked as a clerk for the railroad.

Here I notice the household has a couple of working women.

The Perkins family of parents and daughter were at 1715 in 1910. However then, Brooke was the manager of a grocery and Florence M. was a stay at home mom to her three year old daughter.

Jumping from 1910 let’s see where the Perkins were after leaving New Jersey Avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins lived at 520 Park Road NW with mother in law Mrs. Shettle. Mrs. Perkins’ career may have improved as she moved from sales lady to an auditor. Mr. Perkins was still a mechanic. Their daughter, became Mrs. Raymond Calvert Firor, sometime after he divorced the last Mrs. Raymond Firor in 1928. In 1930 Mr. Firor’s wife was listed as Betty, a 23 year old bookkeeper. By 1940, she was the mother of two Firor children.

Black Homeowners

Continue reading 1920 to 1930- White to Black- 1715 New Jersey Avenue

Multiracial Family in 1920s DC- a Truxton Circle Story

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

Black and white photo of Hester Seeney credit www.mitsawokett.com — 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