Category: History

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 220 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. 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 propertyLet’s see what happens with 220 Bates St NW:

  •  January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 220 Bates NW to Samuel and Alice M. Carpenter.
  • January 1951 the Carpenters borrowed $2,900 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • November 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 220 Bates St NW to Charlie R. and Melodee C. Motley.
  • November 1950 (recorded Jan 26, 1951) the Motleys borrowed $2,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • June 1953 the Carpenters lost their half of the building to foreclosure. Via an auction that half returned to the ownership of Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • July 1953 Evans, Levin and Taube sold the foreclosed half to Mrs. Doris H. Smith.
  • July 1953 Mrs. Smith borrowed $3,493.54 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • September 1955 Mrs. Smith sold her half back to Evans, Levin, and Taube.
  • July 1957 the Motleys sold their half to Evans, Harry A. Badt and Taube.
  • March 1959 the Motleys and Mrs. Smith were released from their mortgage.
  • March 1959 Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors, and their spouses, as part of a large property package sold 220 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Around 1971-1973 George Basiliko, as part of a larger property package, sold 220 Bates to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency.
  • Around 1978 the DC Redevelopment Land Agency sold/transferred the property to the Bates Street Associates, Inc.

Just a side note- for document 2005039314 recorded 03/22/2005 it has UNKNOWN as the grantee and grantor.  It’s handwriting, and bad handwriting, but based on the names of previous owners and actors for a 2002 loan, I’d say one is Marvin Gitelson and the other EK Interiors.

So the summation of this story was there was one foreclosure and for some reason the owners sold the property back to Colonial Investment, who then sold it to the Basilikos, who then sold it to DC RLA who then put the Bates St. Assoc. in charge. When I was looking for something to tweet (I’m not calling it X until no one has any idea of what I’m talking about) that didn’t wind up in Basiliko’s hands, I couldn’t find anything immediately. So typically, things wind up in the hands of a man labeled a slumlord, thus making this slum history.    sigh

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 216 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.

photo of property

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 (later replaced by Harry A. Badt) 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. 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 216 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold the whole of 216 Bates St NW to David E. and Mary K. Butler.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Butlers borrowed $5,050 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • June 1954 the Bulters sold half of the property back to Evans, Levin, and Taube.
  • June 1954 the Butlers sold half of the property back to Evans, Levin, and Taube.
  • July 1954 the Butlers sold the other half of the property back to Evans, Levin, and Taube.
  • March 1959 the Butlers were released from their debt.
  • March 1959, as part of a larger property package, Evans, Taube, the survivors of Nathan Levin, and their spouses, sold 216 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Sometime around 1971/1972 the Basilikos sold 216 Bates to the DC Redevelopment Agency. I cannot locate the document.
  • In 1978 the DC Redevelopment Land Agency contracted with the Bates Street Associates, a private partner. Of the 30+ page document, the first couple of pages are missing…..
  • Around 1978-ish the property was sold/transferred to Bates Street Associates, Inc.
  • August 1980 the property was sold to its current owner.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 214 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.photo of property

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. 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 214 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Feb 05, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 214 Bates St NW to Henry and Jessie Mae McCreary.
  • December 1950 (recorded Feb 5, 1951) the McCrearys borrowed $2,525 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded Feb 05, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 214 Bates St NW to James A. Mattie O. Jones.
  • Jan 1951 the Jones borrowed $2,525 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • August 1955 the McCreadys lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction it returned to Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • August 1956 the Jones lost the other half to foreclosure and ownership went to new Colonial Investment Co partner Harry A. Badt, and Evans and Taube.
  • August 1956, as part of a larger property package, Harry and wife Jennie Badt transfer their interest in 214 Bates St NW to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • March 1959, as part of a larger package, Evans, Levin’s survivors, Taube and their spouses sold the property to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Around 1971/1972 Basiliko sold the property to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
  • June 1980 the DC RLA sold/transferred the property to the BSA Limited Partnership.

So there was the usual sad WSIC story with a house sold in halves, two foreclosures, then sold to landlord George Basiliko and then sold to the DC RLA.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 212 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.photo of property

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. 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 212 Bates St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 212 Bates NW to Addie L. and John F. Friday.
  • January 1951 the Fridays borrowed $2,525 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded 1/26/1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 212 Bates St NW to Curtis L. and Vertie F. Shuford.
  • December 1950 the Shufords borrowed $2,525 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • July 1954 the Fridays lost their home to foreclosure. Via an auction ownership returned to Evans, Levin, and Taube.
  • July 1954 the Shufords lost their half to foreclosure, too. Partners Evans, Levin and Taube got the property back via an auction.
  • March 1959, as part of a larger property sale, Evans, Levin’s survivors, Taube and their spouses sold 212 Bates Street NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Probably around 1971 George Basiliko sold 212 Bates to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA). I can’t find the document.
  • June 1980 the DC RLA, as part of a larger property package, sold 212 Bates St NW to the BSA Limited Partnership (Bates Street Associates).

So curiously, both buyers were foreclosed upon on July 1954. Five years later, in usual fashion for these stories, it was sold to George Basiliko. Another usual thing was Basiliko selling the property to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency, however I could not find that document. I know he sold it because later documents have the DC RLA as the owner. Then they sold it to a private partnership in one of those public private partnerships where the BSA was supposed to improve the property for sale.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 210 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.photo of property

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. 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 210 Bates St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 210 Bates NW to Morgan S. Brown Sr and his wife Herberth C. Brown.
  • January 1951 the Browns borrowed $2,900 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 210 Bates St NW to Ozell and Juette Leathers.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Leathers borrowed $2,900 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • August 1959 the Browns were released from their mortgage.
  • January 1961, the Leathers lost their half to foreclosure and ownership returned to Colonial Investment Co partners Harry A. Badt (Levin died), Evans and Taube.
  • November 1961, as part of a large package, Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors and their spouses, sold the foreclosed half of 210 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • October 1971, the Basilikos and widow Herberth C. Brown sold 210 Bates to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
  • August 1979 the DC RLA, as part of a larger property package, sold 210 Bates to private partner Bates Street Associates, Inc.

This is another sad WSiC story, with a foreclosure in 1961. Of course the foreclosed property was sold to notorious landlord George Basiliko. He sold his half, as well as Mrs. Brown, to DC RLA which then passed it on to the Bates Street Associates.

I looked for the Leathers, and found them. Apparently Juette  gave in and accepted the conventional spelling of her name. Juliette Leathers died last year on January 15, 2022 and is buried in the same section of Quantico National Cemetery as her husband Ozell Sr. who died a few years earlier in 1999. Before dying they lived at and owned 1123 46th Pl SE, a modest little duplex. They bought the house in SE DC in 1978 so they were able to recover from that set back.

Pocahontas Pope’s house is for sale 1500 1st St NW

I was in the neighborhood the other day and noticed a for sale sign up at Pocahontas Pope’s old house.

It is going for $899,000, and apparently there was a price drop of $50K. It is a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath home just a few feet shy of 1,500 sq. ft. It obviously has been renovated since 2004, and 2011 and very well. Hopefully, whoever buys it will appreciate the history of that property, even if the structure has been gutted and renovated.

Below I have the old post from 2021 about Mrs. Pope.

With a name like Pocahontas, I’ve been dying to delve into whatever the heck this is, even if it is a dead end.

According to the 1920 census African American widowed dressmaker Pocahontas Pope lived at 1500 1st St NW with several lodgers. Taking in lodgers, the way people take on roommates, was a way to add to one’s income.

photo of property

At first her name did not show up when I did a search of land records. Usually, I search by square and lot number. When I did that her name did not appear and I thought I might have hit a dead end. But then I decided to search by name, and lo, four records appeared, two of them related to 1500 1st St. NW. The other two (docs 192212140170 & 192212140171) was for a LeDroit property, unknown square, lot 3, and it looked like Ms. Pope was acting as a go between.

The records for 1500 1st St were from 1939 and 1940 and Mrs. Pope was already deceased. In the April 1939 trust, devisees of Mrs. Pope’s will, Lawrence A/L Lyles and Clementine K. Plummer borrowed $511.15 from individuals. in 1940, Lawrence A. Lyles, aka Lawrence L. Lyles, sold/transferred the property to co-owner Clementine Kay Plummer. She immediately (same day) borrowed $2,500 from the Enterprise Building Association. Clementine K. Plummer has popped up here and there.

Well what of Pocahontas? Well one of the first records I find about her is her late husband’s will. It’s not much of a will, it basically reads that he, John W. Pope, leaves everything to his wife Pocahontas. What is interesting is where the will was filed, Cape May, NJ. I’m not an expert but there is a link between Cape May and well off DC African Americans. Secondly, who witnessed the will is a who’s who of Black Truxton Circle. The first witness was E. Ortho Peters of 100 P St NW. The second, Dr. Arthur B. McKinney of 63 P St NW. There is a 3rd witness, looks like J.R. Wilder of 218 I St NW.

This got me to thinking. Then I did a Googly search on our gal Pocahontas… jackpot. She was an influential member of the Baha’i faith. I’m just going to quote bahaipedia.org for Pocahontas Kay Grizzard Pope’s (~1864-1938) biography:

Her mother Mary Sanlin Kay Grizzard held property including the old County Clerk of Court Office building when it became a private home. Her father John W. Kay is little known but may be the Haliwa-Saponi connection. Soon Pocahontas Kay Grizzard married Rev. John W. Pope, kin to Dr. Manassa Pope, a prominent African-American doctor of North Carolina. John was 8 years her senior and together for some 15 years they served in one or another black schools in Plymouth, Scotland Neck, or Rich Square, NC, areas of deeply rural community. However with the hostility and political changes peaking in 1898 the Popes moved to Washington D.C. where John got a job working for the US Census. Soon both were active in black society, associated with then Congress Representative George H. White and others, giving scholarly presentations, and community activism.

Pocahontas and John never had children and he died in 1918. Pope lived on two more decades without being mentioned in newspapers save when she died – and her last two years were hospitalized. Her house has been noted in tours offered by the Washington D. C. Bahá’í community.

It has? Okay.

The 1920[95] and 1930[96] census’ noted Pope listed with lodgers in the home and working as a dressmaker. The last two years of her life she was a patient at Saint Elizabeth’s hospital.[18] Pocahontas Pope died 11 Nov 1938,[97] late in the evening of cardiovascular failure by hypostatic pneumonia confirmed by an autopsy.[98] She was listed as a Baptist, but in her connection with the Faith in those early years Bahá’ís were not required to leave their former religious communities and indeed sometimes were encouraged to remain active in them.[62]pp. 190, 228-9, 397[99]

One newspaper article notes family relations and other details[100] – nieces Clementine Kay Plummer and Mrs. Charles Hawkins of Portsmouth, VA, nephew Lawrence A. Lyles of Asheville, NC, and that she was buried in the Columbian Harmony Cemetery at 9th Street NE and Rhode Island Avenue NE in Washington, DC after services at the Second Baptist Church on 3rd St. Clementine Kay Plummer was the executrix of her Will.[8] It lists some of the next of kin as inheritors. In order as listed they were: Alex Kay, Ines Kay, Viola Hawkins, Gloria Kay, Andrew Kay, Constance Kay, Cleo Blakely, John W. Kay Jr, June Kay with custodian Mrs. Willie Otey Kay, and Antonio Orsot custodian for Beatrice L. Orsot.

In 1960, the graves at Columbian Harmony Cemetery, including that of Pocahontas Pope, were relocated to the National Harmony Memorial Park in Maryland. [101]

Well that clears up some things and will save me some time when I take a look at Clementine K. Plummer again.

Larger memorial image loading...

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 204 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.photo of property

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. 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 204 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 204 Bates NW to Murrell S. and Vincent A. Curtis.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Mr. and Mrs. Curtis borrowed $2,525 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 204 Bates St NW to Eugene S. and Laverne P. Washington.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Washingtons borrowed $2,525 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman. (Released March 1959)
  • February 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Curtis lost their half of the house to foreclosure and via an auction it returned to Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • March 1953 Evans, Levin and Taube sold the foreclosed half to Annie Lee Blakeney and William B. Blakeney.
  • March 1953 the Blakeneys borrowed $3,242.50 from trustees Weightman and Levin.
  • January 1955 the Washingtons sold their half to Herman and Marissa Belle Shepherd.
  • December 1954 (recorded Feb 1955) the Blakeneys lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction it returned to Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • October 1956 the Shepherds sold their half Evans, Levin and Taube, bringing the whole house back to their ownership.
  • March 1959, as part of a larger property package, new partner Harry A. Badt, Evans, Taube, Nathan Levin’s survivors, and their spouses sold 204 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • November 1971 Basiliko sold 200 Bates and 204 Bates Street to the Dc Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).

I’m going to stop there because the documents get confusing after DC RLA takes it over. It gets condemned. It winds up in the hands of private partner Bates Street Associates, which then becomes BSA Limited Partnership. Currently, it looks like a bank owns it.

1957 Church Survey- Steeple Church Roundup

I was wondering if I got all the churches in the 1957 Northwest Urban Renewal Church Survey. The Northwest Urban Renewal Area was the area that makes up Shaw, Mt. Vernon Sq and Triangle, Chinatown, Downtown and whatever that is near Union Station. So here is a list of the steeple churches captured by the 1957 survey:

STEEPLE- CHURCH INDEX

NORTHWEST URBAN RENEWAL AREA
Baptist
Corinthian
First Rising Mt. Zion
Greater New Bethel
Metropolitan
Mt. Airy
Mt. Carmel
Mt. Gilead
New Bethany
Paramount
Redeemer Italian
Salem
Second
Shiloh
Springfield
Southern
St. Phillips
St. Stephan’s
Tenth
Third
Vermont Avenue

Methodist
Galbraith
Hemingway Temple A. M. E.
Israel C.M. E.
John Wesley A. M. E.
Miles Memorial C.M. E.
Mt. Vernon

Catholic
Holy Redeemer
Church of the Immaculate Conception
St. Aloysius

Lutheran
Luther Place Memorial
Mt. Olivet

Others
Ascension and Saint Agnes Protestant Episcopal
Bible Way
Chinese Community
Church of God & Saints of Christ
Full Gospel Tabernacle
Holy Trinity
Lincoln Temple Congregational Christian
Mt. Zion Pentecostal
New Tried Stone Church of Christ
Rehoboth Church of God
Third Church of Christ Scientist
Third Church of God
Twelve St. Christian
Verbycke Spiritual

Two Block Fringe Area

Baptist
Berean
Florida Ave
New Hope
Peoples Seventh Day
Walker Memorial

Methodist
Asbury
Metropolitan AME
Turner AME

Catholic
St. Mary Mother of God
St. Paul the Apostle
St. Augustine

Others
Church of the Holy City
Eckington Presbyterian
Fifteenth Presbyterian
Grace Reformed
National City Christian
St. Luke Protestant Episcopal

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 202 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.photo of property

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. 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 202 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 202 Bates NW to Louis and Mattie C. Cunningham.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Cunninghams borrowed $2,525 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded Feb 1, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 202 Bates St NW to Frank and Nora Coleman.
  • December 1950 (recorded Feb 1, 1951) the Colemans borrowed $2,525 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • May 1956 the Colemans lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction it returned to the ownership of Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • June 1958 the Cunninghams lost their half to foreclosure and through an auction Colonial Investment partners Harry A. Badt, James B, Evans, and Nathaniel J. Taube.
  • June 1958, as part of a property package, the Badts (Harry A. and wife Jennie) transfer/sold their interest in 202 Bates St NW to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • March 1959, as part of a larger property package, Badt, Evans, Taube, Levin’s survivors, and their spouses sold 202 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • Between 1971/72 and 1982 Basiliko sold the house. I suspect to DC RLA but I can’t find the document for that and other properties.
  • April 1982 the BSA Limited Partnership sold/ transferred the house to the District of Columbia government.
  • January 1983 the District of Columbia government sold it to its current owner.

Well that was short. Sold in parts, and both parts foreclosed upon and landing in the portfolio of a slumlord within 9 years.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 200 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.photo of property

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. 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 200 Bates St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 200 Bates St NW to Ida J. and James W. Grayson.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Graysons 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 200 Bates St NW to Cleo T. and William Willis.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Willis borrowed $3,025 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • August 1956 the Willis family lost their home to foreclosure and with an auction it returned to Evans, Taube and new partner Harry A. Badt.
  • August 1956 (recorded 8/1958) as part of a larger property package, the Badts (Harry A. and wife Jennie) transferred their interest in 200 Bates St NW to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • November 1961 the Graysons lost their half to foreclosure and via an auction the property went back to Evans, Taube and the Nathan Levin survivors.
  • November 1961, as part of a larger property package, Evans, Taube, Levin’s survivors and their spouses sold 200 Bates St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • November 1971, the Basilikos sold 200 and 204 Bates Street NW (document 1971023182) to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
  • Sometime after 1971 the DC RLA transferred or sold the property to the BSA Limited Partnership.
  • April 1982 the BSA Limited Partnership sold the property back to the District of Columbia government.

Let’s go down the checklist: Property sold in halves, check. Foreclosures, check. George Basiliko ownership, check. DC RLA ownership, check. Just another sad WSIC story.