Category: Truxton History

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.

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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.

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.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 206 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 206 Bates St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold the whole of 206 Bates Street NW to Sylvester Butler and Bettie H. Garner.
  • January 1951 Butler and Garner borrowed $5,050 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • August 1952 Butler and Garner transferred the property to Edith E. Matthews, who transferred half of the property to Bettie Garner and the other half to Sylvester Butler.
  • August 1953 Miss Garner borrowed $2,320.72 from Levin and Weightman.
  • August 1953 Mr. Butler borrowed $2,320.72 from Levin and Weightman.
  • February 1953 Butler and Garner were released from their 1951 mortgage.
  • August 1953, Butler lost his half of the house to foreclosure. Through an auction the property returned to Evans, Levin and Taube.
  • June 1959, new partner Harry A. Badt, Nathan Levin’s survivors, Evans, Taube and their spouses sold the foreclosed half to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • February 1963, Bettie H. Garner was released from her mortgage.
  • March 1972 the Basilikos sell the property to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency.

I’m stopping here because the documents onward are confusing. I cannot find out what happened to Ms. Garner and her half, it just gets lost. But as part of the usual story, we have a foreclosure, a sale to the Basilikos and the DC Redevelopment Agency.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 40 O 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 40 O St NW:

  • February 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 40 O St NW to Nellie and John R. Burton.
  • February 1951 the Burtons borrowed $3,125 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 40 O St NW to Helen O. and Robert M. Pyndell.
  • February 1951 the Pyndells borrowed $3,125 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • March 1958 the Pyndells lost their half of the property to foreclosure and through an auction the property returned to Evans and Taube and new partner Harry A. Badt.
  • March 1958, as part of a larger property package, the Badts (Harry A. and wife Jennie) transfer/sold their interest in 40 O St NW to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • August 1958 the Burtons lost their half of the property to foreclosure and the property returned to Badt, Evans and Taube via an auction.
  • August 1958, as part of a larger property package, Harry and Jennie Badt transferred/sold their interest in 40 O St NW to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • March 1959, Badt, Evans, Taube, the Levin survivors, and their spouses, as part of a large property package, sold the whole of 40 O St to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • July 1971, as part of a large property package, George & Sophia Basiliko sold 40 O St NW to the Housing System Development and Construction Corp.

Once again it appears that the scheme set up just set Africans American buyers for failure. And as a bit of irony housing expressly built to improve renters lives wound up in the hands of a slumlord who did not improve the lives of his tenants.

Robert Martell Pyndell, before buying 40 O St NW, was a Black truck driver living with his in-laws at 521 2nd St SE in 1950. In 1947 he married Helen Odessa Shepard. After this loss in Truxton Circle the family managed to buy a home in 1961 at 306 Channing Street NE. Funnily, looking at the Channing St deed, there is covenant language on document 1961001489 stating that the property should not be sold, leased or conveyed to any person of negro or part negro blood. Mr. Pyndell appears to be unmistakably black. This was in 1961, after racial covenants were found to be unconstitutional in 1948. The Pyndells eventually wound up in Alabama, with Robert selling a plot of land (parking spot? Sq 3554 lot 0106) in 1985.

Unfortunately, there were two John R. Burtons and two Nellie Burtons (married to different people) buying and owning property in DC at the time. I found a John Burton, an Afro-American barber married to a Nellie (nee Lane?) living at 505 O Street NW in the 1920 census. But I’m not 100% sure these are the same people.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 219 P 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 was the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.

Let’s see what happens with 219 P St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 219 P NW to Ethel M. and Jacob S. Miller.
  • December 1950 (recorded Jan 18, 1951) the Millers borrowed $3,250 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • February 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 219 P St NW to Arthur and Blumne Lipscomb.
  • Feb 1951 Mitchell borrowed $3,400 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • January 1952 the Lipscombs transferred their half to Margaret Johnson who transferred it back to Arthur Lipscomb and Blumer Whitehead, who I will assume is the same person as Blumne Lipscomb.
  • October 1961 the Millers are released from their mortgage, owning their half free and clear.
  • April 1962 the Lipscomb mortgage is released.
  • August 1970, Shellie F, Bowers administrator for the estate of Henry A. Lipscomb sold his interest to Elizabeth Edwards.
  • August 1988, Elizabeth Edwards was noted to have a 1/4 interest in 219 P St, sold her interest, as well as the heir-at-law of Blumer Whitehead (died 6/30/1985) to Freda D. and Junella M. Gaines.

I have no idea what happened to the Millers. It’s safe to assume they died. They just disappeared. Junella A. Gaines was the heir of the Millers as there is a water sewer lien sent to them in 1986, two years before the other half of the house was sold her. There is a 2002 Quit Claim Deed stating that the Gaines were heirs of the Millers.

As we can see from the 2004 photo above, the house was abandoned and vacant in total. The city condemned the property in October of 2004 when it was owned by FDG Funding Services.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 1537 3rd 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 1537 3rd St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold all of 1537 3rd St NW to Mattie and Walter Quarles.
  • January 1951 the Quarles borrowed $7,050 from Colonial Capitol Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • October 1953 the Quarles lost their home to foreclosure. The property returned to Evans, Levin, and Taube via an auction.
  • November 1953, Evans, Levin and Taube sold half of 1537 3rd St NW to divorcee Nettie Glover.
  • November 1953, Glover borrowed $4,054.64 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • November 1953, Evans, Levins and Taube sold the other half to Marchel and Vera R. Davis.
  • November 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Davis borrowed $4,054.65 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • November 1955, the Davis family lost their half to foreclosure and the property returned to Evans, Levin, and Taube via an auction.
  • February 1958, Nettie Glover lost her half to foreclosure and the property returned to Evans, Taube, and new partner Harry A. Badt via an auction.
  • February 1958, as part of a larger package,  the Badts (Harry & wife Jennie), transferred their interest in 1537 3rd St NW to Levin’s survivors.
  • November 1961, as part of a large property package, Evans, Taube, the Levin survivors, and the Badts, as part of a larger property package, sold 1537 3rd St NW to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • July 1970, as part of a very large property package, (document 1970011877) the Basilikos sold 1537 3rd St NW to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
  • August 1979, as part of a large property package, DC RLA sold the property to the Bates Street Associates.

Okay, let’s check the WSIC checklist of sadness and doom.  Sold half of a house, eventually, check. Foreclosure, check, check and check. Sold to Basilikos who then sold to DC RLA, check and check.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 208 Q 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 208 Q St NW:

  • January 1951 Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 208 Q NW to divorcee Elizabeth Carter.
  • January 1951 Mrs. Carter borrowed $3,275 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • January 1951 Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 208 Q St NW to William T. and Lylibelle Banks.
  • Jan 1951 the Banks borrowed $3,275 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • January 1953 the Banks lost their home to foreclosure and the property returned to Evans, Levin and Taube via an auction.
  • February 1953 Evans, Levin, and Taube resold the foreclosed property to John and Marie E. Dunston.
  • February 1953 the Dunstons borrowed $3,776.75 from Levin and Weightman.
  • July 1958 Mrs. Carter lost her half to foreclosure and Evans, Taube and new partner Harry A. Badt regained ownership of the property via an auction.
  • July 1958, as part of a larger property package, the Badts (Harry A. and wife Jennie) transfer/sold their interest in 208 Q St NW to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • November 1961 as part of a larger property package, Badt, Evans, Taube, their wives and Levin’s survivors sold their half the property to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • November 1966 the Dunstons were free of their mortgage with Levin and Weightman and owned their home free and clear.
  • May 1974 the Dunstons sold their half of the property to Edith C. and Ralph E. Deane.
  • August 1974 George Basiliko Inc sold his half to Edith C. and Ralph E. Deane, bringing the property under a single household.

Alls well that ends well. The Deanes owned 208 Q St NW from 1974-2003. So despite foreclosures and a period of Basiliko ownership, it turned out fine.

WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 217 P 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 was the odd lucky ones who managed to avoid that fate.

Let’s see what happens with 217 P St NW:

  • December 1950 (recorded February 5, 1951) Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 217 P St NW to Archie S. and Blanche M. Young.
  • December 1950 (recorded Feb 5, 1951) the Youngs borrowed $3,000 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • December 1950 (recorded February 14, 1951) Evans, Levin, and Taube sold the other half of 217 P St NW to Richard R. and Susie Saunders.
  • December 1950 (recorded February 14, 1951) the Saunders borrowed $3,000 from trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman.
  • April 1958 the Youngs lost their half of the property to foreclosure and via an auction, the property was returned to Evans, Taube and new Colonial Inv. Co partner Harry A. Badt.
  • April 1958, as part of a larger property package, the Badts (Harry A. and wife Jennie) transferred/sold their interest in this and several properties to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • June 1959, as part of a large property package the foreclosed half of 217 P St NW was sold to Sophia and George Basiliko.
  • September 1959 the Saunders lost their half to foreclosure and through an auction the property returned to Badt, Evans, and Taube.
  • September 1959, as part of a larger property package, Harry and Jennie Badt transferred/sold their interest in 217 P St NW and several properties to Nathan Levin’s survivors.
  • February 1961, along with 2 other properties, Badt, Evans, Taube, the Levin survivors and their spouses sold the remaining half to George Basiliko.
  • Sometime between 1971/1973 and 1980 Basiliko sold 217 P St NW to the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA).
  • June 1980, as part of a bigger property package, the DC RLA sold the house to the BSA Limited Partnership.

So this fits the pattern, where 2 halves are sold and they both wind up in foreclosure to end up in the hands of George Basiliko and later the DC RLA.