Category: Housing

To get an idea to see if what I am seeing with the Black Homeowners of Truxton Circle is normal, or not, I am comparing them with white home owners.  I am looking at blocks that were over 90% white in 1950 but also in the same “red lined” zone, which was F1.

The first document to show up for this Capitol Hill property is a release, which means a debt has been paid, from 1921 for a 1915 debt. It was in Charles E. and Emma F. Speiden’s name who appear in the 1930 census for 232 South Carolina Ave SE in Washington, DC. On March 30, 1948 the home was sold by Charles and Emma’s survivors to Constance Wilson who sold it to Erika B. Ezzell a few days later.

So who were Charles and Emma Speiden?

Well Charles Edwin Speiden was born January 16, 1863 in Washington, DC to William R. and Sarah Ann Perkins Speiden, one of nine children. In 1880, the family lived at 228 K St SE. His father was a blacksmith, his older brother was a blacksmith and in the 1900 census he was a blacksmith.

In 1885 Charles married Emma Florence Scott. In 1890 the blacksmith and his bride lived at 1206 I St SE. In 1900 they were living with his in-laws, Jasper Scott the iron molder, at 503 12th St SE. That year the Speidens had five children between the ages of 13 and four.

Emma was born in 1863 to Jasper A. and Mary Jane Murray Scott in the District of Columbia. She was about one of five children and she in turn had five children, Addie Florence Speiden Adams (1886–1953), William Jasper Speiden (1887–1971), Emma Viola Speiden Huff (1891– 1956), Mary Jane Speiden McClay (1894–1961) and Charles Edwin Speiden Jr. (1895–1901).

By 1930 Charles Speiden was a business owner, iron worker, running East Washington Ornamental Iron Works at 618-620 C Street SE. His adult daughters Emma Huff, and Addie Adams lived with him and Emma, with and her daughter Florence. Their adult daughters were listed as widows, however the 1940 census revealed that Addie was divorced.

Charles died January 31, 1936 at home. A couple years later, Emma Scott Speiden died January 2, 1948.

So just to get an idea to see if what I am seeing with the Black Homeowners of Truxton Circle is normal, or not, I am comparing them with white home owners.  I am looking at blocks that were over 90% white in 1950 but also in the same “red lined” zone, which was F1.

I got Rufus Goodnough’s name from the 1930 census. However looking at the Recorder of Deeds documents, Mr. Goodnough became a homeowner through Mrs. Goodnough.

In 1923, Edna Grace Lamborne, a single woman, bought 502 Second Street SE from Alva M. and Lessie E. Templeton. She borrowed what appears to be $6,000 from trustees George P. Newton and M. James Wright (released 1929). December 29, 1925 she borrowed $600 under her married name Edna Grace Goodnough from trustees William E. Davis and William A. Kingsbury (released 1927). Rufus, her husband does not appear on the loan document. July 21, 1927 once again, in her name only, she borrowed another $600 from trustees Irvin Abrams and JL Krupsaw (released 1929). February 7, 1929, solely in her name, she borrowed $6,400 from the American Building Association. She continued to borrow in her name only up until 1943. October 1946, she and several of her neighbors signed a racial covenant (document #1946048071). And once again, Rufus’ name appears nowhere on the document.

On March 6, 1947 she died at Emergency Hospital. She left behind her husband Rufus and a 20 year old son, Adrien B.  Rufus only appears on a May 1950 loan document noting his death on June 27, 1949, leaving Adrien Barrett Goodnough as the sole heir borrowing $5,800 from the Perpetual Building Association (released 1951). Adrien borrowed money a few more times before selling the family home September 13, 1951 to Irene Cline.

So was Rufus Goodnough? Who was Edna Grace Lamborne Goodnough, the actual homeowner?

Edna Grace Lamborne was born around 1891 in Washington, DC to Minnie Zeisler and Milton Lamborne. Her father died in 1901 and her mother kept lodgers. In 1907 she was attending a business high school in the District, possibly Franklin. She kept a low profile.

Rufus Anson Goodnough was born July 18, 1890 in Ruston, LA. When he was 10 he helped support his widowed mother on the farm. His mother remarried before she died in 1913. We see him again in the 1930 census in Washington, DC working as a carpenter supporting Edna and their three year old son Adrien, born a year after the death of their 1st son, Anson. During the 1940 census, he added his 70 year old mother in law Minnie to the household.

I am curious as to how Edna Lamborne managed to purchase a house. I see she was lent money to do so, but what made her a good credit risk? Yes, I acknowledge she co-signed segregation, but I’m more interested in how she managed to pay off the loan and why someone would lend to a woman (who as far as I know) with no known job.

So just to get an idea to see if what I am seeing with the Black Homeowners of Truxton Circle is normal, or not, I am comparing them with white home owners.  I am looking at blocks that were over 90% white in 1950 but also in the same “red lined” zone, which was F1.

The District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds’ site goes as far back as 1921. The first document for 515 3rd St SE is a 1924 release for a mortgage with the Metropolis Building Association for a 1918 loan under the names of John F. and Joanna A. Robey. The next and last document is a June 1953 deed where the surviving spouse Joanna sold the property to Catherine A. and John C. Hartman.

John Fairfax Robey died February 25, 1953 and according to his obit he lived a good long life:

John F. Robey, 90, Retired Railroader, Dies After Home Fall
John F. Robey, 90, retired veteran railroad man, died Wednesday at Casualty Hospital. He had suffered a fall earlier at his home, 515 Third street S.E.
Mr. Robey, who had living in Washington since he was a boy, began his career with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1881. He was employed as an engineer with the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad about the turn of the century.
At the time of his retirement in 1932, he was assistant superintendent of motive power for the R. F. & P.
One of the high spots of Mr. Robey’s career was when he piloted the first passenger train across the newly opened Long Bridge over the Potomac River in 1907.
Served on Garfield Train-
Mr. Robey was an engineer wiper on President Garfield’s funeral train in 1881.
While still with the Pennsylvania, as an engineer on the Washington-New York run, he was trapped on the road for 10 days during the blizzard of 1898.
For many years he was foreman of the roundhouse at Potomac Yards.
Mr. Robey, a native of Newport, St. Marys County, Md., had lived for the last 40 years at the Third street address.
Married 63 Years.
He and his wife, the former Johanna Bradshaw, had celebrated their 63d wedding anniversary there last August 1.
In addition to his widow, who is 80 Mr. Robey is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Malvinia Prather 5525 Fourth street N.W., and Mrs. Ethel Fischer, 9703 Bristol avenue, Silver Spring, Md., and four sons, Ralph E. Robey, 2016 Thirty-seventh street N.W.; Joseph O. Robey, 3007 Medway street, Silver Spring; John P. Robey, 7302 Foster street, District Heights, Md., and Paul W. Robey, Newton Center, Mass.

As far as getting information about loans and comparing this to the Truxton Circle home owners, this provides no info.