I have an idea. I would like to compare the land records I have been seeing in my series of Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle with that of white home owners. I would start with the 1930 census because that is when redlining starts. Also the DC Recorder of Deeds online records start around 1921, and I like having a buffer.
The Truxton Circle block will be Square 509E. Why? Because I used to live there. Also It’s not as big as Squares 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 615, 616, or 617. The small and more manageable blocks are 519, 550, 553W (maybe), 554W, and 618.
So what’s the deal with Square 509E? In the 1940 Census it was 100% Black, had 67 occupied units, and 10% was owner occupied. In the 1950 census, still all Black, 69 units were occupied and the home ownership rate was up to 28%.
The 1950 Census the last and most recent open census, and that is where I’ll stop. Also after 1950 DC experienced white flight, particularly a loss of its white working class and poor. As of this time, the District does not have any white working class neighborhoods.
So I started looking for a 90-100% white comparison block. I was looking for something in Old City. I wanted something with an older housing stock, with row houses/ townhomes. To make it easier on me, no big blocks. I wanted to avoid blocks with large apartment buildings, so that eliminated most of Dupont Circle. Many Logan Circle blocks got kicked out of the running because many blocks did not remain 90%+ white by 1950. I really wanted to keep Shaw blocks finding 90%+ white blocks.
So here are my possible candidates:
Square 980N (Census tract 84, ED 720)- This NE block along Florida Ave in 1950 was 95% white, and 45% owner occupied with only 20 occupied units.
Square 984 (Census tract 81, ED761?)- This block is at E and 11st Sts NE was 90% white, 33% owner occupied with 62 occupied units.
Square 966 (Census tract 81, ED 767)- This Lincoln Park block was 100% white, 23% owner occupied with 40 units.
Square 765 (Census tract 65, ED374)- This Capitol Hill block was 96% white, 32% owner occupied with 54 units.
Square 1255 (Census tract 2, ED564)- This Georgetown block along Wisconsin Ave NW was 98% white, 31% owner occupied with 64 units.
So 980N got eliminated first because I couldn’t find the square on the Library of Congress map site. It seemed to have gotten left off and I need the real estate maps because lot numbers change.
Square 1255 in Georgetown is going to be set aside because the occupations I am seeing appear to be very upper middle class. The Truxton Circle block is more working class and I don’t want to compare it to a block that is more managerial and richer.
Squares 984, 966, and 765 are great contenders because they have several working class residents. There is the odd doctor on the block. Fair enough, 509E had a Dr.
This is a continuation of parts 1, 2& 3. I search the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America site for newspaper articles about the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) and Truxton Circle. When the WSIC ceased operations they began off loading properties via auction in the 1950s.
For Rent- Flats— The evening times. [volume], November 27, 1897, Page 3. “FOR RENT Sanitary Flats for white tenants only; Bates St., between P and Q, N. Capitol and 1st sts. nw.; 3-4 rooms; baths; cellar; separate entrance and yards; modern improvements; price, $10 to $12.50; erected by WASHINGTON SANITARY IMPROVEMENT Co. office 1819 Q st. nw. 8-9 a.m 12-1:30.4-7 p.m.”
Building Permits Issued– Evening star. [volume], July 16, 1901, Page 2. “Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, four two-story brick flats, 47 to 53 Bates street northwest; cost. $15,000.”
Building Permits Issued– Evening star. [volume], June 21, 1906, Page 3. “To the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company for three two-story brick dwellings at 200 to 204 Bates street northwest; architect. A. P. Clark, Jr.; builder, Thomas H. Melton; estimated cost, $11,500.
To the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company for three two-story brick dwellings at 201 and 235 P street northwest; architect, A. P. Clark, Jr.; builder, Thomas H. Melton; estimated cost, $11,500.”
Back to the 1930 Census and looking for an African American TC home owner and the next person is William H. Coates of 112 FL Ave NW (0551 0178). The DC General Assessment for 1933-1934 confirms that William H. and Mamie Coates were owners of a 2,100 sq ft structure at that address.
I couldn’t find a lot of info about the Coates. It appears they married late in life. William, then, 58, married Mamie Thompson, aged 34, in September 1920.
Since Ancestry isn’t providing a lot of info, to the Recorder of Deeds we go. July 9, 1923 William H. and Mamie D. Coates came into possession of 112 Florida Avenue from Clarence M. Deveile. Deveile was very involved with the neighboring property at 114 Florida Avenue NW.
The next document, a May 1926 release, is quite revealing. In 1920 the then widow Mamie Thompson, borrowed an unknown amount from Deveile. Looking a few documents back it appears, she used Deveile to do that weird deed thing where she placed her husband, William Coates, on the property in 1923.
In 1926 the Coates borrowed $3000 from the Perpetual Building Association. Again in 1933, they borrowed $2,800 from the Perpetual Building Association. That year they pay off their 1926 debt.
It appears they sell the property to Carrie E. Walker (not Carrie G. Walker) on April 20, 1934. Deveile was a witness on this paperwork.
I did a newspaper search for 112 Florida Ave from 1923-1934 and came up with the following:
This is a continuation of parts 1 & 2. I search the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America site for newspaper articles about the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) and Truxton Circle. Most of it are auction sales when WSIC off loaded their properties in the mid-late 1950s.
For Rent- Flats– The times. [volume], November 27, 1897, Page 6. “FOR RENT Sanitary Flats for white tenants only; Bates St., between P and Q, N. Capitol and 1st sts. nw.; 3-4 rooms; baths; cellar; separate entrance and yards; modern improvements; price, $10 to $12.50; erected by WASHINGTON SANITARY IMPROVEMENT Co. office 1819 Q st. nw. 8-9 a.m 12-1:30.4-7 p.m.”
Building Permits Issued– Evening star. [volume], May 31, 1901, Page 3. “Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, fifteen two-story brick fiats, 14 to 42 O street northwest. Cost, $35,000.”
Opening of Bates Street-Adverse Action on Application of Washington Sanitary Improvement Co.– Evening star. [volume], March 16, 1903, Page 7. ” The Washington Sanitary Improvement
Company has applied to the Commissioners for the opening of Bates street through the center of square 552 by condemnation proceedings. The square is located between P, Q, 1st and 3d streets northwest. Engineer Commissioner Biddle has recommended adverse action, saying:
“The president of the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company should be informed that the funds now available for opening alleys and minor streets are not sufficient to justify the Commissioners in taking up any new cases until pending condemnations are paid for and assessments for benefits are paid in. The law provides that the entire amount of damages and expenses of condemnation shall
see assessed against lots and parts of lots in the square in which the minor street is opened as the jury may determine them to be benefited, and the Commissioners have no authority to exempt any property from assessment on the ground that dedications have been made; that this matter is in the province of the jury.” ”
Auction Sales- Thos. J. Owen & Son– Evening star. [volume], July 31, 1956, Page B-12. Auction of 214 Bates Street NW ($7750), 54 Bates Street NW ($7500), 200A Bates Street NW ($8000) and 132A Que Street NW ($8000).
New Bethany Baptist Church at 1300 10th St NW is still located in the Logan Circle area of Shaw. In 1957 it was a medium sized African American church with 500 members who mostly lived the the Northwest Urban Renewal Area. They didn’t provide percentages of age distributions or occupations. They wrote that they had many kids and over half were between 33 and 55. Most of the congregation were unskilled labor with some being white collar government workers.
In the 1930 census John T. Wilson is listed as the owner and head of household for 114 Florida Ave NW. It’s on square 551, which means it no longer exists. Run around at the Florida Avenue Park and you’ll probably be where his house was.
John Thomas Wilson was born May 17, 1886 in Durham, NC. He married Bessie M. Gaskins on September 20, 1911. She was listed as his wife on the 1930 census. He worked for the US Department of Agriculture.
The Wilson purchased 114 Florida Avenue NW on October 15, 1926. Prior to moving to Truxton Circle, he and his wife were living with in-laws, the Gaskins, at 4335 Polk St NE. In order to purchase 144 FL Ave NW, he was indebted to Clarence Deveile and Royal Mundy, trustees who had previously owned the property a few months prior, for $3,900.
I am learning, but I won’t pretend I know all that is going on with the land records. But back in 1922, a previous owner, the widow Maggie Lee owed $3,900 to trustees William A. Bowie and Clarence M. Deveile. She borrowed from Deveile and a new partner, again in 1924 for $350 and $1268. Maggie Lee sold it to Royal G. Mundy in March 1926. Royal G. and his wife Emma Mundy was borrowed from Deveile and another partner for $250. In May 1926, the Mundys transferred the property to Clarence M. Deveile.
After the Wilsons bought 114 Florida Avenue, debts from previous owners started clearing. The Mundys’ debts were cleared in December 1926, as was Maggie Lee’s. In January 1927 a debt from a owner prior to Maggie Lee, Samuel and Jennie Rappoport who borrowed in 1919, was cleared. February 1927, for September 1922 and October 1924 debts by Maggie Lee was cleared. So a year after she sold it, all of her debts were cleared.
The Wilsons paid off the October 1926 debt on February 3, 1927. February 4, 1927 they do this weird thing I’ve noticed in other land records. Usually it is done to add someone or remove someone from the previous deed. What’s going on here? Beats me. Whatever it was, Deveile borrowed $4,250 from Equitable Life Insurance.
The same day (Feb 4, 1927) the Wilsons have the property transferred back to them and they borrowed $4500 from Mundy and Deveile.
Ten days later there are more documents regarding the release of debts from 1916 and a Maggie Lee 1920 debt.
January 7, 1928 the Wilsons borrowed $600 from trustees Deveile and Mundy. Same date the next year (1/7/1929) the Wilsons borrowed $616 from Deveile and James L. Nielle.
September 11, 1929 it appeared that the Wilsons sold their home to R. Lawrence Plummer. The next document is a 1930 Trustees Deed, which pops up when a property has been foreclosed and auctioned. The auction was announced in the Washington Herald on June 23rd. The property was transferred to the widow Emma Gilmore by DeVeile & Mundy. The final nail was a 1932 Code Deed that transferred the property from the Wilsons to Gilmore, however it was only signed by Gilmore and the notary.
Despite all that, the Wilsons were still at 114 Florida Ave NW during World War II, after they lost legal possession. Checking the 1940 census, John claimed that he owned the property. They were still there for the 1950 census, but the 1950 census does not have ownership information. Sadly that info is lost to time.
John T. Wilson died January 1965. Bessie died in 1980.
This is a continuation of part 1. I search the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America site for newspaper articles about the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) and Truxton Circle. There will be more parts, most of it are auction sales when WSIC off loaded their properties in the mid-late 1950s.
Building Permits Issued– Evening star. [volume], April 01, 1902, Page 2. “Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, to build eight two-story and cellar brick flats at 62 to 76 Bates street northwest; cost. $20,000.”
Real Estate Transfers– Evening star. [volume], December 19, 1916, Page 7.”NORTHWEST; BATES STREET between North Capitol and 1st streets northwest; 14 TO 42 O STREET NORTHWEST; HALF STREET between M and N streets southwest; 57 TO 81 L STREET NORTHEAST –George H. Harries and George M. Kober, surviving trustees of the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, to Washington Loan and Trust Company, trustee, lots 170 to 182, Square 509; lots 33, 34 and part of lot 35, lots 49 to 79, 80 to 94, 98 to 150, square 552; lots 134 to 140, 170 to 179, 195 to 207, 236 to 256, 258 to 265. square 615; lots 169 to 183, square 617; lots 33 to 90, 92 to 120, 122, 123, 125 to 147, square 651; lots 415 to 427, square 674.”
John J. Edson Quits Bank Presidency-Declines Re-Election as Head of Washington Loan and Trust Company- John B. Larner Succeeds- Succeeded Mr. Warner– Evening star. [volume], January 10, 1917, Page 5 -“He has been treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States since its organization, of the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, the National Geographic Society from 1901 to date; of the Associated Charities
from 1894, and was formerly treasurer of the George Washington University.
…….
For many years he has been chairman of the Summer Outing Committee for Children: and he was president and trustee of the National Homeopathic Hospital from 1889 to 1905.”
Total of $366,932 in D.C. Building– Evening star. [volume], March 01, 1930, Page B-3. “Washington Sanitary Improvement Co., owner; A. S. Johnson & Co., builders; to reroof, 200 to 230 and 201 to 229 Bates street (lots 132 to 147 and ‘ 80 to 94, square 552); to cost $1,500.”
Permits- Repair Work– Evening star. [volume], June 18, 1938, Page B-2. “Washington Sanitary Improvement Co., 915 F street N.W., owners; Edson & Bressler, Bond Building, builders; to erect brick garage, 121 Bates street N.W.; to cost $1,400.”
Instead of looking at individual addresses, which I’ll still keep doing, let’s look at the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) in the newspaper for Truxton Circle. I have to limit it to Truxton Circle because WSIC had investment properties in various other parts of Washington, DC and I really want to focus on the TC.
This is broken up into parts because newspaper announcement of auctions of individual properties makes the post too long.
Building Permits Issued– Evening star. [volume], April 21, 1905, Page 12. “To the Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, thirteen two-story brick dwellings, 147 to 171 P street northwest, to cost $39,000; thirteen two-story brick dwellings, 146 to 170 Bates street northwest, to cost $39,000; six two-story brick dwellings, 100
to 113 and 121 to 125 Bates street northwest, to cost $18,000.” “To Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, three two-story brick dwellings, 120 to 124 O street northwest; cost $9,000.”
BUILDING PERMITS FOR WEEK INCREASE– Evening star. [volume], June 21, 1924, Page 14. Washington Sanitary Improvement Company, to erect eight dwellings at 12 to 26 Bates street; cost $60,000.
BUILDING PERMITS TOTAL $209,215– Evening star. [volume], January 19, 1929, Page 15– “Repairs to Be Made. Washington Sanitary Improvement Co., owner; to make repairs to porches,
200 to 230 Bates street and 201 to 231 P street (lots 132 to 147, 111 to 119 and 148 to 150. square 552); to cost $1,044.
Washington Sanitary Improvement Co., owner; to repair porches. 15 to 77 and 44 to 76 Bates street (lots 195 to 207, 253 to 256. 134 to 140, 237 to 244, 245. 811 to 818 and 258 to 265), square 615); to cost $1,436.”
Home Building Shows Increase– Evening star. [volume], October 22, 1932, Page B-3. “Washington Sanitary Improvement
Co., owners; George E. Locknane, designer; Mutual Construction Co., builders; to erect one 2-story brick apartment, 130 Q street, to cost $10,000.”
Building Drops In Capital Area– Evening star. [volume], February 17, 1934, Page B-1. “The largest single Item was for a $10,300 addition to a structure at 124 Q street, to be built by the Washington Sanitary Improvement Co.”
Transactions Brings End to Low-Rent Housing– Evening star. [volume], November 04, 1950, B-1 & Firm’s Sale Brings End to Low-Rent ExperimentB4. The WSIC came to an end. They rented to whites and blacks. WSIC informed white tenants that they intended to sell the units to African Americans. Unhappy tenants created the Tenants Committee to Protest Eviction. “The units so far offered for sale are mainly located on Bates street between North Capitol and Third streets N.W.; on Third street between P and Q streets N.W.; on Q street, between Second and Third -streets N.W., and on P street between Second and Third streets N.W.”
List of properties sold (address, yr. acquired, no. of buildings):
1501-1551 Third street N.W., 1904, 24 buildings.
124-230 Q street N.W., 1905, 24 buildings.
201-231 P street N.W., 1905, 16 buildings.
14-42 O street N.W., 1901, 15 buildings.
14- 28 Bates street N.W., 1905, 8 buildings.
30-94 Bates street N.W., 1900, 25 buildings.
15- 77 Bates street N.W., 1900, 32 buildings.
119-229 Bates street N.W., 1905, 26 buildings.
200-230 Bates street N.W., 1905, 16 buildings.
416-441 Warner street N.W., 1902, 13 buildings. <- Not in TC but wanted to add.
Auction Sales- Thos. J. Owen & Son– Evening star. [volume], September 27, 1955, Page B-8. Auction of 20A Bates St NW ($7,750), 229 Bates St NW ($8000), 215-215A Bates St NW ($7,750), and 66 Bates St NW ($7,750).
Auction Sales- Thos. J. Owen & Son– Evening star. [volume], August 09, 1956, Page B-11– 214 Bates St NW was to be sold for approx. $7,750. 200A Bates St NW, to be sold for approx. $8,000. 132A Que St NW to be sold for approx. $8K. (54A Bates St NW to be auctioned too)
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.
