Black Homeowners of TC – Truxton Is In Shaw

Truxton Resident- James Adams (1883-1948) 1421 New Jersey Ave NW

Thousands of people have lived in the Truxton Circle neighborhood for over 100 years and they have thousands of stories. James Adams was just one of many. He was an African American man born in Charles County, MD. He shows up in the 1930 and 1940 census in Truxton Circle.

James Adams WWII Registration Card

James Adams was either born April 23, 1882 or 1883. His World War I draft documentation has 1882. He was the son of Amelia Matthews and John Adams, a farmer. In 1910 he was still on a farm when he was 27. In the next census he was 37, married to Matilda Florence Gray, and still on a Charles County farm.

As many have done before, he left the country and moved into the city and worked as a porter. In 1925 the Adams purchased 1421 NJ Ave NW ( W0553 lot 000S) from Laura Lee Beck. The money to purchase the home, may have come from Matilda’s inheritance. In 1924 she was listed as one of many heirs of John A. and Maria Gray in a legal matter. When the 1930 census came around the Adams were listed as the homeowners.

In his fifties, James still worked as a porter, handling baggage at Union Station, which is a fair walk from the 1400 block of New Jersey.

When he died at Gallinger Hospital after 33 days on June 9, 1948. On his death certificate his home was listed as 1421 New Jersey Ave NW. In the 1950 census, his widow, Matilda/ Florence lived as a widow (keeping house) with her 43 year old son Charles and an unemployed 75 year old woman lodger. Charles was separated from his wife (Maudestine Mitchell) and working as a baggage tender.

The goal of the Truxton Circle History Project is to find every man, woman, and child who lived in the neighborhood using every available source. The Project uses the 1880-1950 censuses, the power of Ancestry and every other online resource to discover and uncover neighborhood history.

Black Church Owners of Truxton Circle: Bishop Verda B. P. Braxton- 244 P St NW

I was thinking about house churches. One was the Phanelson Memorial True Church of God Apostolic at 244 P St NW. In the realm of Protestantism, they are in the Pentecostal neighborhood. Pentecostals are the more energetic version of the body of Christ.

This blog noted when the property was for sale in 2008. However, looking at Redfin and the Recorder of Deeds, it did not sell until 2021. Normally, I like to end my house/people histories in the 1970s and 1980s, because I’d rather not write about living people. But the Bishop for this church passed away in 2020.

In my last house history for 244 P St NW was for Frederick B. Turner, who sold the house to Ernest Clinton Winfield in 1947. Ernest Winfield sold the house in 1961 through Margaret Hartung who sold it to Efteia and John M. Swagart. In 1962 the Swagarts sold it to the Progressive Investors Corporation. In December 1973, the president of the Progressive Investors Corporation, James C. Brown and its secretary, Raymond K. Brown, transferred the property to James C. Brown. The next year, 1974 James and wife Mary sold the property to Verda Belle Braxton and daughter Elverda LaVerne Braxton-Thomas.

The Braxtons borrowed $19,950 from HUD, via Lawrence A. Epter & Associates. In 1978, via Lawrence Mitchell, the property was taken out of Verda Braxton’s name and placed solely in Elverda Braxton-Thomas’ name. In 2000 Elverda borrowed $78,000 from America’s Wholesale Lender (yes, that’s the name) which she satisfied in 2016. June 11, 2020 Elverda disclaimed her interest in the property as the surviving joint tenant, since the death of her mother that same year. It seems her mother willed the property to the Phanelson Memorial Apostolic Church Inc. No big deal, because Elverda represented the church when it sold the property to the current owners in 2021. Elverda died October 2022.

So who was Bishop Verda B.P. Braxton? She was born Verda Belle Phanelson May 18, 1927 in Powhatan, West Virginia to Alfred Phanelson and Bishop Esther Phanelson. I am reminded that Pentecostals are very open to female leadership and running churches can be a family business for non-hierarchical denominations. When she married Alphonso James Braxton in Roanoke, VA in 1949, she was working as a hospital maid and he a laborer.

In 1950, according to the census, she was living with her widowed mother in Roanoke with her newborn son Alphonso (aka Phanelson A. Braxton, died 2021). She had her 2nd child Elverda in 1953 in Washington, DC. According to a February 16, 1957 Washington Afro-American article she was a clerk-typist for the Walker-Thomas Furniture Co. when the company integrated its staff. Skipping a few years, public records have her address as 244 P St NW in the late 1980s and mid 1990s. So she qualifies to be a Black Home Owner of Truxton Circle. In her obituary, it reads “She served as Bishop and head of the church for over 38 years.”

Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle: Mrs. Ethel and Dr. Arthur McKinney- 1519 1st St NW

This is the third Dr. Arthur McKenney post here and hopefully it will be a good biography and house history. He’s been featured in 2018- Black Home Owners of 1940: Dr. Arthur B. McKinney and 2021- Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle: Arthur B. McKinney, which appears to be the same post warmed over.

I guess my problem was there were two Arthur McKenneys AND Dr. McKinney’s name was spelled McKenny and McKenney.

Searching for Arthur McKenney in the DC Recorder of Deeds and I don’t see anyone for square 615. But when searching for Square 615 lot 233, I find a McKinney. An Arthur B. McKinney. It is in document 192203180040 where Arthur signs over the property to his wife Ethel T. McKinney in 1922.

In 1928 Ethel took out a loan with the Oriental building Association for $5,000. It was solely in her name. That same year Arthur was released from a 1918 mortgage he signed for when he was single. Ethel was released from her mortgage in 1948. Then she took out another loan in 1955 with the same building association for $3,500, and paid it off in 1961. Ethel sold the house to… sigh… George Basiliko in 1972.

By also tracing Ethel I see she also owned lot 231, where her father in-law Samuel McKinney lived. In 1922 Ethel T. and Arthur N? McKinney sold 1515 1st Street NW to Samuel A. McKinney. But by 1933 Samuel had died and Arthur’s and Ethel’s name were on the deed as next of kin selling the property to Albert F. Adams. Also on the deed were Guilford McKinney, unmarried; Lewis B. McKinney and his wife Blanche E. McKinney; James E. McKinney, unmarried; Bessie T. Austin of Alexandria, unmarried; Walter V. McKinney, unmarried; and Evelyn G. McKinney, of Chicago, unmarried. And just for good measure Arthur B. and Ethel T. McKinney signed a Quit Claim Deed as well. In 1935 there’s a foreclosure document, however I did not locate the accompanying mortgage that it was based on the 1515 1st St NW.

Arthur Bancroft McKinney was born November 21, 1888 to Samuel A. and Della McKinney in the District of Columbia. In the 1910 census he lived with his parents, siblings Bradner, Stella, James, Bessie, Walter V, and Ralph L at 63 P St NW. Also in 1910 he graduated from Miner’s Normal School. He attended Howard Medical school. December 4, 1920 Arthur married Ethel T. Albert. By that time he was already a practicing physician.

Dr. McKinney died in October 1946. In his obituary he was hailed as a “Pioneer District Civic Leader.” The November 2, 1946 Afro-American described his unfortunate death. Apparently, he had been a patient at the Freedman’s Hospital for 4 years. An attendant had filled and put him in a bath. The attendant left him and during that time, the water drained out and in attempting to fill it back up, McKinney turned on the hot water and was burned. He died before anyone could help.

Eloyce Gist Presentation-National Archives College Park 2/26/26

Third times the charm in time for Black History Month. I will be presenting a talk about Eloyce Gist at the National Archives in College Park at 1PM on Thursday the 26th. If you just want to see it remotely, contact the NAA Assembly Board (email is on the flyer) for a Google invite.

The first 2 attempts were cancelled due to the government shutdown. This lecture is a bit different than the others I’ve given regarding Mrs. Gist as it is directed a little bit towards archivists.

NAA Presentation-Eloyce Gist Flyer

Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle: Blanch and Archie Young- 217 P St NW

Looking at the WSIC home buyers we look at Blanche and Archie Young of 217 P St NW. In WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 217 P Street NW, in December 1950 (recorded February 5, 1951) Colonial Inv. Co. partners Evans, Levin and Taube sold one-half of 217 P St NW to Archie S. and Blanche M. Young. That same month, the Youngs borrowed $3,000 from Colonial Investment Co. favorite trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman. Then in 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.

There’s not much on Blanche Marie Adair Young. She was born around about 1927 in the District according to marriage and the 1950 census records.

Archie Sylvester Young was born September 28, 1913 to Etta E Willard and George A. Young in Washington, DC. His mother died in 1934 at Gallinger Hospital, the hospital where he worked as an orderly. Her death left his father, also an orderly, Archie and his brother Maurice Franklin Young. Their father remarried in 1935 to Laura Louise Matthews.

217 P St NW, Washington Dc 2004 — 217 P St NW, Washington DC 2004

He used to have other brothers. In the 1920 census the family lived at 1652 B St NW. The father worked as a porter and mother worked from home as a laundress and they had 4 sons under the age of 8. Percy the eldest, was born in 1913 and died as a 16 year old laborer in 1929. His other brother Charles died at the age of 15, when Charles was shot and killed by a White House policeman August 18, 1932, whilst prowling around the cop’s home. The family lived at 116 16th St NE, and the cop at 214 17th St NE. Charles’ obituary said there were sisters, but no sisters appear in the 1930 census for the family.

In 1940, for the draft of World War II, Archie was a self employed single man. He was working for himself as a painter. 1946 he married Blanche Adair. In the 1950 census the couple was listed as being roomers at 634 M Street NW. Blanche kept house while Archie worked as a painter. But this census claims he was born in South Carolina.

The trail runs cold after 1950. They did not buy another house in DC after the foreclosure. Archie died September 11, 1992 in Maryland.

Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle: Helen and Nathaniel Lee- 135 Bates St NW

I’m looking at some of the foreclosure victims of the WSIC house sales and this post features Helen M. and Nathaniel Lee who purchased half of 135 Bates St NW.

photo of property

December 1950 Evans, Levin and Taube sold half of 135 Bates St NW to Helen M. and Nathaniel Lee. They borrowed $2,525 from Colonial Mortgage Corp. trustees Abraham H. Levin and Robert G. Weightman. Then in August 1954 they lost the home to foreclosure.

The Lees’ lived at 1613 10th St NW in 1950 before buying part of 135 Bates. That house no longer exists. Nathaniel lived there with his wife, Helen, and their four children (under 5 years old), his sister in law and four lodgers. Nathaniel worked as an awning repair man.

Nathaniel was born January 19, 1923/1924/1925 (the year varies with source material) in Raeford, North Carolina to Ruby Morris and Tom Lee. His father, a farmer, died in April 1931. When he was a teenager in 1940 he lived with his aunt and uncle and a whole mess of other relatives in Raeford, working as a farm hand.

In 1945 Nathaniel married Helen Delouse Moore in Washington, DC. During the Korean War draft he was working as a machinist for the awning company.

After the foreclosure it does not appear that the Lees purchased a home in DC. But from Nathaniel’s December 1985 obituary, it appears the family mostly relocated to Paterson, NJ in 1962 where he ran Lee’s Market in addition to other work. He was survived by four sons and two daughters, his mother, many grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

WSIC Foreclosure story- James C. Gordon of 131 Bates Street NW

See the original post WSIC-1950 Sell Off- 131 Bates Street NW to see the house history of the location. I noticed something when I looked at some of the people who were foreclosed upon with the WSIC houses. Some of them were old and they died and there was no point of keeping up with the mortgage payments for a property with limited value. Other times, people had other homes and let the WSIC go.

This is very short. James C. Gordon does not appear as a Black man in the 1950 census. So the genealogy route came up blank.

Neither is he in the DC Recorder of Deeds beyond the house on Bates Street.

But he does show up in the newspapers for driving poorly and hitting an electrical pole. According to the April 14, 1952 issue of the Washington Evening Star, he and his wife Sophia* were driving from Culpepper, VA and Mr. Gordon started dozing off. When he awoke, he saw a traffic light, hit the breaks and swerved into a pole. He was thrown from the car and a live wire landed very close to him. He was sent to Arlington Hospital and later booked for reckless driving.

Later in 1952 Florie’s name was taken off the property. I suspect the accident may have strained the marriage. The November deed, where Florie’s signature can be seen, also has Colonial Mortgage Corp officer Abraham Levin as the notary.

*That was the name given and the address was 131 Bates Street. So either she went by another name (more likely) or he got a new wife or Florie was a family member.

WSIC- The Black Unit Block of O St NW

The Washington Sanitary Improvement Company (WSIC) had a lot of rental units in Truxton Circle, but they were segregated. The White tenants were on Bates St (unit to 200 block), 3rd St, 200 block of P Street and the 100-200 block of Q Street NW. The Black tenants were segregated way over on the unit block of O Street, where their White renters would not see them.

I haven’t gathered the info for the 1950 census for Truxton Circle, but I have started. While collecting information about the sale of WSIC homes to African Americans in the TC, I took a look at the Black units to see if any of the Black tenants decided to buy. I’ve already did a post about the Edmunstons who bought their unit.

The Burtons also purchased their unit at 40 O St NW. Nellie and John R. Burton lived there as far back as the 1930 census. In the 1930s the father John A. Burton was a barber, Nellie, the mother was at home and John R. was a student. Nellie died in May 1956 and two years later their half was foreclosed upon. During the 1950 census John R. was the head working as a clerk for the US government. He was at 40 O St with his wife Mary L. who was a stenographer, their 6 year old son and mother Nellie who was at home. It appears Nellie dealt with child care, freeing Mary to work outside of the home.

A few months after purchasing 40 O Street NW with his mother, he and his wife Mary Louise Burton, purchased 116 53rd St SE in Marshall Heights. This house had two mortgages. The first was $3,250 with a lender and the second was $6,600 with Riggs Bank. In 1956 John and Mary bought 5212 East Capitol St NE. This also came with two mortgages, the first being $3,500 and the second $2,000 with the same lender.

There were a few who purchased WSIC units, just not theirs.

Ethel and Malvern F. Jackson purchased half of 24 O St NW, but lived in 18 O St NW when the 1950 census was taken. In the 1950 census Ethel was a 58 year old widow living with her son Malvern, daughter Nathelma and son-in-law William Ewell. At that time Malvern and Nathelma were the only adults working. He was worked at the post office as a postal clerk. She was a printer’s assistant at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In 1954 the Jacksons sold their half of 24 O St NW back to the sellers. That same month Malvern purchased 631 Gallatin St NW with his wife Genevieve. They were able to borrow $9,000 from the Jefferson Savings and Loan/ Lincoln National Bank and $3,950 from other trustees.

Ethel’s daughter and son-in-law purchased half of 30 O St NW. Like her brother, Nathelma and William Ewell sold the house back to the sellers in September 1954. There was no evidence the couple purchased anything in the District of Columbia. At one point in time Nathelma lived in Silver Spring.

Roxie A. Jackson was a 40 year old widow who lived with her 20 year old son and 78 year old uncle at 46 O Street NW and working as a charwoman. Her son Mark worked for a dry cleaner. When the WSIC units came up for sale, she bought 32 O St NW. In 1952 Mrs. Jackson sold her half to Ruth and Charles Rodgers Hawkins, who then sold it to Mrs. Helena Isabel Ash. The Jackson loan got paid off and all was well. She disappears from record after that.

Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle: Edmonston- 14 O St NW- Rent to Own

I’m sort of restarting the Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle series again, but with a WSIC mix. In 1950 the WSIC were sold to real estate investors who resold the White rental units to African American home buyers. The renters were forced to leave. However, the set of WSIC houses on O Street that were set aside for Black renters. I wanted to see if the renters became owners.

In the 1950 census for Census Tract 46, ED 70 page 1 there were two households living at 14 O St NW, the Edmonstons and the Jeffersons. The Edmonstons, who lived in the 1st floor unit, bought their unit in 1951 from the Colonial Investment Company in the form of three business partners, Nathaniel J. Taube, Nathan Levin and James B. Evans.

Vincent Julius Edmondson was born March 5, 1915 in Washington, DC to Samuel H. Edmondson and Millie F. Wilson. At some point he married his wife Marguerite L., whom Ancestry has determined, without any evidence I could find, as being born Marguerite L. White, also of Washington, DC. They had 4 children, Vincent Jr., Marguerite E., Warren and Julius. When the children were under 5 years old in 1940, Marguerite was a housewife.

In 1940 he lived at 14 O St NW and worked as a carrier for the US government. By 1950, Marguerite was a file clerk for the government. The children by this time were between 9 and 14 years old.

The family held on to their unit until 1956 when they sold their half to Mary Dyson Lane. Unfortunately something happened and that unit was foreclosed upon in 1960. In 1956 the Edmonstons bought 5208 13th St NW. Sometime around or before 1964, Marguerite died and Vincent was an unmarried widow when he took out an $8,000 loan with the Perpetual Building Association. So the O St foreclosure appeared not to have hurt them and their ability to continue to be homeowners. The 13th St house was transferred/sold by Vincent’s estate, as it appeared he died around 1989, to a Micheal Edmondson, a possible grandson.

The Edmonstons did provide generational wealth in that assets from one generation was able to go to another generation. In this case, down to a grandson. However, it wasn’t the O Street home that provided the wealth. That may have introduced the idea of home ownership and when a better opportunity presented itself.

National Archives Assembly Presents- Eloyce Gist and the Hellbound Train

The National Archives Assembly, an organization of current and former NARA employees, is sponsoring this presentation on 10/2/25 at 1pm as part of their monthly meeting. Come in person or just view online (Google Meet) a presentation about former Truxton Circle resident, Eloyce Gist. She was a filmmaker in the early 1930s.

NAA Presentation-Eloyce Gist (PDF)

Many thanks to Scott Roberts who pointed out an error that has been corrected.