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A Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions of the District of Columbia, 1854-1902Author(s): Matthew B. Gilmore and Michael R. HarrisonSource: Washington History, Vol. 14, No. 2, Commemorating the Centennial of the McMillanPlan, Part II (Fall/Winter, 2002/2003), pp. 26-55Published by: Historical Society of Washington, D.C.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40073520 .

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By the end of the nineteenth century, a patchwork of disconnected, highly varying suburban subdivisions ringed the organized grid of the Federal City, the result of years of real estate speculation. This section of northeast reveals the effects of increasing regulation on the pattern of city growth- from the individualistic plans of Ivy City and Montello to the rectilinear grids of South Brookland and Metropolis View, imitating the L' Enfant plan. Evident too is the real estate boom of the late 1880s. Detail from Map Showing Suburban Subdivisions of the District of Columbia, ]une 1892, adapted by the authors. Courtesy, NOAA.



A Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions of the District of Columbia, 1854-1902

Matthew B. Gilmore and Michael R. Harrison

the city of Washington grew beyond its original limits in the second half of the nineteenth century, landowners

began dividing up old estates and farms in Washington County into building lots and street grids, laying the foundations for the residential expansion of the city into the rest of the District of Columbia. Starting in the early 1870s, a process developed whereby owners and trustees brought plats (i.e., maps) of proposed subdivisions to the city government to be entered into the official record. Dated, signed, and covered with varying amounts of lot and street information, these plats provide modern researchers with a starting point for tracing the origins of those District neighborhoods that lie beyond Florida Avenue and east of the Anacostia. The planning and layout of these subdivisions,

Matthew B. Gilmore is co-editor ofH-DC, a dis- cussion list and website on Washington history. He is a geographic information systems consult- ant with New Light Technologies and was

formerly a reference librarian in D.C. Public

Library's Washingtoniana Division. Historian Michael R. Harrison works in the

transportation collections at the National Museum of American History.

particularly some of the earliest, often pre- dated their official recording, and years sometimes passed before their streets and lots acquired pavement or buildings, but legally the suburban growth of Washington began in the surveyor's plat books.

This catalog of 176 subdivisions, compiled out of the records of the D.C. Surveyor's Office, covers major subdivisions of land made outside the city of Washington between 1854 and 1902. We consulted 10 plat books for this project named County 6 through County 15. We also relied on six other books: 1) Record of Land Surveys District #2, 1865 [Dist. 1]; 2) Record of Carberry's Plats, Levy Court, 1868

[Carberry]; 3) Levy Court 1 [LCI]; 4) Record of County Surveys 1868 / Levy Court 2 [LC2]; 5) Governor Shepherd [GS]; 6) Petworth.

("County" here refers to Washington County, that portion of D.C. lying outside Washington City and Georgetown. The term continued in use many years after the county was abolished in 1871. The Levy Court was the governing body for Washington County from 1802 to 1871. )

The "County" books begin with Book 6, the previous books (except for Petworth) presumably being the first five. The plats in these books are arranged in chronological order by

27



28 E Washington History, Fall/Winter 2002

date of recording, excepting County 10 and 15, two double-sized volumes containing large plats from 1894 through 1902. County 11,12, and 14 contain no residential subdivisions within the scope of the present compilation.

All kinds of suburban subdivisions, from the break-up of the largest Maryland colonial land grants into large farms and estates to the re-division of individual lots into the smallest one-building parcels, are recorded in the surveyor 's plat books. Our aim was to extract from this large body of records only those subdivisions that directly contributed to the physical shape of the extension of urban, residential growth in the District beyond L'Enfant's original city. Our two primary cri- teria were: 1) that a subdivision create new streets, either wholly new or extensions of L'Enfant's grid, and, 2) that the subdivision generally no longer contain multi-acre lots. We have excluded such subdivisions as Shep- herd's (GS/8,9), Blagden's (GS/49,50), Giesboro Manor (GS/90) and Metropolis View (GS/41), all from the 1870s, which had large lots ideally suited for the establishment of land-rich country estates rather than clus- ters of single-family homes or row houses. We have also excluded numerous minor subdivisions that simply re-subdivided individual squares and building lots in existing subdivisions and that generally had no influence on the overall development of the suburban reaches of Washington (beyond whatever effect they may have had on the size and shape of an individual house or two). We have made a few exceptions where subdivisions fell right on the limits of our cri- teria.

We have also included subdivisions that were copied into the books but never signed and those that were subsequently cancelled. We have been careful to include what information we could find on the District's earliest suburban developments, particularly those

constituting Mount Pleasant and those on the eastern side of the Anacostia.

For each subdivision, we have given the official name as it appears in the plat books. Common alternate names are given paren- thetically. The catalog is sorted by each subdivision's most common name, admit- tedly a judgment call by the authors. Some names will be familiar; others are long forgotten. Our dates reflect the official recording of the plat, generally the day the city surveyor approved the record by signing the book. The list of owners, trustees, and witnesses includes, of course, only those who signed the books, and it should not be presumed to reveal all the people who might have come to the surveyor's office or who held an interest in each subdivision. For example, we know from reports in the Evening Star news- paper in 1887 and 1888 that numerous investors made up the two syndicates that organized Petworth, but only three, acting as trustees, signed the plat. Witnesses, while generally employees of the surveyor's office, were sometimes parties to the subdivision, and we have included all witnesses for this reason. We have included the names of surveyors, and the extent of their involvement in creating each subdivision, just as they appeared in the books. The books do not con- sistently record surveyor information.

Subdivisions created whole new networks of streets out of former forests and farmland. The street names collected here include both the new streets and the existing county roads along which the subdivisions were created. We have compiled the names originally applied by the subdivision applicants and those substituted later by action of District and congressional authorities. Although many name changes were carefully written on the plats, not all subsequent alterations ended up recorded in the books we surveyed. We have not tried to fill those gaps from other sources.



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 E 29

Development of the District of Columbia gradually spilled into Washington County as the V Enfant city filled in. This map of the District of Columbia and the following inset maps show the location of subdivisions created in Washington County, 1854 to 1902, and cataloged in the following pages. Present-day street and river data are used. Compiled by Matthew Gilmore.




Map I. Late nineteenth-century suburban subdivisions in southeastern D.C.




Map II. Late nineteenth-century suburban subdivisions in the easternmost part of the District.




Map III Late nineteenth-century suburban subdivisions in Northeast D.C.



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 G 33

Map IV. Late nineteenth-century suburban subdivisions in upper Northwest D.C.




Map V. Late nineteenth-century suburban subdivisions Northeast and Northwest D.C.




Map VI. Late nineteenth-century suburban subdivisions in far Northwest D.C.




Sample Entry Given name (common or alt. name) [Entry no.], Recording Date [plat book/page] What tracts it subdivides By: owners or trustees. Wts: Witnesses. Sur: the plat surveyor. Other notes Original later new street name street name (other name

changes)

American University Heights [1], Apr. 14, 1894 [Co. 9/98] Part of Friendship, St. Philip and Jacob, Resurvey on Jacob By: George H. Corey, trustee; J.D. Croissant, trustee. Wts: Mark Hale; Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. P. Calvert. Sur: W.J. Latimer*. Savannah St. later Sedgwick St. Richmond St. " Rodman St. 49th St. " no change Warren PI. " MurdockPI. 48th St. " no change QuincySt.

" Quebec St. 47th St. " no change VallejoSt.

" Van Ness St. UticaSt. "

Upton St. Trenton St. " TildenSt. Massachusetts Ave. " no change Wesley Cir " no change TenleyPI.

" Verplanck PI.

Newman PI. " no change Corey PI. " no change

American University Heights First Addition [2], May 11, 1898 [Co. 10/38] Parts of Friendship and lots in Wesley Park By: J.D. Croissant, trustee; G.W. Rickett, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; E.M. Talcott. Austin St. later WindomPI. XeniaSt. " Warren St. TenleyPI.

" Verplanck PI.

VallejoSt. " Van Ness St.

46th St. " no change 45th St. " no change

American University Park [3], Jul. 20, 1896 [Co. 10/22] Part of Friendship By: J.D. Croissant, trustee; David D. Stone, trustee. Wts: John F. Alexander; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: D.J. Howell*. River Rd. later no change Flint St. " FessendenSt. Erie St. " EllicottSt. DesMoinesSt. "

Davenport St.

Chesapeake St. " no change Brandywine St. " no change Boundary Ave. " Western Ave. 48th St " no change 47th St.. " no change 46th St. " no change

American University Park First Addi- tion [4], May 21, 1897 [Co. 10/31] Part of Friendship By: J.D. Croissant, trustee; David D. Stone, trustee. Wts: Chas. P. Calvert; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Howell & Taylor*. Des Moines St. later Davenport St. Chesapeake St. " no change Brandywine St. " no change ArmesPI. " Butterworth PI. Albemarle St. " no change Boundary Ave. " Western Ave. 49th St. " no change AsburyPI.

" no change Massachusetts Ave. " no change Murdock Mill Rd " no change 50th St. " no change Yuma St. " no change 47th St. " no change 48th St. " no change

Addition to Anacostia [5], Nov. 21, 1890 [Co. 7/111] The Otterback Farm, a part of Chichester By: James F. Hood, trustee; Joseph Batchelder, trustee. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Wm. J. Latimer*. Minnesota Ave. later no change S St. " no change TSt. " no change Harrison St. " Good Hope Rd. 16th St. " no change 17th St. " no change

Armsleigh Park [6] Mar 25 1891 [Co. 7/147] Part of Friendship By: Geo. A. Armes; Eleanor A.H. Magruder by Joseph J. Water, atty.; Wm. D. Payne. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: Fava, Naeff & Co.* LylesPI. later Alton PI. Yuma St. " no change Austin St. " WindomPI. Xenia St. " Warren St. Wisconsin Ave. " no change 39th St " no change 38th St. " no change

Asbury Park [7], Aug. 3, 1898 [Co. 10/43] A lot in Murdock's sub. of part of Friendship

By: District Investment Co. by David D. Stone, pres. Wts: R.W. Beall; E.M. Talcott. Sur: Howell & Taylor **. Murdock Mill Rd. later no change Albemarle St. " no change LylesPI.

" Alton PI. 44th St. " no change

Avalon [8], Apr. 18, 1887 [Co. 6/79] Creation of a single lot out of lot 7 of Wood- land, part of Chichester, see CJU/35 By: Henrietta Smith. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: B.D. Carpenter. Extends Jackson St., opens Avalon Ave. to Harrison. Cancelled by Co. 7/31 [10] Harrison St. later Good Hope Rd. Jackson St. " USt. FendallAve. " no change Avalon Ave. " 19th PI.

Avaion Heights (Greenvale) [9], Apr. 15, 1890 [Co. 7/78] Part of tracts Greenvale and Seaman's Delight By: David D.Stone; Richard M. Johnson. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: E.A. Greenough*. EmporiaSt. later Franklin St. Detroit St. " EvartsSt. Cincinnati St. "

Douglas St. 28th St. " no change 29th St. " 30th St.

Avalon Terrace [10], Apr 19, 1889 [Co. 7/31] Part of Chichester By: Henry A. Linger; Andrew M. Green. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Cancels and replaces single-lot sub. of Avalon (Co. 6/79) [8] Harrison St. later Good Hope Rd. Jackson St. " USt. FendallSt. " no change Avalon St. " 19th PI.

Cuckold's Delight (Barnes and Weaver's subdivision) [11], Jan. 21, 1890 [Co. 7/64] Lots in McCeney's sub. of parts of Cuckold's Delight and Inclosure By: William H. Barnes; John L. Weaver. Wts: Edward L. Callahan; Jas. H. Forsyth. Indianapolis St. later Jackson St. Hartford St. "

Irving St. GalvestonSt. " HamlinSt. BrentwoodRd. " no change 15th St. " no change 16th St. " no change

The D.C. plat books inconsistently record the exact roles of the civil engineers and surveyors who surveyed, subdivided, and /or platted the suburban subdivisions. Those roles that are recorded have been noted as follows: * Outline survey, survey, or survey for plat by;

** Plat or map by; t Division or subdivision by; % Survey and subdivision by




Barry Farm [12], 1867 [LC2/1] "The division of the 'Barry Farm' being part of a tract called 'Saint Elizabeth' into acre lots for sale and rent to 'Freedmen'by direction of the trustees" Only streets west of Nichols originally named Howard Ave. later Howard Rd. SumnerAve. " SumnerRd. Stevens Ave. " Stevens St. unnamed " Stanton Rd. unnamed "

Pomeroy Rd. unnamed " Bowen Rd. unnamed "

[Sheridan Rd.] unnamed " Nichols Ave.

(later Martin Luther King Jr., Ave.)

Bayley's Purchase & Fortune Enlarged [13], Dec. 11, 1896 [Co. 10/26] Part of Bayley's Purchase & Fortune Enlarged By: Charles Barker; Harriet Underhill; George Barker by John S. Barker, atty. ; John S. Barker. Wts: John H. O'Donnell; Clara G. Barker. Sur: D.J. Howell*. MSt. later no change NSt. " no change OSt. " no change 34th St. " no change 37th St. " 36th St. Nelson St. " Barker St. 40th St. " no change Texas Ave. " no change 39th St. "

Carpenter St.2 38th St. " no change

Bealle's subdivision of part of Wood- ward's Lot & Peter's Mill Seat [14], Oct. 30, 1901 [Co. 15/18] By: Annie E. Bealle. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; C. Francis Owens. Nicholson St. later Rittenhouse St. Madison St. " Quackenbos St. Brightwood Ave. "

Georgia Ave. 9th St. " no change 8th St.

" no change

Belair Heights [15], Apr 21, 1887 [Co. 6/80] Parts of Pretty Prospect, Rock of Dunbarton [sic], Beall's Lot, & Widow's Mite By: Gardiner G. Hubbard. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.K. Viele*. Plat of sub. approved by D.C. Commissioners ParkRd. later Water Side Dr. BelmontSt.

" Belmont Rd. PrescottSt.

" KaloramaRd. USt.

" Wyoming Ave.3

Irving St. " Tracy PI.

California Ave. " Calitornia St.4 Massachusetts Ave. " no change

Addition to Belair Heights [16], Nov. 30, 1887 [Co. 6/109]

Part of Lyon's Mill Tract, being parts of Pretty Prospect, Rock of Dumbarton, addition to Rock of Dumbarton and Beat's lot By: Gardiner G. Hubbard. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: H.K. Viele**. Plat of sub. approved by D. C. Commissioners Massachusetts Ave.

Bellevue [17], May 16. 1888 [Co. 6/126] Part of Pleasant Plains By: Francis W. Miller[?], trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. "These choice lots for sale by S. C. Hill, Le Droit Building, cor. 8th and F, n. w. "

Whitney Ave. later ParkRd. Sheridan St. " Morton St. 7th St. "

Georgia Ave.

Bloomingdale [18], June 17, 1889 [Co. 7/40] From tract called Bloomingdale By: James G. Payne, Comm./Auditor, Equity Case #9937. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. P. Calvert. see Equity Case #9937 TSt. later no change SeatonSt. " SeatonPI. SSt. " no change Randolph St. " Randolph PI.5 R St. " no change QuincySt.

" QuincyPI.

Boundary St. " Florida Ave. RiggsPI.

" Randolph PI.6

North Capitol St. " no change

Bloomsburg Park [19], Nov. 12, 1900 [Co. 15/9] Part of Manning Tract By: Harvey E. Heacock. Wts: Henry B. Looker; George Earle. Fitch PI. later no change Eads PI. " no change 47th St. " no change 48th PI. " no change 49th St. " no change 50th PI. " Kastle PI. (later

49th PI.)

Brightwood Park [20], Aug. 27, 1890 [Co. 7/100] Lands of Archibald White, dec'd, being Beall's Fancy, Resurvey on Partnership, Grove's Hunting Outlet, & White's Vacancy By: Diller B. Groff. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Henry B. Looker^ GenesseeSt. later Madison St. Flint St. "

Longfellow St. Erie St. "

Kennedy St. Desmoines St. " Jefferson St. Chesapeake St. "

IngrahamSt. Brandywine St. " Hamilton St. AlbemarleSt. " Gallatin St. Brightwood Ave. "

Georgia Ave.7 9th St. " no change

Illinois Ave. " no change 8th St. " no change 7th St. " no change 5th St. " no change

Brookland [21], Sept. 5, 1887 [Co. 6/103] Part of "Enclosure, orlnclosure" By: Benjamin Leighton, trustee; Richard E. Pairo, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Fort St. later Otis St. Providence St. " Newton St. Lansing St. " Monroe St. Hartford St. " Lawrence St. Frankfort St. "

KeamySt. Dover St. " Jackson St. Concord St. "

Irving St. Austin St. " HamlinSt. Queen St. " 9th St. Wallace St. " 10th St. Duncan St. " 12th St. Burns St. " 13th St. ArgyleSt.

" 14th St.

Addition to Brookland [22], Oct. 15, 1895 [Co. 10/15] Part of lot in McCeney's sub. of Cuckold's Delight & Inclosure (GS/143) By: John B. Lord. Wts: Chas. P. Calvert; Jas. H. Forsyth. Newark St. later Otis St. Milwaukee St. " Newton St. 15th St. " no change 16th St. " no change 17th St. " no change Queen's Chapel Rd. " no change

Addition to Brookland [23], Sept 5, 1889 [Co. 7/50] Part of lot in McCeney's sub. of Cuckold's Delight & Inclosure (GS/143) By: Joseph F. Batchelder, trustee; Archibald M. McLachlen, trustee. Milwaukee St. later Newton St. Lowell St. " Monroe St. Keokuk St. " Lawrence St. 15th St. " no change 16th St. " no change 17th St. " no change Queen's Chapel Rd. " no change

Sherwood's Addition to Brookland [24], Apr. 27, 1901 [Co. 15/14] Part of lot in McCeney's sub. of Cuckold's Delight & Inclosure (GS/143) By: James L. Sherwood; Jesse R. Sherwood. Wts: Chas. S. Muir; Wm. H. Saunders. Queen's Chapel Rd. later no change 18th St. " no change 17th St. " no change Kearney St. " Monroe St. Jackson St. " Lawrence St. Irving St. "

Kearney St. Hamlin St. " Jackson St.




George Truesdell

George Truesdell (d. 1921) came to Washington in 1872. He was a native of New York City, a Civil War veteran, and a University of Michigan-educated engineer. After his volunteer service in the Army during the Civil War, he was commissioned as major and paymaster in the Regular Army, and then worked as a civil engineer in New Jersey before moving to Washington.

In 1888, a year after subdividing Eckington, Truesdell organized the Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway Company, the District's first elec- tric street railway. From 1894 to 1897, he was on the District Board of Commissioners and here, as in the rest of his career, he pushed for the civic

betterment of Washington. His Evening Star obituary credited him as "A man of modest, retiring disposition, Mr. Truesdell nevertheless did many things for the District of Columbia, which will never be forgotten by the city ... he was especially active in his efforts to secure the enactment of the for the extension of the highway system outside the old city limits, and it was largely through his efforts that it was secured."

William Tindall, long-time secretary to the District Commission, wrote to the Evening Star the following day, seconding the Star's approbation (while sneaking in some credit for others): "No citizen of the District of Columbia, with the exception of Alexander Shepherd, contributed more to its beneficial progress than Col. George Truesdell. ... It was to his broad, sagacious public spir- it, seconded by the enthusiastic cooperation of A.S. Worthington and others, that the National Capital owes the legislation which gives us our present admirable system of highway projection."

Fort Dr. " Fort PI. (later Irving St.8)

Gerry St. " Irving St.

Fulton St. " HamlinSt.

South Brookland [25], May 16, 1889 [Co. 7/35] Parts of Enclosure or Inclosure and Queens- borough By: Wm. 0. Denison, trustee; Redford W. Walker, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Hartford St. later Irving St. GalvestonSt. " HamlinSt. Frankfort St. " GirardSt. EmporiaSt.

" Franklin St. Detroit St. " EvartsSt. Cincinnati St. "

Douglas St. 12th St. " no change 13th St. " no change 14th St. " no change 15th St. " no change BrentwoodRd. " no change Rhode Island Ave. " no change Dahlgren Cir. " no change Montana Ave. "

Saratoga Ave.9

West Brookland [26], Aug. 24, 1894 [Co. 10/6] Lots in Berry & Middleton, trustees', sub. of

Metropolis View By: John M. Comstock; Thomas Armat. Wts: Wm. Forsyth; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: D.J. How- ell*. JolietSt. later Jackson St. Indianapolis St. "

Irving St. Hartford St. " HamlinSt. 9th St. " no change 10th St. " no change

West Brookland Park [27], Jul 6, 1892 [Co. 8/120] Part of Enclosure By: John A. Carr; George Wm. Fowler, trustee; Norman E. Ives, trustee. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Joseph Allen. Sur: Jesse Rams- burgh*. Bunker Hill Rd later Michigan Ave. Milwaukee St. " Monroe St. Lowell St. " Lawrence St. KeokukSt. "

KearnySt. 7th St. " no change 8th St. " no change

Brownwood [28], June 17, 1884 [Co. 6/8] Cancelled, see Co. 6/141 [172]

Bryan Place [29], Sept 1,1892 [Co. 8/132] Part of lot 13 in George W. Talbert's estate (LC2/72-73), a part of Chichester

By: Mary W. Bryan. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: W.J. Latimer*. Cincinnati St. later CamdenSt. Bryan PI. " abandoned Morris Rd. " no change Baltimore St. "proposed"

" later Bangor St.

Buena Vista [30], Sept 12,1891 [Co. 8/40] Part of Chichester By: Am[?] Green. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. J. Young. Sur: Henry B. Looker*. Emporia St. later Erie St. Frankfort St. " FrankfordSt. GalvestonSt. " Gainesville St. Hartford St. " no change 15th St. " no change

(later Elvans Rd.10) 16th St. " no change 17th St. " no change 18th St. " no change

Burleith [31], Mar. 25, 1887 [Co. 6/75] Addition to West Washington, part of Alliance By: F.W. Huidekoper; Henry D. Cook, atty. Wts: William A. Gordon; Joseph Allen. Sur: H.K. Viele**. Plat of sub. approved by D.C. Commissioners WSt. later TSt. USt. " RSt.



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 E 39 39th St. " no change 38th St. " no change 37th St. " no change 36th St. " no change VSt. " SSt.

Burleith [32], Jul. 14, 1887 [Co. 6/96] Square 145 By: Frederic W. Huidekoper by H.D. Cooke, atty.; Frederic W. Huidekoper. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.K. Viele**. YSt. later V St. (later U St.) WSt. " TSt. 39th St. " no change 38th St. " no change 37th St. " no change

Burleith [33], May 12, 1891 [Co. 8/13] Resurvey and corrected plat of Addition to West Washington [31] By: Frederic W. Huidekoper; Virginia C. Huidekoper. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: H.W. Brewer*. YSt. later VSt.

(later U St.) WSt. " TSt. VSt.

" SSt. USt.

" RSt. New Cut Rd " Reservoir Rd.11 39th St. " no change 38th St.

" no change 37th St. " no change 36th St. " no change 35th St. " no change

Burrville [34], Nov. 13, 1889 [Co. 7/53] Part of Sheriff estate By: Stephen S. Wales. Wts: Edward L. Calla- han; Jas. H. Forsyth. FSt. later Grant St.

(later Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave.12)

St. Catherine St. " 54th PI. 50th St. " 55th St. 51st St. " 56th St.

Central Heights [35], Jul 18,1902 [Co. 15/35] Aukam Tract By: Marie V. Gehring. Wts: Wm. S. Darnell; G.P. Gehring. BlaineSt. later no change East Capitol St. " no change South Ave. " Southern Ave. 58th St. " no change 59th St.

" no change 60th St. " no change Pine PI. " 57th PI.13 56th St. " Hillside PI.14

(later 56th PI.15) Central Ave. " no change

Mount Pleasant (Chapin Brown's subdivision) [36], Sept. 20, 1883 [GS/172] Part of Mount Pleasant By: Chapin Brown. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Howard Ave. later Newton St. 17th St. " Mt. Pleasant St.16 Old Piney Branch " 17th St. Rd

Chillum Castle Manor [37], May 20, 1891 [Co. 8/16] Part of Chillum Castle Manor, owned by the heirs of Saml.Stott By: Mary E. Stott; Chas. J. Stott; Saml. I Stott; Walter E. Stott by Chas. J. Stott, atty. Wts: Chas. B. Ramsdell; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.W. Brewer*. Juniatta St. later Madison St. ItaskaSt. "

Longfellow St. Huron St. "

Kennedy St. RiggsRd

" New Hampshire Ave. (later Riggs Rd.)

Flint St. " IngrahamSt.

1st St. " no change

Clark Mills estate [38], Oct. 18, 1886 [Co. 6/52] Lots from Meadow Bank Spa - Spring Farm (Co. 6/29) [MM] By: S.A. Park [Polk?]. Wts: S.A. Johnson; Joseph Allen. Ball St. Stone St. Simmons St. Crawford St. MeadeSt. Mills St. Bailey St. Ward St. [Road] io Bladensburg Pike

Clermont [39], Mar. 2, 1895 [Co. 10/11] Parts of Pleasant Hills & Turkey Thicket By: Mary L. Robinson; Leigh Robinson; Eliz- abeth Marshall Robinson; Conway Robinson, Jr.; Susan Leigh Robinson; Agnes C. Robin- son. Wts: James A. Buck; Edward Marshall Mott. First platted Dec. 27, 1892. Approved by D.C. Commissioners, Jan. 8, 1893. Nullified in part by D.C. Commissioners, Jun. 24, 1902 (Co. 16/13). VallejoSt. later Webster St. Utica St. " Varnum St. Savannah St. " Fort Dr. 1/2 PI. " Clermont Dr.17 1st St. " no change 2nd St. " no change 3rd St. " no change 3 1/2 PI. " no change

Cleveland Heights [40], Dec 19, 1889 [Co. 7/59]

Part of Rosedale, originally a part of Pretty Prospect By: Thos. E. Waggaman. Wts: Edward L. Callahan; Jas. H. Forsyth. Milwaukee St. later Macomb St. PierpontSt.

" Lowell St. WoodleyRd.

" no change 34th St. " no change HubbardPI. " 33rd PI.

Cleveland Park [41], Sept 7,1893 [Co. 9/71] From Rosedale By: Thos. E. Waggaman. Wts: E. Brand; G.B. Ellery. Sur: W. Kelsey Schoepf*. Omaha St. later OrdwaySt. Newark St. " no change Wisconsin Ave. " no change 36th St. " no change 35th St. " no change FolsomPI. " 34th PI. 34th St. " no change

Cleveland Park [42], Aug 1,1894 [Co. 10/4] Resubdivision of lots in Cleveland Park [41 ] By: Thos. E. Waggaman. Wts: Wm. Forsyth; Jas. H. Forsyth. Omaha St. later Ordway St. Newark St. " no change 36th St. " no change 35th St. " no change FolsomPI. " 34th PI. 34th St. " no change

Cliffbourne [43], Apr. or May 1887 [Co. 6/84] Platted but not signed or approved Cliffbourne Terr. Clay St. Buchannan St. LanierAve. Columbia Rd.

Cliffbourne [44], Nov. 25, 1898 [Co. 10/44] By: Francis G. Newlands. Wts: Henry B. Looker; E.M. Talcott. Cincinnati St. later Calvert St. Baltimore St. " BiltmoreSt. 20th St. " 19th St.18 (later

Cliffbourne PI.)

Part of Pretty Prospect & Cliffbourne [45], Feb. 9, 1901 [Co. 13/73] By: Cecilia M. Coughlin; Thos. E. Waggaman. Wts: Samuel E. Allen, Jr.; H.B. Looker; J.B. Nicholson; George Earle. Plat dated Jul. 17, 1900; recorded Feb. 9, 1901 Cincinnati St. later Calvert St. Baltimore St. " BiltmoreSt. Buckingham PI. " Allen PI. WoodleyRd.

" Belmont Rd.




Best known for developing Le Droit Park, the real-estate firm ofA.L. Bar- ber & Co. was heavily invested in many other suburban properties. This ad, positioning Columbia Heights as a socially desirable neighborhood, appeared in the 1882 edition o/Boyd's Directory of the District of Columbia. HSW.

Waterside Dr. " no change BelmontRd. " no change Connecticut Ave. " Ashmead PI. Connecticut Ave. " no change 20th St. " no change

Part of Pretty Prospect & Cliffbourne [46], Mar. 28, 1902 [Co. 15/32] By: Cecilia M. Coughlin; Thos. E. Wagga- man, trustee; E.S. Parker, trustee. Wts: W.G. Waggaman; Lee Ross; Sam'l E. Allen, Jr.; J.B. Nicholson.

see also Co. 13/73 [AS] Cincinnati St. later CalvertSt. Baltimore St. " BiltmoreSt. Water Side Dr. " no change Allen PI. " no change WoodleyRd.

" BelmontRd. 20th St. " no change

Columbia Heights [47], Nov. 1, 1881 [GS/137] Part of Mount Pleasant and Pleasant Plains, being north part of "Stone Farm"; "Hereafter

to be known as 'Columbia Heights'"- Wm. Forsyth, District Surveyor By: John Sherman; A.L Barber & Co. (signed). Wts: A.L. Barber; Joseph Allen. Whitney Ave. later Park Rd. Dartmouth St. " Lamont St. Marshall St. "

KenyonSt. KenesawSt. "

Irving St. Columbia St. " Columbia Rd.19 New Jersey Ave. " abandoned Harvard St. " no change Princeton St. " GirardSt. Yale St. " Fairmont St. 14th St. " no change 13th St. " no change 12th St. " no change

Columbia Heights [48], Mar 27, 1883 [GS/158] Part of Mount Pleasant and Pleasant Plains, being south part of "Stone Farm"; "Hereafter to be known as 'Columbia Heights'" - Wm. Forsyth, District Surveyor By: John Sherman. Wts: G. Johnson; Joseph Allen. Yale St. later Fairmont St. RoanokeSt. " Euclid St. Clifton St. " no change Boundary St. " not recorded

[Florida Ave.] 14th St. " no change 13th St. " no change

Columbian College Lands (North) [49], Mar. 11, 1882 [GS/149] North 15 442/1000 acres of University lands By: W.W. Corcoran, pres., board ot trustees, Columbian University; Robert C. Fox, secy. Wts: Geo. W. Brown; Wm. A. Johnson. Columbia Rd. later no change Bacon St. " Harvard St. BinneySt.

" GirardSt. Harvard Ct. "

alley 14th Street Rd. or Columbia Ave. " 14th St.

Columbian College Lands (South) [50], Dec. 1867 [Dist. 1/76] South part of Columbian College Lands By: Directors ot the Board of Trustees ot Columbian College. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: B. D. Carpenter. 14th St. later no change Boundary St. " Florida Ave. Staughton St. " Belmont St. Chapin St. " no change

Congress Heights [51], May 9, 1890 [Co. 7/88] Part of Kosciuszko Place By: A.E. Randle. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Hamilton Rd. later Alabama Ave. Savannah St. " no change



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 E 41 Trenton St. " no change 4th St. " no change 5th St. " no change 6th St. " no change Randle PI. " no change

Congress Heights Addition (Long- necker's Addition) [52], Sept 8, 1894 [Co. 10/7] From Conjurers Defeated, Prevention, and Prevention Enlarged By: H.C. Longnecker. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; A.E. Randle. Sur: D.J. Howell*. Omaha St. later Orange St.

(later Lebaum St.20) Philadelphia St. " Portland St. ParkePI.

" Raleigh PI.

Hamilton Rd. " Alabama Ave. Shannon Rd. "

Congress Rd. (later Randle PI.21)

Nichols Ave. " Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.22

Connecticut Avenue Heights [53], Feb. 28, 1894 [Co. 9/90] The Phelps tract, part of Widow's Mite [named Jul. 2, 1894, LR203481/LS 75781] By: Edward J. Stellwagen, trustee; John Rid- out, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; James G. Payne; Milton Bernard. Sur: Henry B. Looker*. Phelps PI. later no change LeRoyPI.

" no change Bancroft PI. " no change SSt.

" no change Columbia Rd. " no change Florida Ave. " no change

Girls Portion and Peters Mill Seat (Corey's subdivision) [54], Jul 1, 1895 [Co. 9/146] Parts of Girls Portion and Peters Mill Seat By: Chas. A. Corey. Wts: Chas. P. Calvert; Erwin Harpfelt. Sur: D.J. Howell*. Military Rd. later no change LehighAve.

" Oregon Ave. (later Concord, then Missouri Ave.)

Road A " Manchester Ln.23 17th St.

" no change

Hall & Holden's subdivision of Cottage Hill [55], Nov. 1872 [LC2/74] Part of Long Meadows By: Charles H. Holden; R.M. Hall. Wts: J.D. Winter; Joseph Lyons; Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. Watson. Sur: P.J. Lauritzenf. AlsoinLCI Ellis St. later not recorded Terrace St. " not recorded Summit St. " not recorded Park St.

" not recorded Davis St.

" not recorded

Deanwood Heights [56], May 22, 1900 [Co. 15/6] Part of tract Scott's Blunder By: John W. Gregory. Wts: E.C. Catts; J.C. Armstrong. CSt. later DixSt. BSt. "

Clay St. A St. " Blair St. 58th St. " no change 59th St. " no change 60th St. " no change 61st St. " no change District Blvd. " Eastern Ave. District Blvd. " Southern Ave.

Estate of late James Eslin (Denison & Leighton's subdivision) [57], Apr 1884; June 30, 1884 [Co. 6/6] Part of Mount Pleasant & Pleasant Plains into lots 44-117 By: Wm. O. Denison, trustee; Benjamin F. Leighton, trustee. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Denison and Leighton "ratify and confirm" the plat on June 30, 1884 unnamed later Lamont St. KenesawAve.

" Irving St.

16th St. " Mt. Pleasant St.24 15th St.

" 16th St.25 Columbia Rd. " no change

C.W. Dobbins's Addition to the City of Washington [58], Jul. 7, 1887 [Co. 6/93] Parts of Prospect & Mount Pleasant, being estate of William Emmert, dec'd. By: C. Wilhelmina Dobbins; Richard J. Dob- bins by Amzi L. Barber, atty. Wts: Joseph Paul; Jas. H. Forsyth. Michigan Ave. later no change Everett St.

" FranktortSt. (later Franklin St.)

Douglass St. " Emporia St. (later Evarts St.)

Clay St. " Detroit St.

(later Douglass St.) Buchanan St. " Cincinnati St.

(later Channing St.) Adams St. " Baltimore St.

(later Bryant St.) XSt.

" Albany St. (later Adams St.)

WSt. " no change

VSt. " no change

1st St. " no change

North Capitol St. " no change

East Deanwood [59], Apr 21, 1894 [Co. 9/101] Part ofEmeline Sheriff's lot in division of the Sheriff Estate By: Samuel K. George by Edward M. Pine, atty.; Edward M. Pine. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. P. Calvert. Sur: O.W. Power*. FSt. later FooteSt.

ESt. " EadsSt. 52nd St. " no change 53rd St. " no change GSt. " Grant St.

(later Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave.26)

54th St. " no change 55th St. " no change DSL " DixSt. 56th St. " no change 57th St. " no change 58th St. " no change

East Washington Heights [60], May 25, 1891 [Co. 8/20] Comprised of the Nay lor Farm By: Erwin C. Carpenter. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; J. Edwin Young. Sur: H.W. Brewer*. N St. later no change 0 St. " no change P St. " no change Carpenter PI. " 27th St. 28th St. " no change 29th St. " no change 30th St. " no change Pennsylvania Ave. " no change Minnesota Ave. " no change

East Washington Park [61], Apr 21, 1894 [Co. 10/1] Part of Bay ley's Purchase & Fortune Enlarged By: J.D. Croissant; S.A. Sixbury, trustee; W.A. Croffut, trustee. Wts: Edwin Campbell; Jas. H. Forsyth; W.W. Boarman. Sur: W.J. Latimer*. Emerson PI. later Ely PI. ESt.

" no change FSt.

" no change 32nd St. " no change 33rd St.

" no change Minnesota Ave. " no change 34th St. " no change B St.

" no change Croffut PI. " no change 35th St.

" no change 36th St. " no change Anacostia Rd. " no change C St.

" no change DuBois PI. " no change D St.

" no change

Eckington (George Truesdell's Addition to the City of Washington) [62], May 28, 1887 [Co. 6/85] "George Truesdell's Addition to the City of Washington,

" a sub. of land known as Eck- ington, part of Youngsborough By: George Truesdell. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: Wm. Forsyth*. Thomas St. later ToddPI. TSt. " no change SeatonSt.

" SeatonPI. S St.

" no change




Randolph St. " RiggsPI.

R St. " no change QuincySt.

" QuincyPI.

OS/. " no change

New York Ave. " no change Brentwood Rd. " no change Boundary St. " Florida Ave. 2/k/S/. " no change 3a^ S/. " no change 4th St. " no change 5th St. " no change 6th St. " no change

Center Eckington [63], Dec 15, 1891 [Co. 8/65] Parts of lots in Metropolis View (GS/41) By: J.P. Paull [sic]; J. Bralle. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. J. Young. Sur: Fava, Naeff & Co.*. see D.C. Attorney Letterbook HBL no. 1, May 9, 1898 WSt. later no change V St. " no change 3rd St.

" no change 4th St. " no change 5th St. " no change 6th St. " no change

West Eckington [64] Apr 6 1891 [Co. 7/148] Part of Youngsborough By: Horace J. Gray; E. Kurtz Johnson; John Paul Jones; Adam D. Raub by John Paul Jones, atty. in fact; George Truesdell. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Wm. Forsyth*. Ratified by George W. Moss & Auston P. Brown, trustees, and Frank B. Conger & Wm. A. Wimsatt, trustees RSt. later no change QuincySt.

" QuincyPI.

Q St. " no change

Porter St. " no change

North Capitol St. " no change Lincoln Ave. " not recorded

[Lincoln Rd.] Florida Ave. " no change Eckington PI. " no change 1st St.

" no change

Edgewood [66], Jul. 19, 1890 [Co. 7/95] Part of Metropolis View (GS/41) By: Katherine Chase; Jno. 0. Cole; Samuel Ross. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: H.K. Viele}. Cincinnati St. later ChanningSt. Baltimore St. "

Bryant St. Albany St. " Adams St. Lincoln Ave. " Lincoln Rd. 2nd St.

" no change 3rd St.

" no change 4th St. " no change

Edgewood [65], 1873 [LC2/79] Being part of Berry estate formerly known as Metropolis View By: subdivided for Dennison and Whitney. Also in LC1 West Ave. later not recorded East Ave. " not recorded South Ave. " not recorded

Fairmount Heights [67], Aug. 14, 1899 [Co. 10/64] The Wilson Tract, including parts of Addition to Little Dean and William & Mary Increased By: Theodore J. King; Robinson White. Wts: Columbus W. Thorn; M.C. Hazen; George Earle, Jr. District Blvd. later Eastern Ave. Fairmount PI. " Field PI. FSt. " FooteSt. ESt. " EadsSt. 58th St. " no change

Fairview [68], Mar. 27, 1884 [Co. 6/3] Heitmuller estate, part of Youngsboro By: Marion B. Sheridan. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: Geo. W. Jack- son**. see Comm. Order #107237 Patterson Ave. later not recorded Forest St. " not recorded Woodward St. " not recorded Okie St. " not recorded GallaudetSt. " not recorded Fairview Ave. " not recorded

Fairview Heights [69], Mar 12, 1887 [Co 6/71] From parts of Scott's Ordinary, Terra Firma, and Alliance By: John E. Beall. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Herman K. Viele**. Plat of sub. approved by D.C. Commissioners Massachusetts /Water no change Hamilton Cir. " no change Idaho Ave. " no change VarnellPI.

" abandoned WoodleySt.

" Woodley Rd.

Richmond St. " 38th St. Georgetown & RockvilleRd. " Wisconsin Ave.

Fernwood Heights [70], Mar 25, 1902 [Co. 15/31] Parts of Ryan Tract By: Edward J. Stellwagen. Wts: Harold E. Doyle; Charles S. Hillyer. Connecticut Ave. later no change 29th St.

" no change Shepherd St. " Van Ness St. Randolph St. "

Upton St. QuincySt.

" TildenSt.

Garfield [71], Sept. 1882 [GS/155] Part of Chichester

By: George E. Emmons. Wts: John T. [sic] Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Pearson St. later Pearson PI. Bruce Ave. " Bruce PI. LangstonAve.

" LangstonPI.

KnoxAve. " KnoxPI. AingerAve.

" Ainger PI.

Hamilton Ave. " Alabama Ave.

Garfield Heights [72], Aug 3,1894 [Co. 10/5] By: J.[?].[?]. Wilson; J.S. Redman. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. P. Calvert. Sur: B.F. Mack- all &W.H. Benton*. Hartford St. later no change Indianapolis St. "

Irving St. JolietSt. "

Jasper St. 20th St. " no change 21st St. " no change 22nd St. " no change 23rd St. " no change 19th St. " no change 24th St. " no change

S.J. Gass's subdivision of part of Pleas- ant Plains [73], Jul. 20, 1874 [LC2/89] Part of Pleasant Plains By: Stuart J. Gass. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth. Creates only Scott Ave. 7th Street Rd. later Georgia Ave. Scott Ave. " Newton PI. Whitney Ave. " Park Rd.

Glendale [74], Oct. 20, 1874 [GS/3,11] Part of Bealls Adventure By: Charles H. Holden. Wts: John J. Bogue; Chas. Pinney. GS/1 1, an undated plat ca. 1875, adds 4 squares and Floral St. to GS/3 Glen St. later GlenCt. Mount Vernon Ave. " Mount Vernon Ct. Central Ave. " Central Ct.

(later Dix St.) Lincoln Ave. " Lincoln Ct.

(later Clay St.) Washington St. "

Washington Ct. (later Washington PI.27)

Centre St. " Centre Ct. Park St. " ParkCt. unnamed " no change Floral St. " Floral Ct.

Good Hope Park [75], Mar 30, 1887 [Co. 6/76] Part of Chichester By: S.T. Suit. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: W.J. Latimer*. NaylorAve. later 25th St. Harrison Ave. " Good Hope Rd. Grand View Ave. " Grand View PI. Capitol View Ave. "

Capitol View PI. City View Ave. "

City View PI. AltamontAve. " AltamontPI.



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 E 43 Grant Park [76], Feb. 1888 [Co. 6/116] Part of Sheriff estate By: Chas. A. McEwen. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: A.C. Tabor*. LinwoodAve. later Linwood PI. (later

Clay St.) Washington St. " BlaineSt. HomeAve. " 55th St.28 Oakland Ave. " 56th St.29 Hillside Ave. " Hillside PI.

(later 56th PL30) Highland Ave. " 57th St.31 Hollywood Ave. "

Hollywood PI. (later 57th PI.32)

Grassland and Dumblane [77], Feb. 27, 1896 [Co. 10/21] By: Frank H.G. White. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. P. Calvert. Sur: H.B. Looker*. Yuma St. later no change Xenia St. " Warren St. Vallejo St. " Van Ness St. UticaSt. "

Upton St. 44th St. " no change 43rd St. " no change 42nd St. " no change 41st St. " no change 40th St. " no change Nebraska Ave. " no change Wisconsin Ave. " no change Loughborough Rd. " Van Ness St.

Green's subdivision [78], Oct. 23, 1886 [Co. 6/54] Subdivision of estate of late George Barber, part of Chichester By: Mrs. Oregon L. Green. Wts: Dr. A[lacuna]; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: B.D. Carpen- ter**. Washington St. later VSt. Jefferson St. " WSt. Galen Ave. " Galen St. Fort Stanton Rd. " 16th St. HighviewAve.

" Green St.

Griswold's subdivision [79], Apr. 30, 1881 [GS/133] Part of Chichester By: H.A. Griswold. Updated plats of Griswold's are found at Co. 6/50 and Co. 9/100 '[80, 81] Valley St. later Valley PI. Maple Ave. "

Mapleview PI. Morris Rd. " no change unnamed "

(Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)

Pleasant St. " no change Spring St. " Mount View PI. Chestnut St. " Chester St. High St. " no change

Griswold's subdivision [80], Aug. 31, 1886 [Co. 6/50] Updates sub. recorded in GS/133

Griswold's subdivision [81], Apr. 21, 1894 [Co. 9/100] Updates sub. recorded in GS/133 and Co. 6/50

Part of Haarlem (Crown's subdivision) [82], Jan. 18, 1876[GS/37] Part of Samuel Crown's farm called Haarlem By: Samuel Crown per F.W. Jones, atty. Wts: Chs. Wilson; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: W.W. de Maine*. Washington Aqueduct or Conduit Rd. Foxhall's Lane Rd LinganRd.(12ft.wide) Harvin Rd. (20 ft. wide)

Subdivision of part of Harlem [83], Sept. 20, 1880 [GS/1 27] By: F.W. Jones, trustee for heirs of John Baker (7367 Equity Case, Doc. 20). Sur: H.W. Brewer*(possibly). see Baker, etal. vs. Offutt, eta I., Equity Case #7367, Docket 20 creates no streets

J.B. Haws' subdivision [84], before 1868 see Part of Mount Pleasant (L C 2/25) [117]

Holmead Manor [85], Oct. 8, 1891 [Co. 8/46] Parts of Pleasant Plains, Lamar's Outlet, and Slippery Hill By: Andrew A. Lipscomb, trustee; Wm. H. Saunders, trustee; Lisle S. Lispscomb, trustee; E. Kurtz Johnson, trustee. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Joseph Allen. Spring Rd. later no change LamarPI. " Otis PI. Holmead Ave. " Holmead PI. 13th St. " no change EslinAve. " 11th St. Morgan Ave. " 10th St. Soldiers Home Rd. " Rock Creek

Church Rd.

Holmead's subdivision of part of Pleasant Plains [86], Jul 3,1883 [GS/1 67] Part of Pleasant Plains, being that tract allot- ted for widow's dower in partition of estate of William Holmead By: Mary A. Holmead; William Holmead; David C. Duley. Wts: W.K. Duhamel; Jas. H. Forsyth. Soldier's Home Rd. later Rock Creek

Church Rd. Morgan Ave. " 10th St. EslinAve. " 11th St. 13th St. " no change Holmead Ave. " Holmead PI. LydeckerAve.

" Monroe St. Rock Creek Church Rd. " Park Rd.

Howard University [87], Apr 10-11, 1867 [Dist. %t m] Lots 1 and 2 of Peter's division of Mount Pleasant and Smith's Vacancy Sur: B.D. Carpenter*; Chas. H. Blissf. Morris St. later HobartPI. ColfaxSt. " GreshamPI. SumnerSt. " GirardSt. Lincoln St. " Fairmont St. College St. " no change TrumbullSt. "

Bryant St. PomeroySt.

" WSt. Wilson St. " VSt. 7thSt.Tpk.

" (later Georgia Ave.)

6th St. " no change 5th St. " no change 4 1/2 St. " no change 4th St. " no change

Ingleside [88], Aug. 20, 1891 [Co. 8/37] Parts of Mt. Pleasant and Pleasant Plains By: Chapin Brown; I.D.[?] Conghan, trustee; Blair Lee, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Chas. J. Young. Sur: Herman K. Viele*. Ingleside Terr, later no change Howard Ave. " Newton St. Milwaukee St. " Monroe St. Lowell St. " Park Rd. Columbus Ave. " 20th St.

(later Park Rd.33) 19th St. " no change 18th St. " no change 17th St. " Mount Pleasant St.34

Herman D. Walbridge's subdivision of Ingleside [89], Aug. 30, 1893 [Co. 9/68] By: Herman D. Walbridge. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: D.J. Howell*. Lowell St. later Park Rd. Grant St. " LamontSt. JolietSt. " KilbournePI. Kenyon St. " no change KenesawAve. "

Irving St. Quarry Rd. " no change Klingle Rd. " no change ParkRd. " Adams Mill Rd. 19th St. " no change 18th St. " no change 17th St. " no change 16th St. " Mt. Pleasant St. 19 1/2 PI. " 20th St.

Ivy City [90], May 12, 1873 [LC2/76] Part of Youngsboro, originally named "New City" By: F.W. Jones. Wts: John J. Bogue; N. Dubois. Sur: N. Dubois*(Apr. 1873). alsoinLCI GallaudetSt. later not recorded Capitol Ave. " not recorded Olivet St. " not recorded Corcoran St. " not recorded Kendall St. " not recorded Central Ave. " Central PI.35




William Forsyth and the Office of the Surveyor, 1857-1897

Matthew B. Gilmore

the late-nineteenth century, William Forsyth's name was almost synony- mous with the Office of the Surveyor. During the 40 years between 1857 and 1897, Forsyth filled a variety of official and unofficial roles in that

office. The Territorial Government created the Office of the Surveyor in 1871, and, during the 1880s and 1890s, the Surveyor's Office became especially prominent as the District government began to comprehensively control Washington County's " suburban" subdivisions.

A native of Ireland, Forsyth learned the engineering trade in England and Belgium, where he did surveying work for railroads. He immigrated to the United States in 1850 and joined the office of B.B. French, Commissioner of Public Grounds. He simultaneously became the deputy surveyor of Washington County, allowing him to gain the surveying experience that would launch his career. Forsyth actively participated in the work of the Public Grounds office, which oversaw the extension of the Capitol and Arsenal Grounds, as well the development of the city's west end, including Washington Circle and the street grading and laying in of sewerage west of 17th Street.

Forsyth served as official surveyor under a variety of city governments. He served under

Mayors Magruder, Berret, and Wallach between 1857 and 1867, when surveyor was an elected official. Out of office under Mayors Bo wen and Emery, Forsyth resumed official duties of surveying and engineering work in 1870 with the laying of the (infamous) wooden pavement of Pennsylvania Avenue. Governor Alexander Shepherd appointed him surveyor of the entire District in 1871, and he was the only man to hold the post during the life of the Territorial Government. He served the

subsequent commission governments until retirement in 1897, with the exception of four years from 1877-1881. l

Developers had been subdividing Washington County at an increasing pace since the 1860s, but not without controversy. A variety of estates were only subdivided through litigation, and Forsyth often played a role, or several, in these cases. In C.F.E. Richardson v. Seymour W. Tulloch (Equity Case 9912), involving the subdivision of the Little tract on Washington Heights, Forsyth acted as a court-

appointed commissioner, the official District surveyor, and a privately hired surveyor doing work for the commission. In effect, he, as part of the commission, hired himself to make a plat of the

property and turn it in to himself for approval. Not surprisingly, his conflicting roles raised suspi- cions, and Special Auditor Charles A. Elliot asked Forsyth to clarify one of his bills. Forsyth recounted that he "made surveys of the whole tract of the 'Little Farm.' I marked the streets when the plan was first made and afterwards had to rechange the whole thing two or three different times for which I submit this bid as a bill for my service in relation thereto." Mason N. Richardson

challenged Forsyth to explain two bills that appeared to be for the same services of surveying Little Farm. In a bit of courtroom drama, Forsyth tore up the second bill. Under cross-examination, Forsyth also stated that he was never paid for serving as a commissioner.2 However, the final

report on Little Farm, submitted by commissioners Thomas J. Fisher, William Forsyth, and William P. Young, requested a fee of one-fourth of one percent of the property value. The commissioners valued Little Farm at $1,137,442.66 making their fee $2,843.61, presumably to be split three ways. Awkward and questionable situations like this likely led to the 1895 legislation that provided a

public salary to the surveyor in lieu of fees from clients.3 Forsyth stumbled into more controversy after 1888 legislation required the city surveyor's office

to record subdivisions only if they conformed to the general plan of Washington.4 However, there




was no guidance on how to make one's subdivision n't into the plan of Washington. Forsyth sur-

veyed, platted, and signed the proposed subdivision of West Brookland in November of 1888. It did not, however, conform; the Evening Star complained that "the streets [were] not running north or south, or east or west, nor being of the proper width, and neither do they join on the existing subdivision of Brookland on the east/'5 This apparent defiance of law by the Surveyor prompted the District Commissioners to require that each new plat be submitted by the Surveyor to them for

approval. Fuming, Forsyth replied:

It must be plain to the Commissioners that the position of the surveyor has been extremely unpleasant and scarcely just to him, and he may be excused in calling attention to the fact that he has not until to-day had specific instructions touching the act of August 1888 I may perhaps call attention to your verbal order of some four months since (through Secretary Tindall) to hold up all subdivisions filed prior to the act of August 1888 and not actually committed to the books. These plats still await your instruction.6

The fact that the District attempted to restrain the sale of lots in unrecorded subdivisions out-

raged property owners, who wrote to the commissioners: "there was nothing in that act or any other to prevent them from subdividing and selling their property as they desired, without your approval .... Congress has made no provision for the survey of streets beyond the city, and it will

probably be several years before it is done."7 As these residents predicted, it was several years before Congress passed street extension legis-

lation. The 1893 Highway Act extended the street plan of the L'Enfant city, and a map depicting the first part of these extensions was filed with the surveyor in 1895. The law immediately ran into a buzzsaw of opposition and litigation for trying to "correct" non-conforming subdivisions. New

legislation in 1898 left the non-conforming subdivisions more or less undisturbed and allowed the extension of the plan to the remaining unsubdivided county land.8

Forsyth retired in August of 1897 and died in 1902. Of course, others held the post after Forsyth: Henry B. Looker served as surveyor from 1897-1898 and late 1898 until 1905, and William P. Richards served briefly in 1898 and from 1905 until 1908. However, it was Forsyth who most

shaped the office and therefore suburban development. In Forsyth's obituary, the Evening Star

wrote, "it is proper to say that his services to the public were but well nigh invaluable .... It was a matter of pride with him that he was associated with [Governors Cooke and Shepherd] and had been connected with so many improvements in the old days and had planned as many of the radi- cal changes made by 'Boss' Shepherd."9

1. Evening Star, Nov. 5, 1902. 2. C.F.E. Richardson v. Seymour W. Tulloch, Equity Case 9912, RG 21, National Archives. 3 Laurence F. Schmeckebier, The District of Columbia, Its Government and Administration (Baltimore: Johns

Hopkins University Press, 1928), 478-79. 4. Michael R. Harrison, "The 'Evil of the Misfit Subdivisions:' Creating the Permanent System of Highways

of the District of Columbia/' Washington History 14(2) (Spring /Summer 2002), 26-55; Statutes at Large 25 (1888): 456.

5. Evening Star, Jan. 2, 1889. 6. Evening Star, Jan. 4, 1889. 7. Evening Star, Jan. 5, 1889. 8. Harrison/The 'Evil of the Misfit Subdivisions/" 26-55. 9. Evening Star, Nov. 5, 1902.




Providence St. " not recorded Fenwick St. " not recorded

Kalorama Heights [91], May 14, 1889 [Co. 7/34] Kalorama estate, part of Widow's Mite and Pretty Prospect By: John F. Rodgers, trustee; Edward Stellwa- gen, trustee. Wts: G. Carlyle Whiting; Joseph Allen. see Equity Case #9159, Charlotte Bostwick, et al. vs. EmelineD. Lovett, etal. Waterside Dr. later no change BelmontRd. " no change PrescottPI. " Kalorama Rd. USt. "

Wyoming Ave.36 Irving PI. "

Tracy PI. WoodleyRd.

" no change unnamed " Kalorama Cir.37 TSt.

" California St.38 Bancroft PI. " no change SSt. " no change DecaturPI. " no change R St. " no change Q St.

" no change PSt. " no change 24th St. " no change 23rd St. " no change Massachusetts Ave. " no change Sheridan Cir. " no change

Kenilworth [92], Nov. 12, 1895 [Co. 10/17] From Fife Enlarged By: Allen W. Mallery, trustee; Lawrence 0. Mallery, trustee. Wts: Chas. P. Calvert; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: D.J. Howell*. Anacostia Ave. later Kenilworth Ave. Olive St. " no change Minnesota Ave. " no change QSt.

" QuarlesSt. OSt.

" QuarlesSt. District Blvd. " Eastern Ave. PSt.

" Polk St.

Mallery and Gordon, trustees' Addition to Kenilworth [93], Dec 22,1898 [Co. 10/46] Part of Fife and Fife Enlarged By: Allen W. Mallery, trustee; Thos. Gordon, trustee. Wts: Anton Karl; E.M. Talcott. QSt. later QuarlesSt. Portland PI. " Pine PI. PSt.

" Polk St. OSt.

" OrdSt. NSt.

" Nash St. 42nd St.

" no change 43rd St.

" no change 44th St.

" no change 45th PI. " no change Anacostia Ave. and Anacostia Rd. " Kenilworth Ave.

James I. King's subdivision [94], Dec. 1873 [LC2/87]

Sur: N. Dubois*. Sub. may date from before 1873 unnamed later Meigs PI. unnamed " 16th St. Bladensburg Tpk.

" not recorded

Langdon Park [95], Dec 21, 1887 [Co. 6/112] Part of Haddock's Hills By: Cyrus A. Baker. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: A.C. Tabor *. Plat of sub. approved by D.C. Commissioners Jewell St. later not recorded Greenwood St. " not recorded Tioga St. " not recorded Queen's Chapel Rd. " not recorded MelroseAve. " not recorded Finch Ave. " not recorded

Langdon Park [96], Dec 4,1890 [Co. 7/116] Part of Haddock's Hills By: Ira J. Baker; Wilton Harvey; William B. Page; Jno. W. Watson; William S. Crop. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: G.W. Anderson*. GalvestonSt. later GirardSt. FrankfordSt. " Franklin St. Emporia St. " Evarts St. Detroit St. "

Douglas St. Cincinnati St. "

Channing St. Baltimore St. "

Bryant St. 20th St. " no change 22nd St. " no change 24th St. " no change Queen's Chapel Rd. " no change

Lanier Heights [97], Nov. 21, 1883 [GS/174] Parts of Jackson Hill and Mount Pleasant By: Elizabeth Lanier Dunn. Wts: W.M. Dunn; Sue Virginia Field; LR.Tuttle, Jr. Quarry Rd later no change Summit Ave. " Summit PI. Ontario Ave. " Ontario PI. Lanier Ave. " Lanier PI. Adams Mill Rd. " no change Columbia Rd. " no change Poplar Ave. " 18th St.

Lanier Heights [98], Aug 13,1888 [Co. 7/13] Resubdivision of lots in Lanier Heights [97] By: Richard U. Goode; Everett Hayden. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.K. Viele*. Creates only Lanier Terr. Quarry Rd. later no change Lanier Terr. " Adams Mill Rd. Ontario Ave. " no change

Le Droit Park [99], June 1, 1873 [LC2/80] Comprising part of Miller Property, purchased from Howard University: all ofGilman Place, purchased from A.R Shepherd; all of a tract

purchased from J. Prather By: A.L. Barber, Wts: W.E. Barker; A.R. Gangewer. platalsoinGS/15 Miller St. later not recorded GilmanSt. " not recorded Boundary St. " not recorded BohrerSt. " not recorded 6th St. " not recorded 5th St. " not recorded 4th St. " not recorded HarewoodAve. " not recorded Le Droit A ve. " not recorded

Addition to Le Droit Park [100], Nov. 14, 1891 [Co. 8/55] Parts of Mt. Pleasant and Port Royal By: Edward J. Stellwagen, trustee; William E. Edmonston, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: W. Kesley Schoept*. Michigan Ave. later no change Frankfort St. " Franklin St. Emporia St. " Evarts St. Detroit St. "

Douglas St. Cincinnati St. "

Channing St. Baltimore St. "

Bryant St. Albany St. " Adams St. WSt. " no change VSt. " no change U St. " no change unnamed " Thomas St. TSt. " no change Rhode Island Ave. " no change Seaton St. " no change SSt. " no change Le Droit Ave. " 2nd St. Boundary St. " Florida Ave.

Addition to Le Droit Park [101], Oct. 20, 1892 [Co. 8/146] Resubdivision of lots in Addition to Le Droit Park (Co. 8/55) [100] By: Edward J. Stellwagen, trustee; William E. Edmonston, trustee. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Jas. H. Forsyth. Albany St. later Adams St. WSt. " no change VSt. " no change USt. " no change FlaglerPI.

" no change

Town of Lincoln [102], 1875 [GS/25,27,29] Part of Sheriff Estate By: R.W. Lowrie, atty. tor heirs of Levi Sheriff, dec'd. Wts: George W. Conner; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: A.C. Tabor*(1 875). Bell St. later 50th PI. Adams St. " Lowrie PI. unnamed

" no change Jefferson St. " Hilt PI. Grant St. " Alexander PI. Maple St. " Cloud St. Poplar St. " Banks PI. Washington St. " no change



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1 854-1 902 E 47 Linthicum Estate (Dent's subdivision) [103], Apr. 30, 1890 [Co. 7/86] Part of Linthicum Estate, known as the Oaks, being part of Rock of Dumbarton By: Edward L. Dent; Wm. H. Dougal. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Linthicum St. later SSt. unnamed " R St. High St. " Wisconsin Ave. Valley St. and Observatory St. " 32nd St.

Little's subdivision [104], Feb. 2, 1880 [GS/107] Estate of John Little, at corner of Columbia Road and Wood ley Road By: Margeret [sic] F. Little Sands; Finella M. Alexander; Sophia L. Little; Ida Little Stevens; Sarah F. Baldwin. Wts: Lawrence Sands; Joseph Allen; A.L. Johnson.

Jas. Lowndes' subdivision of part of Widow's Mite on Kalorama Heights [Kail Tract] [105], Sept. 6, 1887 [Co. 6/101] Former north portion of property of Mrs. Sophia S Kail, part of Widow's Mite By: James Lowndes, trustee. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.K. Viele**. Irving St. later Tracy PI. TSt. or California Ave. " California St.39

23rd St. " no change

Manning Heights [106], Oct 9,1899 [Co. 10/65] Part of Beal Is Adventure By: Roger I. Manning; Margaret C. Manning; Eva M. Edelen; W.M. [sic] Edelen; J.R. Lee Manning; Julia S. Manning. Wts: J.R. Lee Manning; J.W.F. Hatton; Henry B. Looker; C.W. Thorn. GSt. later Grant St. FSt.

" Fort St. Ditty PI. " EdsonPI. Minnesota Ave. " no change 42nd St.

" no change

Marshall [107], Apr. 22, 1886 [Co. 6/39] Subdivision of the Marshall Tract; extends into Prince George's County By: Charles A. McEwen. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: George W. Jackson*. Plat drawn twice, see Co. 6/39 and 6/39a Central Ave. later no change Newark Ave. "

AyersPI. Trenton Ave. " A St. Wilmington Ave. " AstorPI. Baltimore Ave. " BSt. Alexandria Ave. " Bass PI. Richmond Ave. " CSt. Raleigh Ave. " Call PI. Charleston Ave. " DSt. Atlanta Ave. " Drake PI.

Jacksonville Ave. " ESt. Mobile Ave. " FSt. Columbus Ave. " Fitch St. Sycamore St. " 49th St. St. Louis Ave. " St. Louis St. Lombard St. " 50th St. Palm St. " 51st St. Beech St. " 53rd St. Mulberry St. " 54th St. Walnut St. " 56th St.

Meadow Bank Spa - Spring Farm [108], May 15, 1885 [Co. 6/29] Property of the late Clark Mills, comprising parts of Haddock Hills, Cedar Hills, and the Vacancy between the two By: Sidney T. Thomas, trustee; Talmadge A. Lambert, trustee; Charles C. Cole, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. see Equity Case #9042 BrentwoodRd Columbia Tpk private rd private rd

Hall & Elvans' subdivision of Meridian Hill [109], Sept. 1867 [LC2/58A.B] Plat as in GS/62; see Equity Case #499, Aug. 24, 1867 Georgetown Rd. later Columbia Rd. Huron St. " Fuller St. Erie St. " Euclid St. Superior St. " Kalorama Rd. Morris St. "

ChapinSt. Crescent St. " Crescent PI. Prospect St. " BelmontSt. Boundary St. " Florida Ave. Champlain Ave. "

ChamplainSt. Ontario Ave. " Ontario Rd. MessmoreAve. " Mozart PI.40 Meridian Ave. " 16th St. Columbia Ave. " 15th St.

Metropolis View [110], Apr 1891 [Co 8/2] Part of Metropolis View(GS/41) By: William 0. Denison, trustee; James W. Sands, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: D.J. Howell*. KeokukSt. later KeamySt. JolietSt.

" Jackson St. Indianapolis St. "

Irving St. Hartford St. " HamlinSt. Galena PI. " GirardSt. Frankfort St. " Franklin St. Emporia St. " Evarts St. unnamed "

Edgewood St. 5th St. " no change 6th St. " no change 7th St. " no change 8th St.

" no change

Mintwood [111], Oct. 3, 1884 [Co. 6/13] Lots from Little's sub. (GS/107) [104] By: Margaret L. Sands; Lawrence Sands.

Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Mintwood PI. later no change

Montello [112], Nov. 1873 / 1875 [LC2/84A] Part of Queen estate, known as Haddock's Hills By: Silas L. Loomis, trustee for E.C. Packard, proprietor. Wts: N. Dubois; Joseph Lyons. Queen St. later not recorded Charles St. " not recorded Edwin St. " not recorded Paine St. " not recorded St. Elmo Ave. " not recorded St. Mary's Ave. " not recorded Park Ave. " not recorded Lafayette Ave. " not recorded Lawrence Ave. " not recorded Montello Ave. " not recorded

Moore & Barbour's Addition to Wash- ington [113], Mar. 18, 1901 [Co. 15/13] Part of David Moore Tract and block 1 of Bloomingdale Tract By: James F. Barbour; Mary V. McCartney; Annie E. Irwin; Annie M. Barbour by Mary V. McCartney, atty.; Regina Rengifo; George D. Barbour; David Moore; Francis M. Moore; Sarah M. Davidson; Mary A. Johnson; M. Josephine Bridget. Wts: S.A. Terry; Geo. E. Terry. USt. later no change Thomas St. " no change Rhode Island Ave. " no change 1st St. " no change North Capitol St. " no change

Moore & Barbour's Second Addition to the City of Washington [114], Dec. 17, 1901 [Co. 15/20] Part of David Moore Tract and part of Bloom- ingdale Tract By: James F. Barbour; Mary V. McCartney; Annie E. Irwin; Annie M. Barbour by Mary V. McCartney, atty.; Regina Thiebaut by Mary V. McCartney, atty.; George D. Barbour; David Moore; Sarah M. Davidson; M. Josephine Bridget; Francis M. Moore; Mary A. Johnson. Wts: S.A. Terry; Geo. E. Terry; CM. Stoy. Vail St. later VSt. UhlSt. " USt. ToddPI. " no change 1st St. " no change Rhode Island Ave. " no change North Capitol St. " no change Lincoln Ave. " Lincoln Rd.

Robert E. Morris's Addition to the City of Washington (Long Meadows) [115], Feb. 27, 1891 [Co. 7/139] Part of Long Meadows By: Robert E. Morris. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: W.J. Latimer*. Land now part ofAnacostia Park KSt. later no change




L St. " no change Lawrence PI. "

Cottage PI. MSt. " no change Morris PI. " no change 26th St. " no change 28th St. " no change 30th St. " no change

Mount Pleasant [116], Oct 1866 [Dist. 1/62] Part of Pleasant Plains and Lamars Outlet By: S.R Brown. Sur: B.D. Carpenter. Street name info, from plat by N. Dubois in LC2/56(Jan. 1872) 14th Street Rd. later not recorded Laurel Ave. " Oak St. Oak St. " no change Meridian Ave. " Meridian PI. Howard Ave. " Newton St. Sheridan Ave. " Monroe St. Park St. " Park Rd. Grant St. " LamontSt. OldPiney

" 17th St. and Branch Rd. Mount Pleasant St.

Brown St. " not recorded

Centre St. " not recorded Pleasant St. " abolished Pine St. " not recorded School St. " HiattPI.

Part of Mount Pleasant [117], 1868 [LC2/25] Comprising the subdivisions known as Jos. Prather's, IB. Haws, Wright & Cox, and Wright & Dole's (a.k.a. Hawe's Division, Dist. 1/59) Sur: William Forsyth**. Grant Ave. later Barry PI. 9th St.

" no change 8th St. " no change 7th St. Tpk.

" Brightwood Ave. (later Georgia Ave.)

Wright Rd. " 8th St.

Breed's Place [118], Jul .17,1888 [Co. 7/2] In S.P. Brown's sub. of Mount Pleasant [Mb] By: Daniel Breed. Wts: Wm. Henry Dennis; Jas. H. Forsyth. Breed's Terr. later Oak St. Meridian Ave. " Meridian PI. Howard Ave. " Newton St. Centre St. " no change 14th St.

" no change

Wright and Dole's division of the Widow's Dower [119], Jan 7,1867 [Dist1/59] Part of Hawe's division of Mount Pleasant Sur: B.D. Carpenter (copied by, Jan. 7, 1867). seeLC2/24and25[1A$]['\W) Sherman Ave. later no change Wrights Rd. " 8th St.

Washington and Rockville Tpk.


Grant Ave. " Barry PI.

Friendship and Mt. Airy (Barry's) [120], Jul. 22,1892 [Co. 8/123] By: John W. Barry. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Joseph Allen. Sur: Henry W. Brewer*. River Rd. later no change 42nd St. " no change Chesapeake St. " no change Brandywine St. " no change Rockville Pike " Wisconsin Ave.

Mt. Airy and Friendship (Burket's Sub- division) [121], Oct. 14, 1892 [Co. 8/144] By: Edward P. Burket. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: D.J. Howeir. Erie St. later Ellicott St. Desmoines St. "

Davenport St. Georgetown and Rockville Tpk.

" Wisconsin Ave. Belt Rd. " no change

North Brightwood (C.C. Lancaster's subdivision) [122], Jul 2,1901 [Co. 15/16] Part of estate of Richard Butt, being part of Resurvey of Peters Mill By: Charles C. Lancaster. Wts: H.B. Looker; S.H. Quigley. PeabodySt. later TuckermanSt. Oglethorpe St. " Sheridan St. Nicholson St. " Rittenhouse St. Brightwood Ave. "

Georgia Ave. Ninth St. " no change 8th St. " no change

North Columbia Heights [123], Dec. 4, 1901 [Co. 15/19] Lots 6&7ofPadsworth (LC 1, Carberry/24) By: J.D. Coughlan, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; George Earle. QuincySt. later Shepherd St. 13th St. " no change Kansas Ave. " no change Brightwood Ave. "

Georgia Ave.

Oak View [124], May 7, 1890 [Co. 7/87] From tract called Oak View By: Edward P. Stellwagen, trustee; Henry E. Davis, trustee. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: E.A. Greenough & Co.** Milwaukee St. later Macomb St. Pierrepont PI. " Lowell St. WoodleyRd.

" no change Rockville Tpk.

" not recorded [Wisconsin Ave.]

35th St. " no change

Whitehaven (Palisades of the Potomac 1) [125], Jul. 3, 1890 [Co. 7/93] Lots in Whitehaven sub. (LC2/17)

By: Jacob P. Clark, trustee; Edward B. Cot- terell, trustee. Wts: H.S. Welch; Jas. H. Forsyth. Albany St. later AshbySt. WSt. " no change VSt. " no change USt. " no change Cottrell [sic] PI. " Potomac Ave. New Cut Rd. " no change Conduit Rd. " no change 49th St. " no change Clark PI. "

King PI. 48th St. " no change

Whitehaven (Palisades of the Potomac 2) [126], May 30, 1891 [Co. 8/15] Lois in Whitehaven sub. (LC2/17) [123] By: Jacob P. Clark, trustee; Edward B. Cot- terell, trustee. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Henry W. Brewer*. New CutRd. later [Reservoir Rd.] Canal Rd. " no change Hutchins PI. " no change

Part of Whitehaven and Saint Phillip & Jacob (Palisades of the Potomac 3) [127], May 23, 1891 [Co. 8/19] Part of lot 1 of the division of the W.B. Small- wood estate By: Jacob P. Clark, trustee; Edward B. Cot- terell, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Henry W. Brewer*. Frankfort St. later Edmunds PI. EmporiaSt.

" Dana PI. Detroit St. "

Cushing PI. Sherrier PI. " no change Conduit Rd. " not recorded

[Macarthur Blvd.]

Jacob (Palisades of the Potomac 4) [128], Oct. 14, 1891 [Co. 8/48] Part of "Jacob" and "St. Philip and Jacob" By: Jacob P. Clark; Edward B. Cotterell. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: D.J. How- ell*. Maud St. later no change Dearing St. " no change Milwaukee St. " Macomb St. KeokukSt. "

Klingle St. Met St. " JewettSt.41

(later Cathedral Ave.42)

Weaver St. " Weaver Terrace

Pencote Heights [129], Dec 30, 1890 [Co. 7/122] Part of Giesboro Manor By: John G. Slater; John H. Rothert. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: D.J. How- ell*. Sub. cancelled by Pub. Act 20, Jan. 25, 1901 JolietSt. KeokukSt. Lowell St.



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 G 49

Petworth

Petworth was the largest and one of the earliest suburban subdivisions, recorded in January of 1889. Between 1886 and

1889, a number of businessmen in coop- erative and competing consortia worked to assemble the properties in order to create a subdivision. B.H. Warder, B.H.

Warner, E.A. Paul and others first purchased the Marshall Brown property in 1886. Next, they purchased a half interest in Petworth in 1887 and the remain-

ing half interest in June of 1888, both from the heirs of Washington's famous

Tayloe family. The investors planned to

join and subdivide these properties together.1 An important advantage of the Tayloe Petworth property, the investors noted, was that the streets and avenues would conform to the city's plan and be of the same (generous) width.2 The Star noted that a "plat of this property has been prepared con-

forming to a regular extension of the streets and avenues of the city and will now be recorded"

(which did not happen for another six months). In August the Star reported a controversy over the recording of the plat. Despite earlier assur-

ances that the plan of the subdivision would follow the general plan of the city, when the plat was

actually given to the Surveyor, the subdividing parties asked him to reduce the width of the streets and avenues from 90 to 60 and 120 to 90 feet respectively and delete some streets (3rd and

7th) entirely. A blank page had been signed in the surveyor's book on August 13 in anticipation of the inclusion of the subdivision plat.3 Congress passed legislation on August 27 regulating the subdivision of land and requiring the wider streets. Perhaps surprised at the last minute change of a plan of two-years standing, A.S. Worthington complained to the District Commissioners (and the Star) on behalf of developer Joseph Paul that the subdividers were attempting to evade the new law. Paul was, in fact, part of the syndicate that was creating Petworth. Other syndicate members, M.M Parker and B.H. Warner, served as trustees for the entire syndicate and signed the

plat. Parker told the Star that no evasion of the law was intended.4

By November of 1888, the Star was reporting that "the two syndicates have, however, united for the purpose of making a subdivision, which it is expected will soon be placed on record." Ultimately the Petworth subdivision plat received quite close scrutiny, filling an entire volume of its own, and was recorded in January of 1889.5

1. Evening Star, June 9, 1888. 2. Evening Star, Mar. 21, 1887. 3. D.C. Surveyor's Office, County 7, 11 [blank to this day]. 4. Evening Star, Aug. 30, 1888.




Milwaukee St. Newark St. Omaha St. PencotePI. Nichols Ave. 1st St. 2nd St. 3rd St. 4th St. 5th St. 6th St.

Petworth [130], Jan 16, 1889 [Petworth/119] Parts of Generosity, Bealls Plains, Pleasant Hill, and Indolence, embracing the Petworth and Marshall Brown properties By: Brainard H. Warner, trustee for Petworth; Myron M. Parker, trustee for Petworth; George E. Emmons, trustee for Marshall Brown; Myron M. Parker, trustee for Marshall Brown. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Jas. H. Forsyth.

Phelps and Turtle's subdivision [131], Jan. 11, 1887 [Co. 6/65] Part of Widow's Mite By: Wm. Walter Phelps; LeRoy Tuttle. Wts: L.R. Tuttle [Jr.]; Joseph Allen. Oakland Ave. later California St.43 LeRoy PI. " no change [unnamed] Avenue " not recorded

[Phelps PL] Columbia Rd. " no change Boundary St. " Florida Ave.

Jos. Prather's subdivision [132], before 1868 see Part of Mount Pleasant (L 02/25) [117]

Estate of Jno. A. Purner [133], Dec. 1881 [GS/141] Part of Pleasant Plains By: Charles Walter, trustee; Caspar Windus, trustee; J. Henry Allers, executor; Sophie Purner, executrix. Wts: Wm. Forsyth; Jas. H. Forsyth. Road to Rock Creek Church later no change 7th Street Rd. " not recorded

[Georgia Ave.] unnamed " Otis PI. Mount Pleasant St. " Park Rd.

Randle Park (Addition to Congress Heights) [134], Feb. 14, 1902 [Co. 15/26] East portion of lot 19 of Washington A. Young tract (GS/90) By: Arthur E. Randle. Wts: Henry B. Looker; E.W.W. Griffin. Raleigh St. later no change Brothers PI. " no change Nichols Ave. "

(later Martin Luther King Jr., Ave.)

Waclark PI. " no change

Reno [135], n.d. [GS/61] The estate of the late Giles Dyer [road to Georgetown] later no change

Sheridan St. " no change DeRusseySt.

" no change Mansfield St. " no change Thomas St. " no change Vincent St. " no change Howard St. " no change Grant St. " FessendenSt. Sherman St. " FessendenPI.

(later Emery PI.) BirneySt.

" Ellicott PL (later Donaldson PI.)

Emery St. " FessendenPI. (later Emery PL44)

Prospect St. " Davenport St.

Kearney St. " DennisonPI. South St. "

Chesapeake St.

Rosedale & Isherwood [136], Dec. 8, 1876[GS/12] Part of Long Meadows By: S.H. Kauffmann; Edw. Clark; Lewis Cle- phane; W.H. Clagett. Wts: Jno. A. Partridge; Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth; John J. Bogue. Bennings Bridge Rd. later no change

Gales St. " no change SeatonSt. " Rosedale St. ESt. " no change DSt. " no change [C St.]

" no change [15th St.]

" no change 16th St. " no change 17th St. " no change 18th St. " no change unnamed " not recorded

[Clagett St.] 19th St. " no change 20th St. " no change 21st St. " no change

Addition to Rosedale & Isherwood [1371. Mar. 7, 1882 [GS/145] Parts of Long Meadows By: Job Barnard, trustee for Equity Case #7577; W.H. Clagett; Columbia Railway by W.H. Clagett, secy. Wts: Wm. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. see Equity Case #7577, Wm. E Clark vs. Albina Siebert, etal. [15th St.] later no change 16th St. " no change 17th St. " no change Clagett St. " 18th St. Bennings

" no change Bridge Rd.

Gales St. " no change

Rosemount Park [138], Apr 12, 1887 [Co. 6/78] Part of Rosemount tract

By: R.E. Pairo. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Henry W. Brewer*. Creates only Rosemount Ave. Rosemount Ave. Pierce's Mill Rd. Kl ingle Rd.

Scheutzen Park [139], Apr 29, 1892 [Co. 8/93] Part of Pleasant Plains By: Edward J. Stellwagen; Simon Wolf. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: W. Kesley Schoepf*. Hancock St. later Kenyon St. McClellanSt. "

Irving St. Steuben St. " Columbia Rd. Morris St. " HobartPI. Brightwood Ave. "

Georgia Ave.45

Senate Heights [140], Jul 25,1902 [Co. 15/36] Part of Horatio Barnes tract opposite the Dis- tributing Reservoir By: Thomas H. Pickford. Wts: George Earle; Jas. H. Forsyth. Rusk St. and New CutRd. later Reservoir Rd.

Conduit Rd. " not recorded 47th PI. " no change

Jno. Sherman's subdivision [141], Feb. 6, 1868 [Carberry/2^] By: Jno. Sherman. Wts: . Sur: Wm. Forsytht Road to later no change Pierce's Mill

KennesawAve. " Irving St.

Fortune Enlarged (Stickney's subdivision) [142], June 9, 1888 [Co. 6/132] Part of Fortune Enlarged By: Mary E. Stickney. Wts: George W. Stick- ney; Joseph Allen. Sur: Wm. Latimert Bennings Rd. later not recorded Stickney Rd. " not recorded Road 30' wide " 43rd Rd.

Takoma Park [143], Nov 24, 1883 [GS/175] Part of Robert's Choice and Resurvey of Part- nership; sub. in D. C. and Md By: B.F. Gilbert. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: B.D. Carpenter*. Chestnut Ave. later Chestnut St. Holly Ave. " no change Carroll Ave. " Cedar St. Carroll Ave. " Carroll St. Oak Ave. " Cedar St. Maple Ave. "

Maple St. Blair Ave. " Blair Rd. Magnolia Ave. " Eastern Ave. Tulip Ave. (in Md.)

" no change




Arthur Randle

Arthur Randle (d. July 20, 1929), a native of Mississippi, graduated from the

University of Pennsylvania. He came to Washington in 1885 and quickly acquired land across the Anacostia River. In 1890 he subdivided Congress Heights (the name selected in a contest organized by Randle).

In March of 1900 the Washington Post commented on the wonderful growth of

Congress Heights: HSW

The growth of Washington can be seen in every direction. The northwest has mighty forces at work for that section, but Mr. Randle has been alone in building up Congress Heights. In 1890 when he bought John Jay Knox's farm, which he sub-divided and named Congress Heights, that section of the District was the most neglected around Washington, but by energy and unrelenting work he has placed it ahead of any other suburb of Washington. He built the Capital Railway during the panic, when its rival, the Anacostia road, had him engaged in a struggle, either in Congress over its charter rights, or before the Commissioners, with every conceivable obstruction, or in the courts with injunc- tions. For eighteen months the struggle continued, but Mr. Randle finally won, and when the great railroad consolidation took place in Washington, Mr. Randle sold his road for a large sum, with a guarantee of first-class service to his town, Congress Heights, over the great system of street railroads, so Congress Heights can now be reached over a $20,000,000 system of railways for one fare. In addition to this he secured an appropriation from Congress for a $21,000 school building, which is located in the center of his town, and is now occupied by five teachers and 250 scholars. He has the streets lighted, post office established, churches built, police protection, and a number of other improvements, which assures a great future for Congress Heights. He has fulfilled every promise made to Congress, the Commissioners, and the citizens.

The Randle Park addition to Congress Heights followed in 1902. Randle Highlands was devel-

oped subsequently. Vigorously encouraging development of the trans- Anacostia area, he built a railroad (ultimately two railroads) connecting his subdivisions to the city of Washington. Randle was a strenuous self-promoter and when he died, his son, Ulmo S. Randle, published a slender pamphlet on his father, including letters from several presidents and Randle's 1890 speech in London where he compared world capitals and assured his audience that Washington would soon

join the front ranks of these cities, a speech reputed to have awakened the business community of

Washington.

Addition to Takoma Park [144], n d [Co. 6/140] By: B.F. Gilbert; Thos. E. Woods. Laurel Ave. later Laurel St. Magnolia Ave. " Eastern Ave. Walnut Ave. " Walnut St. Rodes St. " no change

Grammer's Addition to Takoma Park [145], Nov. 25, 1890 [Co. 7/112] Part of Roberts Choice and Second Resurvey of Partnership By: Elizabeth Thornton by Champe B. Thorn- ton, atty. ; Jno. Tayloe Thornton; Laura S. Thornton; Rose B. Gray. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: George W. Jackson*. Branch Rd. later no change WabashSt. " Dahlia St. Vermillion St. " Cedar St.

UmatillaSt. " Butternut St. TahoeSt. "

Aspen St. 7th St. " 6th St. 6th St. " 5th St. 5th St. " 4th St. 4th St. " 3rd St. Blair Rd. " no change

Thornton Tract at Takoma Park [146], June 3, 1902 [Co. 15/34] Subdivision of the Grammer Farm, known as the Thornton Tract By: Andrew A. Lipscomb; John P. Earnest. Wts: Ralph N. Begien; E.M. Talcott. Willow Ave. later Willow St. Laurel Ave. " Laurel St. TahoeSt. "

Aspen St. Walnut Ave. " Walnut St. Magnolia Ave. " Eastern Ave.

West Takoma [147], Jul 3,1893 [Co. 9/65] Part of Girls Portion, being part of estate of Abner C. P. Shoemaker By: Clara A. Newman, owner [not signed]. Sur: D.J. Howell*. Cancelled by order of D. C. Commissioners Apr. 13, 1897 (LR226493/LR226523/LS93776) Aspen St. Wisconsin PI. Wabash St. 8th St. 7th PI. 7th St. Piney Branch Rd. Blair Rd. 9th St 9 1/2 PI.




"[T]he sign boards of the real estate agents," the Evening Star noted on November 15, 1890, "... are about the only crop that the land in the immediate vicinity of the city has yielded for some years.

" Such signs heralded the growth of Washington beyond its original limits in the second half of the nineteenth century. "Houses have taken the place of these sign boards in a great many instances," the Star continued, "and now here and there can be seen an asphalt pavement.

" Twining City sign-painting receipt, 1888, from the National Archives, RG 21, D.C. Equity

Case 9327.

Estate of Thomas Thomas [148], Oct. 9, 1875[GS/33] Subdivision of the Thomas Thomas estate By: Irving Williamson, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; J.F. Riley. Sur: N. Dubois**(May 1875). County Rd. later NaylorRd. Ridge Rd. " Alabama Ave. unnamed " not recorded

[Todd & Brown's] subdivision of part of Pleasant Plains & Mount Pleasant [149], 1868 [LC2/24] Part of Pleasant Plains and Mt. Pleasant By: Todd & Cox; Brown; Wright. Sur: William Forsyth**. Mount Pleasant S/.later Park Rd. Sheridan St. " Morton St. Farragut St. " Lamont St. Marshall St. "

KenyonSt. Wai lack St. "

Irving St. SteubenSt. " Columbia Rd. Harvard St. " no change Princeton St. " GirardSt. BismarkSt. " Fairmont St. Irving St. " Euclid St. Sherman Ave. " no change 7th St. Tpk.


Trinidad [150], Apr. 16, 1888 [Co. 6/120] Subdivision of Trinidad, part of original tract known as Youngsborough By: Washington Machine Brick Co. by T.L. Holbrook, pres. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: H.K.Viele*. Mount Olivet Rd. later no change RSt. " RaumSt. QSt. " Queen St. Holbrook Terr. " Queen St. (later

Holbrook Terr.46) PSt. " PennSt. OSt. " OatesSt. N St. " NealSt. MSt. " Morse St. Boundary St. " Florida Ave. 12th St. " MontelloAve. Trinidad Ave. " no change

Trinidad Block 10 [151], Mar 22, 1890 [Co. 7/74] Resubdivision of part of Trinidad By: John E. Beall. Wts: Edward L. Callahan; Joseph Allen. QSt. later Queen St. (later

Holbrook Terr.) Genoa St. " Queen St. PSt. " PennSt. 12th St. " MontelloAve.

Tunlaw Heights [152], May 12, 1890 [Co. 7/89] Part of "Resurvey on Lucky Discovery and Pretty Prospect" By: A.T. Britton, trustee; C.S. Belt [Bell?], trustee. Wts: Herman K. Viele; Joseph Allen. Galveston St. later Garfield St. FrankfordSt. " Fulton St. Tunlaw Rd. " no change 38th St. " no change Tennallytown Rd. " Wisconsin Ave.

Twining City [153], June 7, 1888 [Co. 6/131] Col. Henry Naylor estate By: Richard Smith, trustee; Chas. A. Elliot, trustee. Wts: Joseph Allen; Snowden Ash- ford. see Equity Case #9327, Naylor vs. Naylor Young St. later no change Carroll St. " 22nd St. Ellicott Cir. " no change ProutSt. " no change Nicholson St. " no change Pennsylvania Ave. " no change Davidson St. " no change Burns St. " no change NSt. " no change L'Enfant Square

" no change Anacostia Ave. " Minnesota Ave.



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 E 53 Revised plan of Union Town (Anacos- tia) [154], Oct. 9, 1873 [LC2/83A.B] By: John Fox, proprietor; John W. Vanhook, proprietor. Uniontown originally established 1854 Piscataway Rd. and Monroe St. later Nichols Ave. (later

Martin Luther King Jr., Ave.)

FillmoreSt. " 13th St. Polk St. " Chester St. Pierce St. " 14th St. Adams St. " 15th St. Taylor St. " 16th St. Harrison St. and Marlborough Rd. " Good Hope Rd.

Jackson St. " USt. Washington St. " VSt. Jefferson St. " WSt.

University Heights [155], Apr 30, 1890 [Co. 7/83] Part of Enclosure or Inclosure By: Harry Barton, trustee; W. Henry Walker, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: H.W. Brewer*. Bunker Hill Rd. later Michigan Ave. QuincySt.

" Randolph St.

Philadelphia St. " Quincy St.

Omaha St. " Perry St.

Fort St. " no change 12th St. " no change 13th St. " no change 14th St. " no change

University Park [156], Apr 23, 1884 [Co. 6/5] Middle part of Columbian University grounds, being part of Mount Pleasant By: N.Ctsic] Hill, Wts: O.C. Green; Jas. H. Forsyth. Huntington PI. later Fairmont St. Euclid PI. " Euclid St. Welling PI. "

Douglas St. (later Clifton St.47)

University PI. " no change 14th St.

" no change

Pretty Prospect, Kalorama, and Widow's Mite (Waggaman's subdivision) [157], June 28, 1892 [Co. 8/119] Parts of Pretty Prospect, Kalorama, and Widow's Mite By: Thos. Waggaman; Wm. Waggaman, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: W. Kesley Schoepf*. see also Pretty Prospect and Cliff bourne, (Co. 13/73, Co. 15/32) [45] [46] Hampton PI. later not recorded48 Buckingham PI. " Allen PI. WoodleyRd.

" Belmont Rd. Woodley Terr. " Waterside Dr.

George Truesdell's Addition to Wash- ington Heights [158], Apr 2, 1887 [Co. 6/77] Parts of Widow's Mite By: George Truesdell. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.K. Viele. Connecticut Ave. later Ashmead PI.49

Washington Heights (Corcorans' subdivision) [159], Jul. 20, 1872 [LC2/86] William M. and W.W. Corcoran's subdivision of part of Widow's Mite Sur: N. Duboist- Resubdivided as part of Washington Heights (GS/156)[\m C St. later not recorded BSt. " not recorded Prospect St. " not recorded Tuttle's Ln. " not recorded Columbia Rd. " no change

Washington Heights (Presbrey and Goddard's subdivision) [160], Dec. 5, 1882[GS/156) Parts of Widow's Mite; includes Presbrey's sub. (GS/139) and Corcorans' sub. (LC2/86) By: Otis F. Presbrey; Elisha Goddard; Anthony Hyde, trustee; Julia E. Goddard, Wts: Wm. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Note: Prospect Ave. becomes Oakland Ave. (Comm. Order Aug. 2, 1884), then California Ave., TSt, and finally California St. WoodleyRd. later Belmont Rd. Kalorama Ave. " Kalorama Rd. GarfieldAve. "

Wyoming Ave.50 Prospect Ave. "

[see note above] unnamed " not recorded

[LeRoy PL] Columbia Rd. " Connecticut Ave. 20th St. " no change WoodleyRd.

" 19th St.

Washington Heights (Commissioners' subdivision) [161], Feb. 1,1888 [Co. 6/115] Part of Widow's Mite and part of Mount Pleasant By: Thomas J. Fisher, commissioner; Wm. P. Young, commissioner; Wm. Forsyth, commissioner. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Fisher, Young, and Forsyth acting as court- appointed commissioners in Equity Case mi2 Belmont Ave. later Belmont Rd. Kalorama Ave. " Kalorama Rd. Wyoming Ave. " no change California Ave. " VSt. (later

California St.51) Vernon Ave. " U St.

(Vernon St.52) Boundary St. " Florida Ave. Columbia Ave. " Columbia Rd. 19th St. " no change 18th St. " no change

Wesley Heights [162], Dec 8,1890 [Co. 7/117] Part of Alliance By: John F. Waggaman. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: Howell & Greenough*. Newark St. later no change Milwaukee St. " Macomb St. Lowell St. " no change KeokukSt. "

KlingleSt. JolietSt. " Jewett St. (later

Cathedral Ave.53) Hartford St. " Hawthorn St. Galveston St. " Garfield St. Franklin St. " Fulton St. 46th St. " FoxhallRd. 45th St. " no change 44th St. " no change TunlawRd. " New Mexico Ave. Ridge Rd. " FoxhallRd. 43rd St. " no change Road to " no change Chain Bridge

Wesley Park [163], Aug 21,1896 [Co. 10/24] By: Timothy D. Keleher, trustee; Edwin C. FitzSimons, trustee. Wts: J.A. Adams; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: F.H. Stier*. LylesSt. later Alton PI. Yuma St. " no change Austin St. " WindomPI. Xenia St. " Warren St. TenleyPI.

" Verplanck PI.

46th St. " no change 45th St. " no change

White Croft [164], Aug 12,1901 [Co. 15/17] By: Mary E. White; James M. White; Carrie Madison; Anna E. White; Sadie L. Donnelly; Ida M. White; Fannie A. Somerville; Robert E.L. White. Wts: W. A. Knowles; J.F Mollere. Ingraham St. later Madison St. Hamilton St. "

Longfellow St. Piney Branch Rd. " no change Colorado Ave. " no change 13th St. " no change Brightwood Ave. "

Georgia Ave.

Whitehaven (Clark and Hurst's subdivision) [165], Jul. 22, 1892 [Co. 8/124] Part of Whitehaven By: Jacob P. Clark; John C. Stears. Wts: Chas. J. Young; Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: H.W. Brewer*. Conduit Rd. later no change Hurst PI. " Clark PL Elliot PI. " no change

Whitney Close [166], June 1871 [LC2/66] Land south of Locust Hill Park, the home of Asa Whitney Sur: N. Dubois*(June 1871). Sub. may date from before June 1871




Abram Farndon

A New Jersey native, Abram Fardon (d. 1913) came to Washington in 1864 in service of the New Jersey State Republican Committee. Remaining in

Washington, President Lincoln appointed him to a post in the Internal Revenue Service. He became involved in local politics, and was elected to the Washington Common Council. Later, he served as Paymaster for the subsequent Territorial Government. His obituary credits him with the development of the "street parking" system (often credited to Governor Shepherd) that essentially developed as parkland on L'Enfant's wide HSW

streets not needed for street pavement throughout Washington city. He was president of the Union Railroad Company and the Columbia Real Estate Title Company, and director of the Washington Loan and Trust, Columbia Fire Insurance Company, and of the Board of Trade. His real estate speculation began in the 1860s and he was one of the nine purchasers of 40 acres of Washington Heights. He was one of the signatories to the 1889 subdivision of Woodridge in Northeast Washington and its resurvey in 1899.

Centre St. later not recorded unnamed " not recorded 1st St. " not recorded 2nd St. " not recorded 3rd St. " not recorded 4th St. " not recorded 5th St. " not recorded

Whitney Close [167], Dec 9, 1886 [Co. 6/62,63] By: B.H. Warder; Edmund Cammack; John Cammack. Wts: Joseph Allen; Jas. H. Forsyth. Cammack Ave. later Otis PI. Forsyth Ave. " Newton PI. Whitney Ave. " Park Rd. LudlowAve. " Lamont St. Hancock Ave. "

KenyonSt. McC lei Ian Ave. "

Irving St. Warder Ave. " Warder St.

O.F. Presbrey's subdivision of Widow's Mite [168], June 17, 1881 [GS/139] Land bounded by Wood ley Rd. (to north & east), KaloramaAve., & 20th St. By: O.F. Presbrey, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen.

Turtles subdivision of Widow's Mite [169], Apr. 21, 1883 [GS/1 63] Part of Widow's Mite By: L.R. Tuttle. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Note: Prospect Ave. becomes Oakland Ave. (Comm. Order Aug. 2, 1884), then California Ave., TSt, and finally California St. KaloramaAve. later Kalorama Rd. GarfieldAve. "

Wyoming Ave.54 Prospect Ave. "

[see note above]

Thomas E. Waggaman and John Rid- out, trustees', Addition to the City of Washington, formerly called Woodley Park [170], June 15, 1888 [Co. 6/133] Part of tract Woodley Park, part of tract originally called Pretty Prospect By: Thomas E. Waggaman, trustee; John Rid- out, trustee. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Joseph Allen. Sur: B.D. Carpenter}. Interior streets, not being in conformity with proposed highway plan, vacated by D.C. Commissioners with consent of the trustees, Feb. 15, 1897 (LS 92823) Carlisle Ave. Ennals Ln. Cleaves Ave. Woodley Rd. Floyd PI. Emerson Ave. Talapamin Ave. Commonwealth Ave. Mason Ave. Lowell Ave. Prospect Ln. WhittierAve.

Part of Woodley Park [171], June 26, 1900 [Co. 15/7] Part of Woodley Park (Co. 6/133) [1 70] By: Thos. E. Waggaman; John Ridout. Wts: Henry B. Looker; L.R. Grabill; Jas. H. Forsyth. Cathedral Ave. later no change Evarts PI. " Garfield St. Woodley Rd. " no change [CalvertSL]

" CalvertSt. 29th St. " no change 28th PI. " 28th St. 27th PI. " 27th St. Connecticut Ave. " no change

Woodley PI. " 23rd St. (later Woodley PI.55)

Woodridge [172], Jul 25,1889 [Co. 6/141] Parts ofBarbadoes & Scotland Enlarged By: AT. Fardon; E.B. Townsend. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth. Sur: W.J. Latimer*. BrentwoodRd. later not recorded Myrtle Ave. " not recorded Car I ton Ave. " not recorded Vista St. " not recorded Elm St. " not recorded Prospect Ave. " not recorded Central Ave. " not recorded Clinton Ave. " Clinton St. Walnut St. " not recorded Chestnut St. " not recorded Montgomery St. " Eastern Ave.

Resurvey of Woodridge [173], May 27, 1899 [Co. 10/58] Readjustment of Woodridge (Co. 6/14 1) [1 72] By: AT. Fardon; E.B. Townsend; Chas. W. Brown; Franklin H. Hough; Jennie B. Twaine; Mary Twaine Thompson; William Butterworth; Mary E. Butterworth; F.J. Dieudonne; David C. Gold; Frank C. Doig; Martine J. Sackatt; Jacob Strife; Miles H. Brousou. Wts: Wm. P. Richards; Anton Karl; Geo. A. Shephard; M.W. Holt; et al. Identical plat Co. 10/60 includes building restriction lines Rhode Island Avetetet no change Indianapolis St. "

Irving St. Hartford St. " HamlinSt. Myrtle Ave. " no change CarltonAve. " no change Vista St. " no change



Catalog of Suburban Subdivisions 1854-1902 E 55 Elm St. " no change Clinton Ave. " Clinton St. South Dakota Ave. " no change Central Ave. " no change Walnut St. " no change Chestnut St. " no change Montgomery St. " Eastern Ave. BrentwoodRd. " no change Milwaukee St. " Monroe St. 24Z/7 & " no change

Wright & Cox's subdivision [174], before 1868 see Part of Mount Pleasant (L C2/25) [1 1 7]

Wyoming Terrace (Flagg's subdivision) [175], Feb. 13, 1889 [Co. 7/27] Part of Widow's Mite By: Edmund Flagg. Wts: W.C. Carroll; Joseph Allen. Wyoming Ave. later no change Columbia Rd " no change

Youngsborough [176], Apr 3, 1894 [Co. 9/93] By: Eleanor Brent Goodfellow; Theodore Mosher; Imogen M. Wilson; Mary M. Chase; Eliza Mosher; Robert Brent Mosher; James Mosher by Theodore Mosher, atty.; Alexander Mosher; Lee B. Mosher. Wts: Jas. H. Forsyth; Wm. P. Richards; Edwin Lampfelt Jr. 7th St. TSt. BrentwoodRd

^ NOTES 4>

1 . The authors have omitted from the catalog certain subdivisions they found in the D.C. plat books (see introduction). These are listed here, alongside a selection of other subdivisions, commonly named in contemporary real-estate atlases but not found by the authors in the official plats. Avalon [Co. 6/79]; Bartuffe's; Addn. to Belair Hgts. [Co. 6/109]; Bladgen's [GS/49,50]; Buker [probably Co. 6/45]; Burley [GS/5]; Columbia Tpk. Rwy. Co. [LC2/88]; Craven Terr. [Co. 6/36,55]; Duvall's [Co. 6]; Frederick's [GS/85]; Frisbie's [Co. 8/39, part of Clark Mills estate]; Hall's [LC2/55]; Harlem [1 of 3 known with this name]; Hertford [Co. 6/137]; High View; W.C. Hill's [Co. 7/15]; Keating's [LC2/48]; J.C. Lewis [LC2/77]; Loomis Park [Co. 10/48]; McLaughlin's [Co. 8/62]; J.G. Meyers; Mills Terrace; Nourse sub of Gizor; Oak Lawn Ter- race [a.k.a. M.L. Noerr's, Co. 7/66]; Stantontown [crossroads village from before 1875, GS/39]; Talberfs lots 8 & 9 [Co. 6/53]; No name ["Talburtt's," Co. 15/27]; Tennally- town [crossroads village]; L.R. Tuttle, Jr.'s [Co. 9/18]; White's Town.

Most street name changes in the plat books cite four maps in other plat books: Co. 18/24 & 34 (Oct. 15 & 21, 1904), Co. 21/4 (Oct. 18, 1905), and Co. 24/17 (Jun. 15, 1908). Other name change citations are noted below, as they appeared in the plat books.

2.126/127 3. per Co. 50/11 4. Pub. Act, Mar. 3, 1906 5. ED1 0,293/119 6. Pub. Act, May 19, 1905 7. Pub. Act, May 26, 1908 8. ED 119/894 9.55/191 10.97/16 11.76/11

12.165/38 13.140/48 14.91/160 15.140/48 16. Co. 17/111 17.138/158 18. ED 24748, Nov. 23, 1899 1 9. Comm. Order June 1 5, 1 899, Co. 1 3/33 20.126/127 21.126/127 22.157/175 23.91/142,91/152 24. Co. 17/78, Oct. 30, 1903 25.66/111 26.165/138 27.73/199 28. 140/48 29.140/48 30.140/48 31.140/48 32. 140/48 33. ED 97226 34. Co. 17/111 35.107/59 36.50/11 37. ED 213849 38. Pub. Act, Mar. 3, 1906 39. Pub. Act, Mar. 3, 1906 40. Pub. Act 490, Mar. 4, 1911 41. ED 189417 42. Pub. Act 50, May 27, 1924 43. Pub. Act, Mar. 3, 1906 44.52/183 45. Pub. Act 139, May 26, 1908 46. 80/8 47. Pub. Act 26, June 21, 1906 48. Co. 13/73 49. Comm. Order Dec. 28, 1907 50. Comm. Order Sept. 3, 1887 51. Pub. Act Dec. 18, 1908 52. Pub. Act May 18, 1911 53. ED 189417/1 54. Comm. Order Jul. 30, 1887 55. Pub. Act 92, Mar. 23, 1910



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