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LeDroit Park, the exclusive suburb of Washington, D.C., was a small subdivision purchased in 1873 by Amzi Barber, a trustee
of Howard University. The University was founded in 1867 and LeDroit Park was created in 1873. Amzi Barber and his partner,
Andrew Langdon, purchased the tracts during 1872 and 1873. They turned what was principally farm land into a beautiful village.
The homes were erected between 1873 and 1877. By 1877 there were about fifty fine homes. These homes were designed by
James H. McGiill, an architect and engraver. McGill took great pains to design substantial homes of Victorian architecture.
Each house was uniquely structured and in the existing homes today the classic McGill touch remains. The beautiful tile roofs
with gingerbread trim, expansive chimneys, piazzas, iron grill work, wooden scrolls, solid wood porch columns, bay windows
and high ceilings are just a few of the architectural assets of these homes. These homes were built at the phenomenal cost,
at that time, of from $3,000 to $12,000.
LeDroit Park was not a large subdivision. There were but five streets running north and south; three streets running
east and west. The streets were named for trees, beginning with Second Street which had the name of LeDroit Avenue; Third
Street was Harewood Avenue; Fourth Street was Linden Street; Fifth Street was Larch; and Sixth Street was Juniper Street.
Boundary Street, now Florida Avenue, was from Second Street to Sixth Street as the southern boundary of LeDroit Park. Running
east and west, Tea Street was Maple Avenue; You Street was Spruce Street; Elm Street still retains its tree name; and Oak
Court is now Oakdale Place.
The subdivision was highly covenanted and restricted. There were gates at Second Street and Sixth Streets. Residents
only were permitted to come and go. Any outsider had to have permission to enter. These gates were a barrier between LeDroit
Park and the outside. LeDroit Park was built as an exclusive suburb of Washington, D.C.
According to an ad in McGill's Illustrated Architectural Advertisers:
"The LeDroit Park Building Co.
Have
Several New Houses
on Spruce Street, in LeDroit Park,
For Sale or Rent.
These houses are built of brick, in the most
substantial manner, with ornamental slate roofs,
of the character of those shown in the illustrations,
and each contains about eight rooms, besides
pantries, closets, and cellar...etc."
Such was the value of this little suburb. The early inhabitants of LeDroit Park were Amzi Barber and his partner Andrew
Langdon, James McGill, the architect and engraver, and David McCleland. McCleland lived in the biggest house on his estate
facing Boundary Street between Third and Fourth Streets. His home was on the present site of the Safeway and Parking Lot.
[Now the United Planning Organization.] Many of the early residents were government officials, Army officers, and persons
connected with the newly-founded Howard University.
The developers had an eye for beauty and were proud of the tree-lined streets, well appointed gardens and shrubbery. It
was reported that Barber spent over $4,000 to landscape his subdivision. LeDroit Park was a virtual flower garden.
Near the ninth decade of the nineteenth century two changes took place in LeDroit Park. One, a real estate operator named
Banes bought lots and houses on what is now "Vee" Street. He applied to the District Commissioners, the fences
were permanently removed, and the confines of LeDroit Park were extended upward to include "Howard Town," inclusive
of Howard University.
The second change was the color of the inhabitants of LeDroit Park. Blacks were moving in and whites were moving out.
Around 1893, Octavius Williams, a barber at the Capitol bought a house at 338 Spruce Street (now You Street). His daughter
resides in this house today. Soon other blacks began to move in, either renting or buying.
Some of these early, prominent blacks were Judge and Mrs. Robert H. Terrell (Mary Church). Judge Terrell was the first
black municipal judge. His wife was a women's activist in her own right. Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted black poet, roomed
first at 1936 4th Street. Later, when he married Alice Moore, famous woman author, they lived at 321 Spruce. Major Christian
A. Fleetwood and his wife, Sara, lived at 319 You Street. Fleetwood was a Civil War hero, Medal of Honor soldier. His wife
was the first black
Superintendent of Nurses at Freedmen's Hospital. Sara Fleetwood was a teacher. At the age of fifty-one she graduated
from Freedmen's Hospital Nurses Training School.
On Maple Avenue (Tea Street) prominent blacks began to settle, too. The Terrells lived at 326 Tea Street. Fountain Peyton,
one of the first ten black lawyers in Washington, resided at 330 Tea Street. His daughter, Esther Peyton, still lives in
the home place. Mary Terrell and Fountain Peyton were members of the School Board. Mary Terrell was the first black woman
appointed to the Board of Education in 1895.
At 300 Tea Street lived Miss Anita J. Turner, a high school teacher. A school in South East Washington is named in her
honor. Dr. Hattie Riggs, a black woman from Calaid, Maine, lived at 418 and taught English at the M Street High School.
She had an earned medical degree, though she never practiced medicine.
On Fourth Street lived the eminent professor and dean of Howard University, Dr. Kelly Miller. Dr. Eva B. Dykes, one of
the first black women to receive a Ph.D. Degree, lived on Juniper or Sixth Street. Dr. Anna J. Cooper, educator and author,
lived at 201 Tea Street. She received her doctorate degree from the Sorbonne in Paris, France in 1925 at the age of sixty-two.
Dr. Cooper, along with Dr. Jesse Lawson, founded a University called Frelinghuysen. This school offered adult education to
employed black people.
It was an informal and practical institution. Dr. Cooper lived to the age of 105 years.
By the early part of the twentieth century most of the residents of LeDroit Park were blacks. These people retained the
beauty and pride in their homes as did the earlier residents. Many educators were now residing in the Park as well as other
professionals and plain folks. Mr. William Cohran at 3l5 You Street was one of the founders of the first black citizen’s
association. Dr. Garnet C. Wilkinson, educator and Assistant Superintendent of Colored Schools until 1954, then Assistant
Superintendent of the integrated system, resided at 406 You Street. Dr. Wilkinson was a graduate of Oberlin College, that
liberal seat of education in Ohio. His widow still lives in the home.
The first black Congressman since 1901, Oscar DePriest, lived at 419 You Street while in Congress. Clara Taliaferro,
a pharmacist and daughter of John H. Smyth (appointed minister to Liberia in 1890 and a 1awyer, educator) lived at 414 You
Street. Percy A. Roy, craftsman, artisan, and manual arts teacher at Armstrong High School, lived at 417 You Street. His
flower garden was an annual delight which was photographed and publicized by the Evening Star Newspaper. His widow resides
in the home today. Professor of English James M. Carter and his family lived at 402 You Street.
Florida Avenue was an enclave of black physicians and businesses. The famous Harrison's Cafe, 455 Florida Avenue, owned
and operated by Robert Harrison, was a landmark. Frazier's Funeral Home was and still is at Fourth and Florida Avenue. Dr.
Ionia Whipper, descendant of William Whipper, an early advocate of nonviolent
resistance and editor of a newspaper, lived at 511 Florida Avenue. She was a pioneer in humane care for unwed mothers.
Dr. Whipper offered shelter to unwed girls in her home. Her brother, Leigh Whipper, is an actor on stage and in the movies.
There is a home for unwed mothers named in honor of Dr. Whipper.
Doctors Ralph Wright, Sidney Sumby, Edmund Wilson, Clarence Tignor, and Algernon Jackson were just some of the physicians
that resided on Florida Avenue with a medical practice in their homes. Dr. George Butcher had a drug store at 501 Florida
Avenue. Later, Dr. Leo Williams opened the first black pharmacy (drugs sold only by prescriptions) which is still operated
today. Dr. John E. Washington, an artist, educator, author, and dentist lived at 463 Florida Avenue. He wrote a book about
President Lincoln, They Knew Lincoln. His wife, Virgie, was a pharmacist and a social worker.
Descendants of the Cuneys and Wormleys, early families of prominence in D.C., now live at 503 Florida Avenue: Mr. N. Wright
Cuney and his wife Amelia Wormley Cuney. James Wormley, who operated a fancy hotel in the nineteenth century at 15th and H
Streets had many of his descendants living in LeDroit Park. They were educators, musicians, and professionals of other types.
Dr. Emmett J. Scott, Secretary-Treasurer of Howard University, author, and private secretary to Booker T. Washington,
lived in the 200 block of Florida Avenue. One of the most eminent black surgeons, Dr. Simeon Carson, lived in the 200 block
of Third Street -where Slowe Hall stands today. He had a private hospital in the 1800 block of Fourth Street. Eugene Jackson,
an early resident, musician and government employee, lived in the Montgomery Apartments in the 500 block of You Street. Later,
he purchased homes at 1806 4th Street and at 415 You Street. One of his sons, Dr. Stanley E. Jackson, retired Director of
Special Education, D.C. Public Schools, now lives at the You Street address.
Dr. Ernest E. Just, noted scientist and biologist, lived with his family at 412 Tea Street. Mr. A. Kiger Savoy, Assistant
Superintendent of Colored Schools, lived in the 200 block of Tea Street as did Dan Monroe, who was an auditor in the General
Accounting Office. He still lives at 215 Tea Street today with his son, a D.C. school psychologist.
The first black officer to die in World War I lived at 504 Tea Street, Major James E. Walker, U.S.A. His son has a medical
practice today at 502 Tea Street. Captain Arthur Newman, principal of Armstrong High School, lived at 504 Tea Street also.
His wife Jennie and the wife of Major Walker were sisters. Roscoe I. Vaugh, architect and head of the Manual Training Department
of D.C. Schools, resided at 506 Tea Street. Professor Nelson Weatherless, an early advocate of equal rights, teacher, and
activist, lived at 420 Tea Street. His daughter, Ruth W. Cook, lives in the home today.
Professor Alonzo Brown, Mathematics Department of Howard University, made his home at 405 Tea Street. His son still remains
in the family home. Descendants of William Syphax, of Alexandria, lived at 501 Tea Street. Dr. Burke Syphax, a son, is chief
surgeon at Freedmen's Hospital today. Reverend Bullock, minister and social worker, made his home at 408 Tea Street. Mayor
Walter Washington, husband of Dr. Bullock's daughter, Bennetta, lives with his wife in the family residence today.
The families of Robert Weaver, Senator Edward Brooke, and many blacks prominent in education, government service, the
professions of medicine and law, can trace an early tie with LeDroit Park. Today there are a few remains of the former elegance
of the McGill designed homes. Some of the old trees are still standing. Presently, about forty of the homes are intact.
Some are in need of preservation and much-needed repairs. The tree-lined streets are sometimes debris strewn and the inhabitants
are now multiflorous in living habits. A few of the earliest residents still live in their well-kept homes. The historic
accomplishments of the early inhabitants are dim memories to some and unknown to many.
Copyright 1973, 2008 - Lauretta Jackson
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| Former resident Octavius Williams III, pictured with his daughter |
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| Former resident Anna J. Cooper |
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