Wheat Row is a row of four Late Georgian style townhouses located at 1315, 1317, 1319, and 1321 4th Street SW in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood of Washington, D.C. , in the United States. Begun in 1794 and completed in 1795, the structures are some of the oldest residential homes in the District of Columbia. They served several uses in the early and mid 20th century, but were integrated into the Harbour Square apartment cooperative in 1963. Wheat Row was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 23, 1973.
59-573: The Residence Act of 1790, which established the site for the capital of the United States, provided for the appointment of three commissioners by the President (and without the need for Senate confirmation) to govern the District of Columbia, survey its land, purchase property from private landowners, and construct federal buildings. James Greenleaf was a land speculator who arrived in
118-561: A day care facility, serving 30 children (double the capacity available in its old location). By 1950, Barney Neighborhood House had come into possession of 1317 4th Street. 1321 4th Street, however, remained in use as a residence, although by 1950 it had been subdivided internally into apartments . In the 1950s, Wheat Row was saved from demolition and incorporated into the Harbour Square development. Washington, D.C., had undergone rapid population growth during World War II. In 1946,
177-607: A plan for the capital city that identified the future sites of the "Congress House" (the United States Capitol ) and the "President's House" (the White House ). Design competitions were then held to solicit designs for each of those structures. Architect James Hoban was selected to design the President's House, and no satisfactory drawings were submitted for the Capitol. A late submission by William Thornton
236-596: A capital in the North and vice versa. Another suggestion was to have two capitals: one in the North and one in the South. The United States Congress was established in 1789, after the ratification of the United States Constitution , and New York City remained the temporary capital. Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 , of the new constitution authorized Congress to create a federal district outside of
295-525: A committee of the whole, to take into consideration, respecting a place for the permanent residence of Congress. The following day, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts motioned "that buildings for the use of Congress be erected on the banks of the Delaware near Trenton or of the Potomac, near Georgetown, provided a suitable district can be procured on one of the rivers as aforesaid, for a federal town". During
354-504: A dinner to bring Madison and Hamilton together. Subsequently, a compromise was reached, in which the northern delegates would agree to the southerly Potomac River site, and in return, the federal government would assume debts accumulated by the states during the American Revolutionary War. Jefferson wrote a letter to James Monroe explaining the compromise. Congress agreed to the compromise, which narrowly passed as
413-656: A home for poor women and worked to improve cultural awareness among the working class. Established in 1904, Barney Neighborhood House occupied the Duncanson-Cranch House. When Neligh died in 1939, he left his home to the Barney Neighborhood House, which renovated it and used it as a neighborhood art gallery known as Rhoads House. That same year, 1317 4th Street was purchased by the National Craft Training Center,
472-655: A local real estate development firm. On June 3, 1960, Shannon and Luchs announced it would build a $ 12 million, 447-unit cooperative apartment complex known as Harbour Square on the Wheat Row site. Wheat Row, the Duncanson-Cranch House, and the Lewis House would be incorporated into the new development. Construction on the project, designed by the architectural firm of Satterlee & Smith and now including financial partner John McShain , began in February 1963. Wheat Row
531-486: A mental breakdown as a result of the business setbacks caused by Greenleaf's actions. Wheat Row remained incomplete at the end of 1794, and was not finished until the following year. The earliest occupant of Wheat Row was William Prentiss, a surveyor who helped lay out housing plats in the District of Columbia in the 1790s. He married Marie Josephine Wilhelmina Matilda Greenleaf, daughter of James Greenleaf, and they took up residence on Wheat Row in 1796. The Wheat Row name
590-516: A newly established organization which taught handicrafts to poor and working-class girls. By May 22, 1941, 1315 4th Street housed the Rhoads Service Men's Club, a service organization which provided free and reduced-cost entertainment to members of the United States military. In late 1941, Mary Adams purchased 1319 4th Street, renovated it, and donated it to the Barney Neighborhood House in memory of her mother. The organization used it as
649-552: A petition to Congress by the residents of the Virginia portion of the District ( Alexandria County ) and the City of Alexandria, the area of 31 square miles (80 km ) which was ceded by Virginia was returned, leaving 69 square miles (179 km ) of territory originally ceded by Maryland as the current area of the District in its entirety. Housing Act of 1949 The American Housing Act of 1949 ( Pub. L. 81–171 )
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#1732775705723708-526: A share of 1319 4th Street from Johnson. By the time Wheat died in 1844, he had purchased 1319 and 1321 4th Street from Johnson and Stuart. He left all three row houses to his wife, Mary. Members of the Wheat family continued to own these houses until at least 1868. The four row houses of Wheat Row were used for residences until 1939. John Neligh, the director of industrial crafts at Barney Neighborhood House, owned 1315 4th Street. Barney Neighborhood House served as
767-736: A southerly site for the capital on the Potomac River , but they lacked a majority to pass the measure through Congress. Meanwhile, Hamilton was pushing for Congress to pass the Assumption Bill , to allow the Federal government to assume debts accumulated by the states during the American Revolutionary War . With the compromise, Hamilton mustered support from the New York State congressional delegation for
826-661: A time before it returned to Philadelphia. Upon ratification of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, the Congress of the Confederation was formed, and Philadelphia became the new nation's first seat of government . However, Congress did not remain in the city long, for in June 1783, a mob of angry soldiers converged upon Independence Hall demanding payment for their service during the war. Congress requested John Dickinson ,
885-487: Is Federal in style. There are two rooms on each floor, and side halls with stairways. The internal space does not reflect the symmetrical facade. The interior walls of Wheat Row, which are wood frame, have been modified many times over the years to accommodate modern appliances and conveniences (such as bathrooms). [REDACTED] Media related to Wheat Row at Wikimedia Commons Residence Act The Residence Act of 1790 , officially titled An Act for establishing
944-419: Is a prime example of the vernacular domestic architecture constructed in the District of Columbia during the city's first three decades. Each of the four row houses that make up Wheat Row has a foundation made of stone, and a basement with stone walls. The exterior walls are all brick in a Flemish bond pattern. The north wall is different in that it is laid in an English bond pattern. It is believed that this
1003-527: Is derived from that of John Wheat, a prominent local designer of gardens and a messenger employed by the United States Congress . According to the earliest extant records, Wheat owned 1315 4th Street as early as 1819. 1317 4th Street was owned by Robert P. Washington, and 1319 4th Street by Richmond Johnson. 1321 4th Street was jointly owned by Thomas L. Washington and Philip Stuart . Stuart bought out Washington's interest by 1824, and purchased
1062-500: Is the only example of English bond brickwork in a building constructed in the city's first decades. The building containing the four row houses is 102.5 feet (31.2 m) long and 34 feet (10 m) wide. The longer facades each have 12 bays , with each house having three bays. The middle two houses are slightly narrower than the end houses. The entrance is found on the long east facade . The four middle bays on this facade project slightly. The south facade originally had three bays, while
1121-404: Is topped by a low hip roof , sheathed in copper. Double chimneys rise where the row houses meet. A triangular pediment rises above the projecting central section of the structure, pierced by an oval window. (This window's stone facing is not historic, and was created in 1964.) A bas-relief fretwork wooden cornice runs most of the way around the building, except where a stone band separates
1180-777: The 81st Congress , Republican Sen. Robert A. Taft sponsored the legislation with Democratic backers Allen J. Ellender and Robert F. Wagner . On April 21, 1949, the Senate approved the legislation by a vote of 57–13, with all but two of the "nay" votes coming from Republicans. The House of Representatives voted 227–186 in favor of the bill on June 29, 1949. President Truman signed the bill into law on July 15, 1949. Source: Title I - Slum Clearance & Community Development & Redevelopment Authorized $ 1 Billion in loans to help cities acquire slums and blighted land for public or private redevelopment. It also allotted $ 100 million every year for five years for grants to cover two-thirds of
1239-634: The Edward Simon Lewis House , Wheat Row, and the Duncanson-Cranch House into the new developments then on the drawing board. By January 1959, the RLA was actively pushing for all three properties, plus the Thomas Law House, to be saved and integrated into the new construction, even as housing and other buildings around them were being demolished. The RLA subsequently awarded development of the area around Wheat Row to Shannon and Luchs,
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#17327757057231298-542: The Housing Act of 1949 . A 1950 study by the NCPC found that the small Southwest quarter of the city suffered from high concentrations of old and poorly maintained buildings, overcrowding, and threats to public health (such as lack of running indoor water, sewage systems, electricity, central heating, and indoor toilets). Competing visions for the redevelopment ranged from renovation to wholesale leveling of neighborhoods, but
1357-499: The architect . Historian Bob Arnebeck argues it was Clark, but most sources attribute Wheat Row to the important local architect William Lovering. Wheat Row was the first example in the District of Columbia of the terraced house (also known as the row house or townhouse). According to the National Capital Planning Commission , they are probably the first houses built after the District of Columbia
1416-726: The governor of Pennsylvania to call up the militia to defend Congress from attacks by the protesters. In what became known as the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 , Dickinson sympathized with the protesters and refused to remove them from Philadelphia. As a result, Congress was forced to flee to Princeton, New Jersey on June 21, 1783, and met in Annapolis and then Trenton , before ending up in New York. On October 6, 1783, while still in Princeton, Congress resolved itself into
1475-604: The "raw and unfinished" cityscape, the president found the public buildings "in a much greater forwardness of completion than expected." The Senate (north) wing of the Capitol was nearly completed, as was the White House. The president moved into the White House on November 1. First Lady Abigail Adams arrived a few weeks later. The Senate of the Sixth Congress met in the Capitol for the first time on November 17, and on November 22, Adams delivered his fourth State of
1534-729: The Democrats also reclaiming the House of Representatives and the Senate . In his 1949 State of the Union address unveiling the Fair Deal, Truman reiterated his desire to pass comprehensive housing legislation. The Senate had successfully passed bills allocating federal aid for public housing in 1946 and 1948, although these efforts died in the House of Representatives on both occasions. During
1593-897: The Potomac site, while four delegates (all from districts bordering the Potomac) switched from opposition to support for the Assumption Bill. At the outset of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House . On account of British military actions, the Congress was forced to relocate to Baltimore , Lancaster, Pennsylvania , and then York, Pennsylvania for
1652-559: The Residence Act. Jefferson got the Virginia delegates to support the bill with the debt provisions, and Hamilton convinced the New York delegates to agree to the Potomac site for the capital. The bill was approved by the Senate by a vote of 14 to 12 on July 1, 1790, and by the House of Representatives by a vote of 31 to 29 on July 9, 1790. Washington signed the Act into law one week later on July 16. The Assumption Bill narrowly passed
1711-671: The Senate on July 16, 1790, followed by passage in the House on July 26. The Residence Act specified that the capital be located along the Potomac River between the Eastern Branch (the Anacostia River ) and the Connogochegue (near Williamsport and Hagerstown, Maryland ), and encompass an area of no more than "ten miles square" (10 miles (16 km) on a side, for a maximum area of 100 square miles (259 km )). The Act gave US President George Washington
1770-711: The Susquehanna River site in September 1789, and the Senate bill specified a site on the Delaware River near Germantown, Pennsylvania. The House and Senate were not able to reconcile their two bills. The selection of a location for the capital resurfaced in the summer of 1790. At the same time, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was pushing for Congress to pass a financial plan. A key provision of Hamilton's plan involved
1829-539: The Union Address to a joint session of Congress in the Senate chamber . The House (south) wing was not completed until 1811. Nonetheless, the House of Representatives began meeting there in 1807. In February 1801, Congress approved the District of Columbia Organic Act , which officially organized the District of Columbia . Congress then became the district's exclusive governing authority. In 1846, based on
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1888-597: The United States Congress passed the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act, which established the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) and provided legal authority to clear land and funds to spur redevelopment in the capital. Congress also gave the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) the authority to designate which land would be redeveloped, and how. The RLA was not funded, however, until passage of
1947-507: The authority to decide the exact location and hire a surveyor. The President was required to have suitable buildings ready for Congress and other government offices by the first Monday in December 1800 (Monday, December 1, 1800); the federal government would provide financing for all public buildings. The Act specified that the laws of the state from which the area was ceded would apply in the federal district. Thus, Maryland laws applied on
2006-446: The capital. Washington began scouting the area to the southeast of Georgetown, near the Anacostia River (Eastern Branch). Some property owners told him they would sell land for the capital. Washington also looked at other sites along the Potomac. He decided that a few sites should be surveyed to provide specific details about the land and its ownership. Washington returned to Philadelphia in late November 1790 to meet with Jefferson. Then,
2065-427: The center-most bays. Each door has a semi-circular fanlight and a brick arch over the door. At some point before the 1962–1963 construction of Harbour Square, the brick arch over the door to 1317 4th Street was replaced with a brick jack arch . This jack arch was removed and the facade restored to its uniform appearance. Modern lighting fixtures illuminate each door. The interior plan of each of Wheat Row's townhouses
2124-418: The city on September 17, 1793. On either September 23, 1793, or December 24, 1793, Greenleaf purchased from the D.C. commissioners the land on which Wheat Row would be built. By the start of 1794, Greenleaf owned half the federal government's salable land in the District of Columbia. Greenleaf began construction on the four townhouses which became Wheat Row in 1794. The builder was James Clark. Sources differ on
2183-550: The decision to designate Philadelphia as the temporary capital city of the United States federal government for ten years until the permanent capital was ready. Congress reconvened in Philadelphia on December 6, 1790 at Congress Hall . Soon after signing the act, George Washington began work on the project. He and Thomas Jefferson personally oversaw the process as plans were developed and implemented. Even as
2242-525: The decision was reached to locate the capital at or adjacent to Georgetown, just below the Fall Line and the farthest inland point for navigation . In January 1791, the President proceeded to appoint, in accordance with the Residence Act, a three-member commission consisting of Daniel Carroll , Thomas Johnson , and David Stuart , to oversee the surveying of the federal district, and appointed Andrew Ellicott as surveyor. Washington informed Congress of
2301-645: The difference between the cost of the slum land and its reuse value. Title II - Amendments to National Housing Act Amended the National Housing Act of 1934 by reauthorizing the FHA for six weeks and raised by $ 500 million the amount the FHA was allowed to offer as mortgage insurance. Title III - Low Rent Public Housing Required that public housing authorities demolish or renovate one slum dwelling unit for every public housing apartment they built. Title IV - Housing Research Provided funds and
2360-488: The eastern side of the Potomac, and Virginia laws applied on the western side in the District of Columbia until the government officially took residence. Upon assuming control of the federal district in 1800, Congress would have full authority over local matters within the District of Columbia. To garner enough votes to pass the Assumption Bill, Hamilton also needed votes from the Pennsylvania delegates. That led to
2419-442: The facades are both of stone, with the lintel having bevels etched into them to mimic voussoirs and keystones . A trench, surrounded by a black wrought iron fence and not visible from the street, permits light to enter the basement windows. The basement window sills are wood and the lintels brick. The first and second story windows are 9/9, while the smaller third story windows are 6/3. The basement windows are all 6/6. Wheat Row
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2478-547: The federal government assuming states' debts incurred during the American Revolutionary War . Northern states had accumulated a massive debt during the war, amounting to 21.5 million dollars, and wanted the federal government to assume their burden. The Southern states, whose citizens would effectively be forced to pay a portion of the debt if the federal government assumed it, balked at this proposal. Some states, including Virginia, had paid almost half of their debts and felt that their taxpayers should not be assessed again to bail out
2537-406: The latter of which directed the federal government to subsidize local public housing agencies. On April 12, 1945, Vice President Harry Truman became president on the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Truman campaigned for a second term in the 1948 presidential election with a platform promising to provide for slum clearance and low-rent housing projects. Truman was elected to a full term in 1948 with
2596-547: The latter view prevailed as more likely to qualify for federal funding. Demolition faced almost all structures in Southwest Washington. However, in December 1954, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. successfully pressured the RLA into giving consideration to saving Wheat Row and the Duncanson-Cranch House. Then in September 1958, O. Roy Chalk , president of DC Transit , proposed integrating
2655-477: The less provident. Further, they argued that the plan exceeded the scope of the new constitutional government. James Madison , then a representative from Virginia, led a group of legislators from the south in blocking the provision and preventing the plan from gaining approval. When Jefferson ran into Hamilton at President Washington's residence in New York City in late June 1790, Jefferson offered to host
2714-631: The mid-1780s, numerous locations were offered by the states to serve as the nation's capital, but the Continental Congress could never agree on a site because of regional loyalties and tensions. Proposed sites included Kingston, New York ; Nottingham Township in New Jersey; Annapolis; Williamsburg, Virginia ; Wilmington, Delaware ; Reading, Pennsylvania ; Germantown, Pennsylvania ; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; New York City; Philadelphia; and Princeton. The Southern states refused to accept
2773-433: The north facade had none. Today, Harbour Square townhouses abut both the north and south facades, and prevent any openings in either wall. Belt courses consisting of four headers separate the first and second and the second and third floors on the east, west, and south facades. The belt course on the south facade is no longer visible due to the adjoining 1964 townhouse. The window sills and decorative window lintels in
2832-405: The pediment from the third floor. Originally, the wood trim and stone band of Wheat Row were all white, which contrasted with the red brick of the building. During the 1962–1963 construction of Harbour Square, they were painted light grey to match the trim of the rest of the development. Four doorways in the east facade provide access to the row houses. Two occupy the corner bays, while two occupy
2891-413: The project began to move forward, some held out hope that it would fail and that the capital would remain permanently in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania's congressional delegation attempted to undermine the plan by introducing legislation allocating funds for federal buildings and a house for the president in Philadelphia. Although the legislation did not specify an exact location, Georgetown was assumed to be
2950-502: The project. It also set a deadline of December 1800 for the capital to be ready, and designated Philadelphia as the nation's temporary capital while the new seat of government was being built. At the time, the federal government operated out of New York City . Congress passed the Residence Act as part of the Compromise of 1790 brokered among James Madison , Thomas Jefferson , and Alexander Hamilton . Madison and Jefferson favored
3009-521: The public buildings otherwise than on the Maryland side of the river Potomac." On March 30, 1791, Washington issued a presidential proclamation that established " Jones's point , the upper cape of Hunting Creek in Virginia" as the starting point for the federal district's boundary survey and the method by which the survey should determine the district's boundaries . During the early spring of 1791, Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant began working on
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#17327757057233068-573: The quality of work done thus far. The original intention of the Residence Act was to use proceeds from selling lots in the District to cover the costs of constructing federal buildings in the capital. However, few were interested in purchasing lots. A shortage of funds further contributed to the delays and problems in building the Capitol and other federal buildings in Washington. In early June 1800, President John Adams made his first official visit to Washington, which lasted for several days. Amid
3127-403: The site selection on January 24. It suggested that Congress amend the Act to allow the capital to encompass areas to the south of the Eastern Branch, including Alexandria, Virginia . Congress agreed with the suggestion, passing an amendment to the Act that Washington approved on March 3, 1791. However, consistent with language in the original Act, the amendment expressly prohibited the "erection of
3186-543: The state structure as the nation's permanent seat of government and granted Congress exclusive governing jurisdiction over it. The choice of a site was left for the new Congress to decide. During the debate, two sites became serious contenders: one site on the Potomac River near Georgetown ; and another site on the Susquehanna River near Wrights Ferry (now Columbia, Pennsylvania ). The House approved
3245-544: The temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States (1 Stat. 130 ), is a United States federal statute adopted during the second session of the 1st United States Congress and signed into law by President George Washington on July 16, 1790. The Act provides for a national capital and permanent seat of government to be established at a site along the Potomac River and empowered President Washington to appoint commissioners to oversee
3304-681: Was a landmark, sweeping expansion of the federal role in mortgage insurance and issuance and the construction of public housing. It was part of President Harry Truman 's program of domestic legislation, the Fair Deal . During the Roosevelt administration the National Housing Act of 1934 which established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Housing Act of 1937 were signed into law,
3363-452: Was chosen as the seat of the federal government. The Thomas Law House and Duncanson-Cranch House , both nearby, were erected at about the same time by Greenleaf and his partners. Wheat Row was not initially a successful development. The townhouses were considered small by the standards of the day, of an out-of-date architectural style, poorly constructed, and built with inferior materials. Greenleaf refused to pay for them, and Clark suffered
3422-533: Was integrated into Harbour Square as four of the 17 townhouses offered for sale by the cooperative. Harbour Square was completed in 1964. Wheat Row remains part of Harbour Square. The four row houses of Wheat Row were designed in the Late Georgian architectural style . Architectural historian Daniel Reiff has argued that the design is based on that of Hollis Hall, a dormitory at Harvard University constructed from 1762 to 1763. Reiff has noted that Wheat Row
3481-516: Was selected for the Capitol. Stephen Hallet was hired to oversee construction, which got underway in September 1793. Hallet proceeded to make alterations to the design against the wishes of Washington and Jefferson and was then dismissed. George Hadfield was hired in October 1795 as superintendent of construction but resigned three years later in May 1798 due to dissatisfaction with Thornton's plan and
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