Newman Family: Before P Street NW

William Robert Newman married Irene Mary Harley in 1883 in Washingon D.C. The couple lived in a home on corner of D Street NW near the intersection of Third Street and Virginia Avenue.

The home was located near the U.S. Naval Hospital. Briggs Elementary School could be seen from the back of the house. I'm sharing these markers with you, for as we searched the internet maps for the house, it appears the entire neighborhood has been replaced by several large buildings.

I remember the house was on the corner. It was made of brick, with sculpted iron grating along the steps leading to the veranda and back porch. The doors had wood framed screens. The house had been built in the mid-1800's (before homes had indoor plumbing or electricity). Kerosene lamps and chandeliers lit the house, a wood burning stove in the kitchen was used to prepare meals and heat water, outside near the door stood the water pump, and coal burning fireplaces kept the house warm.

It was here that Robert and Irene Newman had their family. Herman Martin (born 1883), Walter (born 1884), Grace Elizabeth (born 1887), Mark (born 1889), Lewis (born 1892) and Lena (born 1896)

After Irene Newman's death, Robert kept his family together while continuing to work. To supplement his income, in addition to his regular job, he worked as a waiter. In September of 1898, Robert Newman married for the second time. His bride, Mary Frances Proctor was from Southern Maryland. Robert and Mary Frances had six children who lived to adulthood, and three who died during early childhood.

Pictured below are four of Robert and Mary Frances' children, a granddaughter and a Proctor niece. This pictue was taken on the steps of the Newman home on D Street NW, circa 1914











Seated on the top row are (l-r) niece Mattie Proctor, son Paul Augustus Newman (my father), and daughter Mary Myrtle Irene Newman. On the lower row (l-r) are son William Robert Newman, Jr., daughter Agnes Cerelia Newman, and granddaughter Theresa Evelyn Proctor

Thomas Alexander (Jack) Newman, was born October 8, 1919. The picture of Jack on the right was taken in front of the house on D Street NW circa 1922, earlier that same year Robert and Mary Frances gave birth to twin daughters. At the time of birth Mary Frances was 39 years old, and Robert 64.

As adults: Mattie married Ed Proctor; Paul married Lida Isabel Johnson, Myrtle married Marques Ray, William Robert, Jr married Helen (maiden name unknown), Agnes did not marry, and Theresa married Raoul Perez. Jack married Annie Mae Miller

Sadly, three Newman children Theresa, Marian and Frank (the twins) each died in early childhood at seperate times. Daughter Agnes Cerelia and son Ralph died seperately in their twenties.

Washington D.C. in the 1920's, was growing as a city. Washington city spread into Washington county, as developers built row houses, apartments and large homes for those migrating to the Capitol. By the mid 1920's the Newman family moved to a newer home, 125 P Street NW.