William Prout: Community Builder ,
— including portions of the Navy Yard — once belonged to William Prout, who lived in a large house on land now covered by the “castle” (the former Navy Yard Car Barn). In and he sold and traded land to the U.S.government for both the yard and the Marine Barracks. Arriving in America from England in , Prout heard rumors that President George Washington would be choosing this area for the new federal city. In Prout contracted for some 500 acres here from his future father-in-law,Jonathan Slater. Weeks later,Washington announced his selection, and Prout became one of 19 landowners con- tributing land to the new capital.Like the others, Prout donated some land and kept some to sell, hoping to make a fortune in real estate. Because the new city developed first to the west of the Capitol,and not in this direction,Prout never did make his fortune in land sales.But unlike many early investors,he did well,setting up a fish- ery,selling dry goods and bricks,and renting lots. Prout seeded a community,working with partners to build the first Eastern Market (1805) near here at Sixth and L streets,donating land for Christ Church,and serving on the City Council.His heirs would eventually profit from local land sales. Some of the buildings here are from Prout’s time. The unusually tall four-story building at 1003 Eighth Street was built before 1824,as was the two-story,dormered restaurant across the street at 1102.In 1833 the buildings with small attic-level windows were built as dwelling/shops serving the Navy Yard.
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