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		C2 INDEX
		Samuel Lewis Residence & Store

	SAMUEL LEWIS RESIDENCE & STORE, 1416 14TH ST., NW

Constructed in 1885 on the southwest corner of 14th and P Streets, NW for Samuel Lewis, this was long thought to be the last remaining example of a private residence built by the prominent German-born architect Adolf Cluss . In mid-2004, however, researchers for the Adolf Cluss Exhibition Project discovered that one of Cluss's colleagues, William M. Poindexter, was responsible for this elegant home and office--actually a combination of three structures on two lots. Cluss and his partner, Paul Schulze, were issued a permit to do a building on one of the lots on July 20, 1885, but this was superceded by a permit dated September 1, 1885 for three structures on the two lots by William Poindexter.

The Smithsonian's Cynthia Field and Sabina Dugan report that "Poindexter worked for Cluss in 1866-67, entered the Office of the Treasury for about 10 years, going out on his own in 1878 and becoming relatively successful. He was a pall bearer at Cluss's funeral. Poindexter was vice president of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1887 when Cluss was President and went on to serve as President himself in 1889-90."

About the building itself, Sabina Dugan notes that "Samuel Lewis must have been quite an entrepreneur. In 1882, he was listed as a pharmacist; by 1885 he changed his title to 'physician;' in 1888, he advertised himself as being in the business of 'real estate, loans, insurance' -- all at the same address!" Today, the building houses several apartments as well as the popular "Mid City Fish Market." The 14th street neighborhood near Logan Circle is very lively, home to a number of popular music clubs, restaurants, and galleries. The Studio Theatre is just across the street from the Samuel Lewis Residence.

In 1885, Washington was still a young city and the construction and real estate businesses were the source of much of the city's wealth--a phenomenon that we still witness today with downtown redevelopment. Although best known for his schools and other public buildings, Cluss and his partners also built dozens of elegant private residences in Washington during his long career. Among the best known were "Stewart's Castle" (1873) on Dupont Circle (Massachusetts and Connecticut Avenues, NW), which burned in 1879, and "Shepherd's Row," built in 1872 on the northeast corner of Connecticut Avenue and K Street, NW and named for its developer, Alexander R. Shepherd, who later became mayor.