- Morris Cafritz
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Morris Cafritz (1887? - 1964) was a Washington, D.C. real estate developer, and philanthropist.
Contents
Life
His family immigrated from Lithuania, to Washington, D.C. They lived at 2706 N Street, in Georgetown. He bought produce for his father's grocery store. He studied at the Corcoran School.[1] He studied at the National Law University. He bought the Star Coal and Coke Company, at 315 Q Street. In 1911, he owned a saloon, the Old-Timer's Bar, at 8th Street and K Street, Southwest, Washington, D.C.[2] He operated bowling alleys.
He joined his cousin, in the development of Park Place, near 7th Street. [3] In 1922, he started the development of Petworth, where he sold houses for $8,950,[4] or financed for $1 down and $75 a month. [5] He developed the Greenwich Forest neighborhood.[6]
He built the Ambassador Hotel, at 14th an K Street; the Westchester Apartments in 1932;[7] and the Majestic Apartments.[8]
Cafritz house, now The Field School
He built a home at 2301 Ridge Road, N.W.[9]
In 1949, he built the Cafritz Building, at 1625 Eye Street.[10] He developed along K Street, building office buildings at 1725 K, 1725 I, and 1735 I Streets.[11]
Philanthropy
He was a charter member of the YMHA, in Washington, D.C. He raised $250,000 to build the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center.[12][13] He was president of the Jewish Community Center.[14] In 1964, he offered to donate the Keith theater as a performing arts center.[15]
He founded the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, in 1948,[16] funding it with half his estate, $11 1/2 million.[17]
The Morris Cafritz Center for the Arts is named for him.[18][19]
Family
He married Gwendolyn Detre de Surany, in July 1929;[20] they had three children.[21]
References
- ^ Solomon, pp. 1-2
- ^ Solomon, p. 11
- ^ Solomon, pp. 14
- ^ Solomon, p. 16
- ^ http://www.myja.org/halloffame/history/laureates/biography_Morris_Cafritz.html
- ^ http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/historic/documents/RevisedGreenwichForestHD_MIHPform_8202009.pdf
- ^ http://westchesterdc.com/sub_category_list.asp?category=13&title=Building+History
- ^ http://www.blackburnarch.com/portfolio/project-detail.php?id=163
- ^ Soloman, p. 32
- ^ Solomon, pp. 68-70
- ^ Solomon, p. 115
- ^ Solomon, pp. 18-19
- ^ http://www.jhsgw.org/exhibitions/online/jewishwashington/exhibition/the-center-of-it-all
- ^ Solomon, p. 368
- ^ Solomon, p. 114
- ^ http://www.cafritzfoundation.org/about/about.asp
- ^ Solomon, p. 153
- ^ http://www.dcjcc.org/center-for-arts/
- ^ Solomon, p. 368
- ^ Solomon, p.22
- ^ Susan Heller Anderson (December 01, 1988). "Gwendolyn Cafritz, 78, Washington Hostess". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/01/obituaries/gwendolyn-cafritz-78-washington-hostess.html.
Sources
- The Washington Century: Three Families and the Shaping of the Nation's Capital, William Morrow, November 9, 2004, ISBN 9780066213729
External links
Categories:- Real estate and property developers
- 1964 deaths
- American philanthropists
- Lithuanian expatriates in the United States
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