Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-28
THE BUILDING BOOM.
Some Magnificent New HOuses-Washiugton
becominG a City Of Pnlaces-The Growth
About DupOnt Circlc-Other Localities,

Some Magnificent New Houses-washiugton
Becoming a City of Pnlaces-The Growth
About Dup0nt Circlc-Other Localities,
A few years ago the street cars that ran out
Connecticut avenue to Georgetown passed
through wild stretch Of land covered with
matted underbrush, with now and then q frame
shanty. Like other parts Of the city, streets
and avenues had been laid out, and small park,
known now as Dupont Circle, was inclosed and
planted with shrubbery. People that passed by
In the cars must have smiled at this evidence of
the confidence in the growth of the city 50 far
In advance Of the actual state Of affairs. But
from the time when the city was laid out by
George Washington, the people Of the country
have been accustomed to sheer at the wide and
spacious avenues and streets running
through woods, swamps and fields.
and and, the ns.,o, c9ntemptuous expression OF
nifcent distances" has chung to the capital city
ever since The gradual realization of the pro-
phetic wisdom of the founder has, however,
stripped the expression of its sarcastic meaning.
Still. people laughed when ex-senator Stewart,
of Nevada. built his magnificent house (styled
Stewart Castle in the midst of these desOlate
commons, fronting Dupont Circle, and it stood
there for years the only landmark in the wild
wastes. But to-day the finest architectural de-
signs cluster around this circle and each year
Is adding other magnificent structures. Men,
ton has been made. from time to time. in THE
STAR. or the completion OF these residences,
but a reference to those now in progress of erec-
ton will be of interest.
THE BLAINE HOUSE.
Just west of Mr.. Stewards residence on Goth
street stately pile of brick is conspicuous, now
needing but the finishing touches to complete
the details of its handsome design. This is the
residence which ex-Secretary Blaine is building
for his own use. The house is very large one.
the ground plan measuring 20 by IS feet. The
main entrance opens into hall Is feet wide and
As feet in length. the ceilings and wainscoting
of which are of paneled oak. There is a hand
some mantel and fireplace in the hall. The
staircase, which ascends from hail 30 feet wide
at right angle from the center of the main hall,
Is also OF oak. with carved oak balusters and
artistic newell posts all the way up to the third
floor. The halls on each floor have fire places
at the western end and carved oak columns and
paneled oak wainscotings and ceilings. The re-
ceptiOn room and parlOr are finished in black
walnut and the dining room, library and draw
ing room are in mahogany. All these rooms
are on the first floor, the three latter being 20
by 25 feet and the other two somewhat smaller,
and all can be thrown into one room.
The dining room has wanscOting of mahOg
any five feet eight inches HIGH terminating in
narrow shelf, on which saucerS and plates of
The library window. like all on the first two
floors, is single pane of plate glass aud opens
on the porch running across the entire rear of
the house. The roof of the porch forms a bal
cony with an ornamental railing around it on
the second floor, The library, which has high
wainscOting OF mahogany, is to have bookcases
on three Sides made after a special design.
These will be five feet high, surmounted by
paneed wainscOtng two feet high, all of ma
hogany. very handsome desk will be made
n n hpfyX ind Tbn oil &c
between two long windows and its shelf has
consoles on each side with very elaborate lions
heads on them Above the mantel is plate
glass mirror with two shelves. The fireplace
will be bordered with very handsome tiles.
The woodwork on the second and third floors
Is poplar. The wainscOting is of Georgia pine.
Adjoining the bed room to be occupied by Mr..
Blaine on the second floor is Russian hot air
bath. as we'll as the ordinary bath. The cost of
the house will be about $50, 600, and will be
ready for occupancy in six weeks.
OTHER FINE HOUSES.
Below Mr.. Blaine's residence. on Massa-
chusetts avenue, between 2lst and 22d streets,
and opposite Judge Hillyers home, Mr.. Law
renee Sands began this week the erection of two
handsome houses each 25 feet front. These are
to be three stories high, with press brick fronts
and brOwnstOne trimmings. They will be three
rooms deep and fhe interior finished in natural
woods with hard wood trimmings, The parlOrs
will be finished in mahogany and the dining
rooms in oak. The corner blocks. holdings,
DOORS &c, are made from special designs pre-
pared by the architects. Gray and Page The
cost will be about 512. 600 each.
A BATCH OF NEW BUILDINGS
On Monday last Mr.. J. c. Hillyer began the
erection on Hiyer avenue, between 21st and
22d and Q and streets, of five houses. These
houses will be Of the renaissance style, three
stories high, press brick front, with terra Gotta
trimmings. Each house will be of q different
design, while of the same general style The in
teriors will be finished in the modern style. with
handsome mantels tiled hearths, and platform
stair cases. The cost of the row will be about
S35O 600.
An elegant residence, now under roof and
which will be ready for occupancy this fall has
been erected by Miss NJ A. Peet, on New Hamp-
shire avenue, just south of Dupont circle 1t is
built in the modern renaissance style, of selected
red brick laid in red mortar The interior is
very attractive, finished in natural woods, with
handsome carved oak screen on the stair case
The wood mantes, DC, are from special designs
by the architects, Gray & Page. The COSTS about
$S5 600.
On 10Th street, south Of Dupont Circle, Mr..
David Windsor is erecting four fine houses
two with the Octagon windows and two with
the bay windows. The interiors are finished in
elegant style. The cost is $4,000 apiece
Just below street. on Connecticut avenue,
There IS q snOTC street running through the
block to 18th, which is known as
JEFFERSON PLACE.
Both sides of the street are lined with elegant
new houses, making it one Of the most striking
in the city. Gen. Lippett has just completed in
this street a three-stOry brick at a cost of
96, 500. Next to this Mr.. J. NJ Johnson is erect
ing two houses two stories high, with mansard
roof and modern finish, at cost of $500
each. Mr.. George Lemon ia also building q
row of houses in this street similar to the row
erected by him last year, the cost being
$35 900.
While elegant residences are springing up
around Dupont circle in such numbers as to fiji
| the occasional visitor with surprise, yet the
VICINITY OF SCOTT CIRCLE
can claim priority in rank as to the value of the
residences recently erected there and the prom
inence of their owners. There are at least eight
houses in that vicinity which, on fair average,
cost $50. 900 each and some of them much more.
There is the Broadhead house, which Prof. Bell.
| the inventor Of the telephone and the present
owner, is now fitting up for the occupancy of
his family. Then comes Senator Cameron's
stately mansion, rivaled In size and solid ele-