The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-21
SUBURBAN HOMES
The Picturesque Places on the Out
skirts of Washington.
ROMANTIC RESIDENCES.
The Rustic Villas, Pretty Cottages
and Imposing Mansions That are
Growing Up Around the National
Capital.
suburban Homes.

1
| not met with that appreciation which their
romantic and picturesque beauties deserve.
1t IS evident however, that the advantages OF
Washington's pleasant surroundings for
homes have been rapidly developing the cree.
tion OF suburban homes. This has especially
been the case during the past four years. aud
more particularly within the past two years.
Yet for years Washington has not been with
out hundreds OF beautiful, comfortable and
healthy homes, which In the summon are per
fectly delightful. The north and northwest
have been the directions In which the erection
Of suburban homes has for the most part
taken Its way.
From Seventh street westward the Boundary
on It's north edo has long been frlngod with
substantial and beautiful homes, set back
among trees and ehrubbery on the elevation
marking the District upward Incline there.
| This fringe extends to tho Columbia road,
| where Connecticut avenue cuts into tho Boun-
the solid appearance which distinguished the
nnto-bellum manor houses IN the South. Sew
enth-street road has also for years had on
both of Its sides, extending from tho Schuetzen
Park, pretty housop, far enough back to pre-
vent the dust Of tho many vehicles that roll
along IL in the summer interfering with q
cool evenings enjoyment on the piazza.
These have boon added to and now as far as
,DTishtwood number OF new houses are to be
seen, They differ from their elderly neighborsN
They are generally OF wood aud built In the
Queen Anne style. one or two are of brick
other TO allow rural freedom to their fortunate
Inhabitants. Beyond Brightwood but little
has in the past few years been added to the
wayeide homesteads.
But ali tho way out to Sandy Springs, Nd,
where is the homestead OF the late Montgom.
cry Blair, are at pleasant intervals suburban
mansions surrounded by groves OF oak ana
pine, with broad lawns, upon which in tho
summer there Is thck, velvety cushion OF
green turf dotted here ana there with whits
stretch OF lawn tennis nets. Some OF these
houses are reached by winding roads, but In
most cases there is long, straight, grayeled
lane leading directly up 10 the front door.
Mount Pleasant has long boon cluster OF
pretty wooden Villas. Beyond It, on what Is
known no the Fourteenth. street road, there
are many old-fashloned stone and brick
| houses. In front OF some OF them there blooms
| tho rye or barley In the summer These old
| places arc very pleasing to the eye as one
| drives along in the cool shade OF tall over.
| hanging trees. In their winters brown aud
| russell they are no less attractive.
| Foufteenthstreet road and seventh.street
Boundary, on ne former road, Is wSsro s there
| is tho best evidence that SUBURBAN Washing.
| ton is becoming most popular location for
| OF the road, and the old Columbian College
estate on the west eide, will In few years bloom
with villas. This is Columbia Heights. Tho
east eide or the road was subdivlded In 1880
into 500 or COO lots, with front OF 30 feet
| each.
Nearly all Of them have been sold. The
| price ranges from fifteen to twenty-five cents
| per foot. Some residences have already boon
| reared and others are going up. The street
| cars run TO whitney avenue, which, at the
| entrance to Mount Pleasant, starts eastward,
| and crossing Seventh street, leads to the Sol
diers' Home. From tho Boundary to Whitney
avenue the road is macadamized. Near Whit
ney avenue, on the east side, there is building
| small, picturesque Episcopal church. II IL
about half nGished. II Will be presided over
by the Rev. Mr.. Forrest, who was formerly
aesistant rector OF Trinity Church. Its mat srial
| is pinkish stone.
| Along the stretch iust beyond the old col.
tn ntpf ufsna Ia
been built recently. They are generally 10
the queen Anne style: The old college
been subdivided. From Gfty to seventy.iive
cents a,foot is asked for lots there South OF the
| college and on the hill there has been for
| many years cluster OF neat cottages, The
| only drawbacks to a residence on the hill and
surrounding heights Is the lack OF water and
sewerage.
away with this Along Columbia Road, which
| winds prettlly from the intersection Of Bound.
airy street to Connecticut avenue around 70
Fourteenth street road, Just beyond the old
College grounds, the property has also been
subdiylded, aud some pretty building has been
| done. Several old houses on that pretty road
will contrast In their eoliditY very prettlly
| with the later style OF architecture which will
prevail in the new houses. Way up on the
| hill at the intersection of Connecticut avenue
| and Boundary street Is ono OF tho prettest old
| houses In the country. 1t has an old-fashioned
| lodge gate. The house IS but dimly outlined
| through the thick and stately OLD trees that
II
Lie Droit Park is another suburban place OF
| residence. There are between sixty aud sew
| enty villas there. They have been crested at
| cost ranging from $1,000 90 $4,000 Each
| villa has capacious lawn. Flowers and fruit
| trees are plentiful. good many or the Villas
| have flower gardens. There are about thirty
acres in the Park, which was subdivided ten
| years ago. Tho Park has wator and sewerage.
| The completion OF the new reservoir VIII give
| additional activity TO building there. To the
| northeast Of the PARK, running out Into the
| country, there are foads and lanes dotted with
| those old houses and grounds which form go
| pleasant part Of suburban Washington.
over Georgetown way nothing ls doing. Bat
| nothing could be prettier than those old
houses on the Helghts, with their ample
grounds, broad halls and piazzas They have
stood there for years. They bring forcibly to
mind the old colonial days. Beyond the
| Georgetown Heights the roads leading into
the country are very picturesque. Country
| homes, combining comfort, convenience and
| pretty architecture are found there.
Old suburban Washington Is solid aud rest
full. The middle stage is picturesque and not
quite as substantial. The present is airy and
| more ornamental. The future Will be like the
present, though little more emphatic.