Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-25
CITY AND DISTRICT.
IMPROVING THE CITY.


A Promising Activity for the Begin.
ming of the Systematically Private
Residences and Moderate Priced
Houses Going Up i'm all Parts of the
City.
Next week work will be begun on the con-
templated improvement of the National hotel,
which was remodeled a few years ago. A gall
vanzed iron cOrnice and balustrade of modern
design will be erected on the Pennsylvania
avenue and 9th street fronts. An elaborate
transparent clock dial. five feet In diameter,
will be placed in the center of the Avenue front.
The corners of the building will be faced with
bevelled quoins, giving the whole massive
appearance. All the old wooden skyights will
be replaced with the latest improved New York
metallic ventilating skylights. The contract
for this work has been awarded to Otto l..
Wolfsteiner. The entire roofis to be replaced
under the direction of \. :. Johnson. When
finished the hotel will present IL very attractive
appearance Further Improvements are in
contemplation.
AN AVENUE IMPROVEMENT.
Mr.. Christian RUPERT is about to commence
the erection of a store and dwelling on Penn
sylvania avenue, between I'd and Sd streets.
The store will be is feet wide by go feet in
depth. The entire depth of the building is 90
brick and will cost $500. Geo. Emmert, jr,
Is the architect.
A FAMOUS OLD HOUSE.
Col. VIM. L. Brown. of the New York Ne,cs.
and the sOn-in-law of Gen. ". l.. Jeffries of this
city, has purchased the Tayloe house on Lafay-
cite square, for $4,000 This is one of the
notable residences in the city, where for years
the leading people in society have been enter
tanned and graceful hospitality dispensed.
The house was built in 1S2S by Mr.. Ogle Tay-
loe, who leased it to Thomas Swami for one
year at 5000 on account OF the incoming of
President Jackson, to whom he was politically
opposed. Mr.. Tayloe took up his residence
there in 1929, and continued there until he
went abroad in May, 1866. After his death in
Rome, in 1865, Mrs. Tayloe returned to the
house and remained till her death IN October,
1884.
NEW HOME FOR coLoRED WOMEN AND chill
DREN-
Inspector Entwisle has prepared plans for
the extension of the building for the National
Association for Destitute Colored Women and
Children at the head of 9th street extended. 1t
is duplicate of the present north building
erected year ago. 1t will be three stories in
height, and in size it will be 80 feet by 1O2;
when completed the whole building, including
the new addition. will be 40 by 80 feet. The
cost will be $4,000.
SUBURBAN RESIDENCES TO BE ERECTED
Mr.. Harvey L. Page, of the firm of Gray &
Page, architects, has purchased of Mr.. r. c.
Fox his country place on Rock creek, known as
RosemOnt. Mr.. Pages partner, Mr.. Gray, ex-
poets, at an early day. to erect for his own use
summer home on a portion of this property.
Mr.. Charles ]. Bell of Bell & Co, will soon COM
mence to build a summer residence upon the
property recently purchased by him of Mr.. o. c.
Green, lying on the west side of Rock creek to
the north OF Woodley road. Capt. Sawyer has
just purchased from Mr.. Walter Paris, archi-
tect, a building site on the north side of Boun-
dairy street. between 18th and 18th streets.
upon which he proposes to build at once a resi-
dence for his own use.
MIR. FERGUsoN's BIG HOUSE.
One of the most remarkable buildings that
has ever been erected for private residence in
this city is the one now nearly completed on
the square at oath and NJ Streets north of the
Columbia hospital 1t is built by Col. David
Ferguson, a gentleman of wealth, who has spent
many years in Mexico, and is now building a
home for himself in this city modelled some
what on the plan of the Mexican houses. 1t is
two stories high, and has a front OF 100 feet and
depth OF about as feet. There is IA central
hall, with a roof of iron and glass, with a bal
cOny running around it. which gives access to
the apartments on the second floor. This hall is
40 feet long and "a feet wide. The house is now
completed, with the exception of the interior
finish and has cost, so far, about $50, 900. 1t is
situated back some distance from the street
and as the ground occupies half "A square. there
will be ample lawns. In its exterior appearance
the house is plain but massive, and in its size
and caStellated style of architecture resembles
the residences of wealthy English land owners
The architect was Mr.. a. b. Mullett.
COSTLY PRIVATE RESIDENCES.
The number of fine private residences in this
city has received several very notable additions
in the past year and several are now in course
of erection. One of the most costly houses ever
erected here and at the same time one of the
most elegant is that of Gen. y. l.. Anderson, at
the corner of 18th and n streets. The design
is one OF Richardson's. the Boston architect, and
attracts attention from the massiveness of the
walls and the high pitched roof. The Interior
however, affords rich effects in wood work
the walls and ceilings of the hall, the dining
room. and the library being completely covered
$4,000.
The same architect also designed the houses
now in progress of erection at the corner of
18TH and FL streets for Col. John Hay and Mr..
Henry Adams, the former to cost about $780,
OOO and the latter about $4,000.
MIR. Richardson is now engaged in making
the plans for a fine residence to be erected by
MIR. Il. H. Warder, on the north side of K
street, between 10th and 10th streets. which
will be another notable addition to the elegant
private residences here. Ex-senator Yulee'S
house, on Connecticut avenue, which las re-
Gently been completed, and is now occupied by
the owner, cost 100000. Mrs. Patten is now
erecting on Massachusetts avenue residence
which Is only another illustration of the ten
dency OF which the above are instances. The
erection of costly private residences in this city
seems TO be on the increase.
HOUSES GOING Up.
A fine residence is being erected by Mrs. ]. H
Ashton at the southeast corner of 18th street
and Massachusetts avenue, which will cost
$4,000.
Two residences are being erected by Mr.. Rob't
streets, at a cost of $4,000. Mr. Curtis j. Hill
yer is erecting on the same street four dwellings
al a cost of S2S, 900. These six dwellings when
completed will be great improvement to that
vicinity.
Swormstedt & Bradley are building four
houses on 18th street, between and II streets
southeast, at a cost of 81, 800.
Dir: Henry A. Willard is remodeling the
building 1920 street. TO be used for office pur-
poses. The old building, 1914 F street. occu-
pied as the Washington Office of the Baltimore
sur, Is being renodeled by the owner, Mr.. C. c.
Willard.
Judge Richardson, of the Court of Gains. ia
building handsome residence at the northeast
corner OF 18th and II streets, which will cost
100000.
Two 3-story houses are being erected by Mr..
James keleher on Missouri avenue, between
~ and 9Th streets, at a cost of $751; 900.
MIR. Chas- w. King is building five 2-story
houses on Massachusetts avenue, between 9th
and 9TH streets northeast. at a cost of $4,000
Also, two 2-stOry houses on street. between
9th and 1th streets northeast, at a cost of
81 900.
Sixteen 2-story dwellings are being built by
MI II. ID. Boteler, in the alley between 9th and
10Th and NJ and streets, at cost OF SO 600
Mr. John Lynch is building a residence on
31st street, between p and q streets at a cost of
$4,000.
Mr. $. j. Block is about to erect three a-storv
houses on street, between 9th and nth streets
northeast, at cost of 81 ,OOO
At the Chapel Door.
Written for THE EVENING STAR
Let me stand in the shade of the portal,
The night-wind Is wailing so shrill;
The snow-hakes fall fast on my forehead
My blood courses feeble and Chill
But III see him come forth from the marriage
Let the winter wind sting as it will
The lamps in the chancel arc o,oarpfno