Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07
CITY AND DISTRICT.
TWO ELEGANT HOUSES.
The residences Erected for Col. John
Lay and H-. Henry Adams.

The residences Erected for Col. John
Lay and 3s-. Henry Adams.
HOUSES WHICH HAVE BEEN MANY MONTHS
BUILDISG-FfNE AND UNIQUE EFFECTS IN
BEICK worK-RICH INTERIOR DECORATIONS
THE CosTLIEsr PRIVATE RESIDENCES IN
WASHINGTON
During the past we IT the two houses in course
OF erection at the northwest corner OF 18th and
ii streets have attracted great deal of atten.
tion- One reason for this Is that the style OF
architecture employed differs widely from the
general character of that which prevails
throughout the city, although monotony has
never been charged as one of the defects in the
design of houses erected here In the great va.
riety of styles which prevails these houses stand
as types of something entirely distinct
The only residence that at ali resembles
them is that OF Gen. ". l.. Anderson at the
southwest corner of 18th and X streets and
this house was designed by Mr. Richardson of
Boston, who Is also tile architect of the houses
IN question. The distinctive feature of these
houses Is thelr massive appearance, which Is
obtained by plain brick walls of unusual thick
ness, with small window openings and a strong
foundation of undressed white Ohio stone. The
basement walls are two feet thick, and the
three stories are surmOunted by high
pitched. roof of slate The only ornamen-
ration in the exterior walls is that
which Is obtained by laying the bricks of
different sizes in curved arches pillars and
ways and In various places in the exterior sur
lace there are designs which have been carved
In the brick after IL was laid in the wall, and
which have very fine effect. The houses are the
finest examples of the effects to be obtained in
IN this city. All the exterior bricks have been
made by the Virginia Brick company of this
architect. Instead of the bricks being IL
inches long, which is the usual size, they are 10
inches long. and those that are used in the win
dow sills, in the rounded sides Of the turrets and
for these houses There are twenty-s six different
designs of bricks used in the building, and with
the exceptions of the foundations and the main
entrance, no stone Is employed.
COL HAYS PALATIAL HOUSE.
The house on the corner belongs to Col John
Hay, who was private secretary to President
Lincoln and Assistant Secretary of State during
the Hayes administration. He is also an author
OF considerable reputation, and the authorship
of the popular novel, "The Bread Winners" has
age OF htty-four feet on III street and ninety feet
on 18th street. The entrance is from 18th
street and has a massive porch of Ohio stone
and n fine brick arch over the doorway the
span of which is about fifteen feet. Passing un-
der this arch through capacious doorway,
the visitor finds himself in a broad central hall
from which a grand staircase ascends to the
upper story. The ceilings and walls are pam
eled and wainscoted with white mahogany n
wood brought from South America. The mas
hIve beams which are exposed in the ceiling
have delicate traeery of carving running
along the edges which is simply exquisite. ON
the right of this hall is the dining room which
Is a grand apartment finished entirely i'm red
mahogany. the rich red cOloring of the
and ceilings giving effects which harmonic
with the other details of the room.
1ashioned fireplace or ingle nook with seats at
fhe sides and mantelpiece of large size that is
n perfect marvel Of the wood carverS art. a
Capacious window seat runs around the WIN
dow looking upon 10th street, and all the de-
which its size produces. Across the hall on the
south side of the house is the library, which is
finished IN oak, with lavisilness of detail that
does not violate the good taste and quiet ele-
gance which characterizes the entire work
The Parlor, which adjoins the library, is a
style. The wood work Is pine painted white
touched with gold. The Inantel at the fire
PEase is delicately carved. There are three
starcases in the house ill addition 10 the grand
central stairway, and a capacious buffers pam
try and other accessories which are necessary
In q house constructed on such grand scale.
THE GRAND STAIR CASE,
which Is well lighted by windows looking into
the back yard, terminates in the second story
in spacious hall, into which the chambers
open. This hall Is lighted by a large skyligh.
fin the roof, and access is gained to the third
upper stories are finished in pine. which are to
be painted in coors which will blend with the
papers to be placed on the walls. Each room
has handsome fireplace with large mantels
nnely carved. There are two bathrooms on
the second hoor one of which is a good-sized
room with the floor and wainscoting of white
porcelain tiling. On the third floor there is an
other bathroom. The attic story, under the
high pitched roof is thrown into one large room3
finished. All the doors in the house are double
be seen The doors are made from special e de-
signs and are very fine examples of pine wood
WORT A water tank in the attic story has be-
meath IL a flooring of sheet lead To guard against
the possibility of leakage, and the pipes that
run along the floor are laid in a trough of lead
an immense range and a large laundry at
1ached. The billiard room is large and has a
IS Wine room, coal room and other conven-
fences In the basement, and the heating is done
by indirect radiation. The rear of the house is
finished as handsomely as the front, and every
detail Is as complete and substantial as skill
and money can make it, The house when com
On ground for which Col Hay paid So pe s. oSt
It Is the most costly private improvement that
has ever been made in this city.
Mr. ADAMS HOUSE
The house which adjoins it on the west be-
longs to Mr.. Henry Adams, the son of Charles
Francis Adams and a writer of considerable
prominence. While in its general features this
house bears resemblance to that of Colonel
The corner house is built on a grand scale, with
great rooms, lofty ceilings, and all the acces-
grandeur % the mind. Mr. Adams house is
smaller 1t has frontage on III street of a.
feet Iss, and depth Of So feet The rooms are,
The nelghboring house, the ceilings are lower
and The entire design gives a more cosy, home.
arrangements are unique in the extreme and
the mousse represents the most advanced phase
OF the prevailing fondness for the ANTIQUE
Inns mousse lSw pat Is known as basement house,
with the main entrance directly Off from the
street Inc mont OF the basement up to the first
noof Is constructed entirely of white Ohio stone
which In places Is exquisitely carved The re,
manning exterior walls built in the same style
and material as the adjoining house. Beneath
the basement Is the cellar, which contains the
steam heating apparatus, coal vaults wine
cellar, &C. The oldest feature of the house is
the main entrance, which, as stated is directly
on from the street and through a low doorway
leads into square hall with a low ceiling This
hall Is paneled and wainscoted in pine which
Is painted white. At one side is a Fireplace
with chimney seats and an elaborate mantel of
pine handsomely carved and painted TO cor
respond with the design OF the hall. From the
center platform staircase leads up To the first
;1oor. This staircase is broad and low and the
]oalusters are very small and set close together
n<nd as seen from below give an odd effect AID.
Joining the hall, but with entrance directly
Stnto H. Is the kitchen. This has windows look
Ing into the street and door which opens
directly into the street. Back of the kitchen is
. pantry, and in the rear OF that Is the laundry
The space back of the main hall Is used for a
dumb walter and a passenger elevator COM
bined and the stairway leading into the cellar
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE ROOMS
The main stairway, which Is well lighted by
windows in the back of the house, leads up into
q hall In the second story, from which the
rooms open There are two rooms in the front