Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-10
THE CARROLL MANsION SOLD,
One Of the Historic Land Marks Of the
CITY,

Inc OLD Carroll mansion on Capitol Hill
mas just been sold to ex-Representatiev E. John
Ellis, Oh Louisiana, for 1000. The place
comprises some six acres, and is situated at the
intersection of I'd street and South Carolina
avenue southeast The brick mansion, which
was erected by Daniel Carroll, still stands In
the center OF the grounds surrounded by fine
OLD trees. Daniel Carroll was one of the origi-
nal proprietors of the land upon which this city
is built, and his tract of land which was known
as Duddington Manor, extended on both sides OF
south Capitol and North Capitol streets, from
street south to street north, and included
ine ground now occupied by the Capitol build
tween 80 street east and Sd street west,
rs 1ar as Indiana avenue, and from that
and srd street east. The house e. which has just
been sold was the manor house of this large pos
session, and was rented by Daniel Carroll shortly
tai city. Mr.. Carroll had begun the erection OF
house on site which stood right in the certer
OF what L'Enfant had marked out In the plan
OF the city, as New Jersey avenue. The irascibie
Frenchman, as soon as he discovered this di-
rected the house to be to be torn down, which
Mr. Mr.: Carroll refused to DO. Thereupon tEnfant
ground. L'Enfant, however, was soon
were Entrusted with the work of laying out the
new city and erecting the public buildings made
proper compensation to Mr.. Carroll for the dam
"DO ouSeoALSu. Sooou aiecI WhIuS lac ocSul tHc
erection of the present building. 1t is built in
the Grecian style, and IS two stories high with
an attic story. There Is a pillared pOrtfco in
front. The central hall, occupying the entire
depth of the building, is twenty-five feet wide.
The rooms, which are very large, are arranged
on each side of this hall, and with the old-fash-
Toned furniture, and the secluded position of
the house, the place Is strongly suggestive of
old times. The house has been continuously &C.
cupied by the family since its erection, but
at present the only occupants are two maiden
daughters of the original owner. In the early
years OF the capital city this house, with the
Van Ness mansion, were the most notable pri-
vate residences here, and the wealth of the
occupants enabled them to dispense q lavish
hospitality. The brick wall which surrounds
the place was erected in 1915. The grading of
the streets, which was done In 1872 under the
BOARD OF public works, left the old place at a
considerable elevation and caused the wall to
fall in places. In 1912 the fine brick stables
were destroyed by fire. Daniel Carroll died in
ls49, at the aye of 80. His latter years
He was, however, land poor. as the
city did not improve as rapidly as
he thought it would, and many OF his specu-
latons in the line of erecting, houses only added
to the burden OF u large landed property which
gave no return. He has the reputation Of hay
Ing caused the city to be built In the west sec
ton by holding his land at such exorbitant fig
ures as to prevent purchasers from buying.
While there Is DO doubt but what he in com
mon with others thought that the future city
would be mainly about the Capitol building
! and fixed his prices accordingly, yet there are
| records showing that he offered to give build
Ing sites To those who would erect houses, and
in other ways held out inducements for the i'll
vestnent Of capital.