The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-24

Some of the Beauties of the Mansion
Recently Purchased by the Senator.
A ROOmy and Beautifully-Located House, in
Which Mrs. LOgan'S Decorative Skill
Shows with Fine Effect.
Of the India napolis Journal.

! Correspondence Of the India napolis Journal
| WAsHINGToN, Aug. 2i.-Fifty years ago
gentleman named Stone, together with his wife,
were the chief engravers for the government
| They grew rich, and retired and, desiring to
end their days in peaceful pursuits, they pur-
| chased farm of 300 acres on the heights over
looking Washington City. This farm was then
several miles from the center of business, and
Stone and his good wife had no idea that the
capital of the Republic would ever extend it's
miles of broad streets anywhere near them.
They desired to be away from the hustle and
crowds of the city, and at the same
time to have a home in which they
might welcome their friends Stone decided
to build a house after his own ideas,
and he built it. 1t stands to-day and has
| for the second time become an object of national
interest The house is a huge square structure
| of two stories, with four equasized rooms
each floor, and broad, roomy hall running
| through it. 1t is of brick, built upon honor"
and is even at this late day one of the most solid
houses in Washington. Originally there were
wings at each side aud an extension in the rear
| but one of the wings has been torn down and
the other has been turned into a handsome con-
| SerNaJOry DelOW anu Offices ABOVE Inc foIOu0
| House" as it is known, has just been purchased
by Senator Logan, and it is here that his beaut-
full wife will greet cordially the hundreds who
will visit the General during the remainder Of
his life in Washington.
When your correspondent called on Wednes-
day last he found the General in company with
friend admiring handsome "grandfather's"
clock which had just been sent in. Mrs. Logan
was supervising the work of the servants, who
were busy Settling UP" the rear rooms
Il shall not apologize for my appearance, said
the lady as she emerged from the rear of a pile
OF antique furniture which had just been dumped
in by the draymen. II am in the midst of
my new household cares, and will simply
welcome you and gladly show you through our
| house"
An inspection followed. First the parlors,
which occupy the entire first floor. These were
nearly in their normal condition. They are
beautiful, high-ceed rooms, which in their
paper and paint decorations DO great
credit to Mrs. Logans taste. They are filled
with mahogany furniture OF antique patterns,
| which Mrs Logan has succeeded in gathering
together from the brica brac dealers through
the city. Mrs. Logan is not parading them as
family heirlooms but with charming naivete
says they are second hand Here in the west
room is table that served Carroll of Carroll
ton, the celebrated Marylander of years ago, as
side board, and that glittered with the crystal
in many banquet in one of the old Virginia
mansions. 1t leans against the wall. Mahogany
chairs and tables fill the corners, and the visitor
is struck with feeling of fitness everywhere.
| In the rooms on the other side of the hall the
! wOrkmen still buSily engaged in polishing I'D
| the brass work, and in touching up the paint. .
| Heaps of furniture are covered to keep out the
| dust, and, in fact the rooms have the appear
| ance of all houses which are just receiving new
| occupants. Above the chambe in tone with
the rest of the house, are furnished with old
| mahogany.
| Mrs. Logan's room in the front commands a
| splendid view of the whole city and the broad
| Potomac down far as Alexandria. Turkish
| rugs cover the floor, and some of the Generals
| treasures are scattered about the rooms. Here
| too. is a dressing cease before which President
| Buchanan made his toilet 1t is old fashioned
mahogany affair, with the brass decorations
of half century ago Mrs. Logan
found it hidden away among lot of antique
stuff which the dealer has had since he sold its
companion-piece to Mrs. r. b. Hayes, who still
has it in her house in Fremont, o.
Next to Mrs Logan's room, and Immediately
over the front hall, the General has his den
This room is the smallest in the main building
but it is quite large as modern rooms go. 1t is
furnished for study and is to be used for the
| Generals private quarters.
| To the east of this room is another large
chamber. in which are arranged Indian clubs,
boxing gloves fencing foils, and other phara-
phrenalia which denote the presence of Young
America. This room is occupied by Manning
Logan, the Generals son. who will probably
reside with his parents in the future.
The rear rooms, which command magnificent
| views of the Soldiers Home and the heights to
the north of the city, are for Mrs Tucker, the
daughter. and for guests. They. too are furn-
ished in mahogany in keeping with the rest of
the house.
Over the conservatory the General will have
his Offices Here he will attend to his CORE
spondence and his official work. and he will spend
great portion of his time at home in this
section of the house.
Everything about the place is of the most
| solid character The walls are solid brick, from
the cellar floor to the roof The NANTES are
solid. heavily carved Egyptian marble. All the
wood work is as sound to-day as when 1t was first
placed in position. The columns which support
| the portico are of massive granite, Imported
from Scotand in fact, there is an air of solidity
in everything about the place which is seldom
met with in the houses OF recent date The
home will prove an exceedingly pleasant one for
the General and his family and Mrs. Logan can
have full vent to entertain her hosts Of friends.
| No lady in official circles has so many as the
| wife of the Illinois Senator.
| General Logan said to day: when L first
came to Washington this place was part OF
! large farm. After the war | was encamped
along this road, and this very building was used
as a hospital where many Of the poor fellows IN
my corps had their wounds attended 10. 1
| bought the house because | wanted a home. l
| am sick and tired of boarding houses, and be-
| lieVe that can save money Dy owning tnlS
| place"
| The ground around the place amounts to
| about one acre, and it is reported that the pur-
chase price was 500, 600. s. II.