Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
Pretty and Effective Types of Archi-
lecture Displayed I'm New Buildings.

Pretty and Effective Types of Archi-
lecture Displayed I'm New Buildings.
RESIDENCES NOW BEING ERECTED IN THE CITY ANT
~ TIE srBURBs-A UNIQUE COUNTRY CHAPEL
WHAT Is BEING DONE on THE SUBURBAN ROADS
OTHER MATTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST.
recent officially defunct ofice-holder re-
CARDS with deep satisfaction one incident of his
life in this city. which began with the past adj
ministrAtion and ended with the present.
When he came here to live he bought house
instead OF renting one. He was advised to do
this by those who had some knowledge of this
city. he was also advised that it was a foolish
thing to DO. for the reason that when he was
called upon to give up the ghost of his official
life he would probably be obliged to dispose of
his house at sacrifice. However, he took
what he regarded as the chances and enjoyed
the comforts of good home while he lived
here. Recently his resignation was accepted
and he prepared to move his family back to his
former home. He offered the house for sale and
readily found a purchaser ut an advance Of $500
over what he had paid for il. IL he had been
willing TO wait. he said that he could have OBJ
tanned at least $1,000 more. He regarded.
however. the investment as an excellent one for
him. as he had lived III better house and at a
less rent than if he had leased a house. Count
ing the interest on the purchase money. taxes
and insurance as rent he paid less than S35
per month If he had rented the same house
he would probably have paid at least Si5 per
month. He found that he had paid not only
less rent by buying. but the cost of owning the
property had been reduced by the protit In the
sale. II he had sold the house for what he had
paid for il he would still have enjoyed an adj
vantage. Notable instances Of the same char
acter. only the amounts involved were much
larger, are the purchases of residences here by
VI
sold at an advance.
FAMOUS WORKSHOP.
A relic Of early days along Connecticut ave-
hue was removed during the past week. On
the east side, between Rhode Island avenue
and street, a small brick building has stood
for some years. II was back some distance
from the building line, and was almost hidden
from the street by the trees and shrubbery.
Old residents. and they need not be very old,
either will remember this little house as the
residence of Jardine. the florist. His flower
garden occupied nearly the whole of this square,
which is now built up with handsome private
residences. For number of years past the
house has been used by Alexander Graham
Bell. the inventor of the telephone. Here he
had his laboratory and workshop. The exper-
iments which resulted in the invention of the
graphophone were mainly made in this house
by Mr.. Bell and Mr.. fainter. Mr.. Bell recently
removed his laboratory tot building near the
residence of his father, Melville Bell, in
Georgetown, and, having further for
the Connecticut avenue shop. he had it taken
down. The ground will no doubt soon be i'm
proved by the erection of a residence.
DIR. CURRY's NEW RESIDENCE.
The distinguished yirginian, DR.. J. l.. NJ.
Curry, who was recently the minister to Spain.
has decided to make his home in this city. He
has purchased a lot on " street. east of Con-
1ecticut avenue. and will soon begin the cree
hon of a handsome residence. The house will
adjoin the new residence which is being built
for Mrs. Jas. VI. Carlisle. 1t will be large
rOomy double house. and the design. made by
the architect. James q. Hill, shows a front of
attractive appearance. Brown stone will be
used in the first story and above will be
brick. finished with an ornamental brick cor
nice. The ample frontage of So feet gives an
opportunity for broad treatment. which has not
been neglected There is broad entrance hall.
with rooms on each side. which leads into q
staircase hall. IL feet wide. containing fire.
place. which can be seen from the main en-
trance. The halls will be finished in oak and
the dining in hard Wood. The wood
work III the other rooms will be painted, and
the cOlOrs will be selected to suit the decora-
tlon of the walls.
Mr.. Hill is preparing plans for a residence for
W. T.. Curtis, at the southeast corner of Con-
necticut avenue and 5 street.
LARGE BUILDING ENTERPRISE.
Mr.. E. Francis Riggs, the head of the firm of
Riggs Co., has begun the erection of eight
houses on Riggs street. between 10th and 18th
streets. All the lots in the square fronting on
that street are owned by Mr.. Riggs and those
represented by him. Ii is the intention to re-
move the building line back 10 feet on each side
of the street, and the additional space will be
used for parking. The houses will be three
stories high, and Will be built in a superior
manner. The improvement of the entire street
will be OF the same character, and the other
houses will be erected from time to time This
extensive bulldlDQ pntprurisR will civ
impetus to improvements in that popular
section of the city. Three fine stone residences
are now being built on the street front of the
square, and the erection of other houses on the
square are IN contemplation.
PROF. gILEY's HOUSE N THE COUNTRY
A handsome villa residence will be bnilt by
Prot. c. V. Riley on Wyoming avenue. Wash
ington Heights. The new building will be adj
joining the handsome home of Mr. s. W.
Woodward. of the firm of Woodward Il Lo-
throp, while on the next street is the pictur-
esque residence of Mr.. Parker Mann, with its
lov red roof. There are a number of hand
some residences in the vicinity. and as the
street Is paved, and water and sewer facilities
available. the residents of Washington
Heights do not consider that they are without
tie modern cOnveniences merely because they
live III the country. The plan of the house
which Prof. Riley proposes to build has been
designed By Messrs. Hornblower Il Marshall
architects. and will be fine example of subur-
will rest the brick walls of the first story, and
the upper portion of the structure with its
high roof broken by a tower. gables and dor
meTs. will be Of wood. The line between the
first and second stories will be marked BY belt of
ornamental shingles. The latter covers the
exterior of the wooden portion of the building,
aud the plain effects are further relieved by a
frieze OF ornamental shingles. The house has
southern frontage. On the west side will be
the porte cOchere. while the south and east
sides viii be broad, roOmy porches. At one
corner will be a tower. On the first floor will
be the hall, ParlOr. library, smOking-rOom
Ginlng-roOm aud kitchen. The billiard-room
will be in the basement. feature Of the
dluing-rOom will be the curving windows at
one side near the end. which floods the room
with light. but always indirectly.
IMPROVING SUBURBAN ROADS.
large amount of work on suburban roads
Will be done by the District government during
the present season. The regular force of work.
men will be employed in regulating the roads
and fixing the bitches all through the county
in addition 20 what may be termed the usual
work. provision has been made for opening and
extending several streets. The growth OF the
suburbs Is further recognized by the appropri-
atoms for paving. Heretofore Improvements
of tins character IN suburban streets has been
done at private expense and in consequence
The amount OF paving outside OF the city bounds
Is very limited There are two streets in Wash
ington Heights which are paved with asphalt
and Col Iruesdell Is making arrangements to
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