The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-20
CLEvELAND's WASHINGTON HOME
1t VIII Not Be the White House, But
Tia Oh aa-.alr-I Ec.rr.z- AEa-.slc.r,

It VIII Not Be the White House, But
the Old Admiral Porter Mansion.
Presidsnt-elect Cleveland has decided not
TO make the executive mansion bis private
residence on March 4, says a Washington
special 20 the New York Sun, but to estab-
lish branch white house instead. He has
written an autograph letter 60 a prominent
real estate man, authorizing him to rent for
the use OF the President and bis family the
old Admiral Porter homestead, ITO II
street, \. W. This house is one of the
historic landmarks OF Washington and was
occupied by Admiral Porter and his family
for many years. In years gone by it was
the scene Of many brilliant entertainments,
but has been closed since the death Of the
admiral. The house is on the south side of
II street, in the center Of what wes the ariss
tooratic portion Of the city a quarter
OF a century ago. 1t is within three blocks
OF the white house, and is surrounded
by the homes of some of the wealthest
and best known Of the old inhabitants OF
Washington. 1t is q large, old-fashioned.
three-story mansion, built OF brick, painted
to resemble brown stone. 1t Is a double
house, with q small stCop, projecting bay
windows, heavy circular, lrregular-shaped
cornices, and diamond window panes, and
has the general suggestiveness of byRone
days. There are spaciousl and welI-kept
grounds about the house Enclosed on the
est by high brick WALL surmounted
with a row Of big urns. in which years ago
were kept growing plants and flowers
There are no grounds in front Of the house,
1t being built flush with the street. On the
west side there is a large stable and CAR
risge house, the upper portion of which
was for many years used as the business
office of the admiral OF the navy. The
large and handsome house of the Metro
pohtan Club adjoins the Porter house on
the east. being built directly against the
stable wall.
Having been unoccupied for some time,
the Porter mansion has a rather desolate air
to-day, being tightly closed and the front
steps covered with SIX inches of snow. The
small grass plot on either eide OF the front
entrance contains a Dig sign announcing
that the house is for rent furnished. 1t is
not yet known whether Mr.. Cleveland will
rent this house by the mouth or take an an
nual lease. Some weeks ago he decided
that lie would not take his family into the
white house for fear of scarlet fever con-
tagion, the quarantine of the health officer
having been SO recently removed. 1t was
MIR. Cleveland's first intention to occupy
quarters IN the white house himself and
have his family located in an adj acent hotel.
he has always disliked the idea of using the
executive mansion both as a workshop and
a residence, and will probably be glad to
have an excuse to keep out of it himself
It's very unusual thing for President of
the United States TO live anywhere else than
in the executive mansion during his term of
office, and Mr.. Clevelan1's action when he
was President before in buying a summer
home created something of sensation. 1t
had been the custom of Presidents Lincoln,
Grant, Arthur. and one or two of the
other Presidents. to spend a portion of the
summer months in one of the houses be-
longing to the government 10 the soldiers
home grounds adjacent to the city. After
Mr.. Lincoln's occupany of it the house came
to be known as the presidential cottage,
and Mr.. Cleveland was invited to occupy it,
but he disliKed the idea OF having his rent
paid for him by the government, and so be
purchased a home of his own, which he
lived in two or three years and sold at
clean profit of 100000. He probably has
no intention of purchasing the Porter house.
however, and there will be no chance of
real estate speculation even II he did, for it
is very old house, in a very old and built |
up portion of the city, where there is not |
apt to be much of rise in value. Nothing |
can be added TO the desirability of the |
neighborhood by reason of the President |
living there, because it has been an aristo- |
cratic locality for twenty-five years, and |
nothing can now add to it's glory,