Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-19
Edgewood Was Not Sold at Auo-
ton as Expected.
A DELAY FOR A MONT 4
Historic Old Property, and the List
of Prominent Owners.
o FF E r s r E FfU S E D


ingly at the little group of men which
gathered on the green lawn in front Of it
yesterday evening. His tail raped no well
come greeting and the head resting be-
tween the extended forepaws might have
contained some instructive foreboding of
what the little assemblage meant. A Jer-
sey heifer in the leiless lilac-hedged In
closure lowed mournfully; the sentinel-like
cedars surrounding the lawn and garden
seemed more somber and solemn than
ever: the dense honeysuckle vines that
give the air a riot of sweetness in the
spring and cause even travellers on the
Edgewood road to pause and inhale their
fragrance dropped their leaves discon-
solately, and oI er all the place there hung
an indefnable atmosphere that foreboded
a departure of the glory OF the good old
times that it had known.
Everything animate and inanimate ap-
peared to know that Edgewood was to be
sold, and that after the ruthless hands of
the auctioneer had clapped acquiescence
to the highest bid the property would be
slopes leveled to the commercial monotony
of a suburban subdivision, and the fields
cut up into squares and again into lots
and disposed of at foot prices to those
who wished to build homes away from the
hustle and confusion of the city.
To one familiar with Edgewood, who had
known of it's wide acres and bounteous
hospitality when Washington Berry had
lived there in the house he had built him
self of bricks burned on the place itself:
who had romped through it's high ceilinged
rooms careless of the sound of Early's
cannon booming out near Brightwood,
when Thomas Contee Magruder and his
family Inhabited it, the boys in which
Magruder, and who had known it later
when Chief Justice Chase was alive. and
nearer to the present still when his beau
tiful daughter drew to it's charming retreat
the wealth and fashion and Intellect of the
capital, the occasion was fraught with
sorrow and pity.
There was no smiling mistress waiting at
the porch to welcome the laughing guests !;
there were no stable boys, eager to lead
the spirited horses to their resting places;
windows. blue-blOuSed workman looked
at the gathering with scornful disdain, for
he knew its members were not inspired by
the beauty of the dear old place or the
of the panorama that lay
stretched out before It, but were looking 1t
over in the purely mercenary sense Of
wondering how much they would have to
bid. and what would be the chances of
making a few dollars in the future in case
the auctioneer nodded their way.
Respite Granted.
But there was to be respite in the SEN
tence OF necessity that brought Edgewood
to the block AS the hour advertised for
its sale approached, Mr. c. c. rDuncanson,
the auctioneer. drove up and announced
that the sale had been postponed until
January nth. To the representative of
The Star Mr.. Duncanson said that the
postponement had been granted by the
trustees, at the request of the counsel of
Mrs, Chase. 1t is understood that arrange
ments have been almost completed by
which the property will be disposed of in
the meantime at a private sale, to the
greater advantage of Mrs. Chase, but
nothing definite can be learned Of the de-
tails. ... E.
Historic Spot.
The history of Edgewood is a part Of
that of the District of Columbia. The farm
originally consisted of 80 acres, and was
owned by the late Washington Berry. 1t
extended from the line of the Metrop Dill
tan railroad over to the Glenwood road,
and "Berry's woods was the favorite
picnic place around Washington for many
years. The original house was a large dou-
BILE structure, with wide halls and immense
rooms on either side, the ceilings Of which
were remarkably high. The frescoes rum
ming around the upper parts of the walls
in these rooms were eXcellently executed
and represented the fruits of agriculture.
This house was built of bricks burned on
the place in a kiln erected on the plat
near present lexington. In 1857 Mr.. ThOs.
Contee Magruder moved on the property
and resided there until the fall of 1867,
when the farm was cut up into five and
ten-acre lots and sold at auction. Among
the purchasers were Walter d. Davidge,
John T. Lehman and other well-known
Westinghouse and Chief Justice Chase,
who purchased the Berry home lot and
forty acres surrounding it. 1t was gene
ally believed at the time that Senator
Sprague, who had just married Miss Kate
Chase, bought the property and presented
1t to his father-in-law. In any event, it
became the home, a year or two later, Of
the chief justice of the United States, and
h resided there until his death.
Previous to that he bad lived in the old
Hill house, at the corner of 9th and f
streets northwest, and just before his re-
moval to Edgewood the memorable fete
given by Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague was
held there. But two other social enter
talnments in the social history of the cap
ital ever equaled the Sprague party, and
these were the balls of the Spanish min
lister, Mantilla, and the Mexican minister,
Zamacona. The entire Chase mansion was
given over to the festivities and the wide
lawn west of the residence was covered
with a marQuise tent, in which an elabor-
ate banquet was served.
After the removal to Edgewood additions
were made to the Berry mansion until 1t
reached its present proportions, and 1t was
here, after the death of her father, that
the sad domestic Affections which his gift
ed daughter suffered uncomplainingly for
so many years and until forbearance be-
came impossible began. When further
residence at Edgewood became unbearable
Mrs. Sprague, after the divorce, went to
England and superintendent the education
of her daughter Ethel, who is now an act
ress of considerable repute.
Offers Refused.
During her absence Edgewood was some
times vacant, and at other periods rented
for boarding house purposes, but upon her
return she reoccupied it. During the great
boom in suburban real estate several years
ago Mrs. Chase was offered immense sums
for the property, but declined them steadi-
ly in spite of the advice of her friends. 1t
is said that as high as $1S0,UOO cash was
offered just after lexington was laid out.
She spent great deal of money on the
property, and some years ago undertook to
run dairy farm, but it was unsuccessful
Naturally, and by her education, woman
of somewhat eXtravagant tastes, Mrs.
Chase went deeper and deeper into debt,
and the result was seen yesterday In the
red flags that dotted the boundary of
Edgewood 1t was Mrs. Chase's intention
to dispose of all the personal effects be-
longing to her, contained In the Edgewood
house, at auction today, in case the prop
erty had been disposed of yesterday, but
the announcement has been made that
this sale will now take place January z
The trustees who are to sell the prop
erty to secure an Indebtedness OF $4,000
are Marshal A. A. Wilson and Mr.. John B.
Larner, but there are other debts aggre-
eating a large amount in addition. 1t is