The morning times., 1895-07-28
FAMOUS BETHEL COTTAGE
First House in Washington Lighted
by Gas.
For Many Years the Home of a
ceived With Hospitality.

III riding on the F street cars going east,
just after the turn at the Baltimore and
OHIO depot, have you ever noticed the
cottage on the hill at the northeast corner
of Delaware avenue and c street? 1t
stands high on the embankment that is
walled up with stone, and before the march
OF improvements in that part Of the city,
comma uded a magnificent view of the city,
even extending way to the dim heavy
outlines of Virginia s lofty hills. It's pic
turesque situation at once attracts the
attention of the passerby, and often
inquiries are made concerning it. When
first erected some sixty years ago, by man
named Crutchett, Eethel cottage was
justly considered one of the most desirable
homes in Washington.
Under the main entrance is broad
arched hallway leading to the basement
of the house, aud while on a level with the
street, it is built under the hill and is
guarded by a large grated iron door.
Entering a small wooden gate beside
the iron door, several flights of stairs
bring you to the broad piazza extending
along the front of the house, and TO the
nain entrance OF one of the most historic
old homes of Washington in the early fifties.
Here as far back as 1S47 and during the
Thirtieth aud Thirty-first Cong gresses,
the Hon. Isaac Edward Morse, representa-
tive from Louisiana, and his accomplished
wife entertained the most ilustrious men
ofthe time, when, too, statesmen werefewer
than now.
Mr.. Morse, being a yealthy planter and
possessor of several hundred slaves selected
Bethel cottage when he traDsplanted his
home to tho National CaDital
1t was also-kuowD as Crutchett's Cottage
after the original owner, who is represented
rs having been a very eccentric individual,
a rather odd combination of brains, good
fellowship, science and the possessor of
rare Inventive genius; yet, witnal looked
upon by his friends as a visionary.
After building the cottage which was
intended for the use OF his own family Mr..
Crutchett found himself unable TO main
tain it, and { was tt-en that the Hon.
Isaac Z. Morse secured the lease.
TheUnique features ofthe original owners
eccentrcities begin at the porch where
the cedar posts are nlarvelS of size. or
the four upholding the porch the smallest
is at least twelve inches in diameter, the
Others varying TO fully fourteen. On the
top Of the lattice hand rail were beautiful
boxes OF Towering plants, and at the
sides the trunpet nlant ana WI lSteria climbed
in wild luxuuanc--.
Entering, the wide hallway Is bright and
WE'LL lighted. On the left is the large
drawing room, the various doors OF which
have a quaint, old-fashiOned air borrowed
from the round tops so much admired in
those days. Along the outer wall Of the
drawing room extends the Conservatives,
for which Mr.. Morse brought from his
Southern home many rare species native
to that climate, but rarties so far north
in those days. On the right of the hallway
the library and dining rooms were located.
The house contains twenty-one rooms, spa
cious, low -eeilinged, old-fashioned, but
well lighted and arranged.
The second floor, devoted TO living
purposes, contains four large bedrooms
with bath and from several of them little
porches extend, adding materially to the
picturesque effect Of the whole house. In
the gables are also bedrooms, and the
arched Railways and circular frames sug-
gest memories of the old colonial days
In the basement are several large rooms,
but the main interest centers in the arched
hallway under the steps leading to the
rooms beyond. About the time that Mr..
Morse leased the cottage, Mr.. Crutchett
wasdeepl yintereStedjnthe thennew process
OF manufacturing Illuminating gas, and
petiUoned Congress to make an appropria-
tion for the purpose OF testing it with a
view to its use for lighting the city
congressman were slow to believe the
representations of the wel-known vision
ary and refused to credit the possibilities
argued in favor of the Light of future
days" To demonstrate his theory prac-