Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13
Purchase of the Old Walbridge Man
sion at Ingleside.
SOME STREET RAILROAD LEGISLATION
Facilities Of Communication Be-
tween tho City and the Suburbs.
SOME NEW BUILDIN G s

One of the houses we'll known in the social
life of the city Of some years back was the
Walbridge residence in Ingleside. In those
days the house was far in the country. but
now, lying as it does just to the west of
Mt Pleasant, 1t is in the line of the city's
growth. AS an evidence of this the extern
sve grounds surrounding the old house
have been subdivided into building lots,
leaving spacious plot about the residence
itself. This house, with the grounds about
It, has been purchased by Mr.. Frank B.
Noyes. and some important changes are
being made In order to prepare it for his
residence. The restoration of a residence
of this character will no doubt mark the
beginning of series of handsome improve
ments in this locality.
The house is one Of the most interesting
in that locality, and, although erected some
fifty years ago, it is well preserved and is
a good example of the substantial method
of construction which characterized the
best of domestic rchitecture of that period.
1t was planned by A. j. Downing, the we'll
known architect, who came to this city
about the year 1S4S, and was employed to
lay out the grounds Of the Smithsonian In
St1tut1on, work which still remains as a
monument to his skill and taste as land
scape architect. During his residence in
this city Mr.. Downing erected several resi-
ueHteS, among THEM tue COOK ana DOQSe
residences in Georgetown and the Wal
bridge house. This latter house Is in the
1talsn villa style. and is simple and dig
niffed in it's lines. The stout brick walls
are cemented in rough-cast work, which
the architect, w. ]. Marsh, who has pre-
pared plans for the remodelng of the house.
intends to make an ivory cream color, which
will carry out the idea of preserving intact
the architectural effect of the house as
originally planned. The main entrance of
the house is the south side but owin q
to the loca ton of the streets In the sub
division which has been made of Ingleside,
the south front now looks toward an alley,
while the north front faces Howard avenue
between 18th and 10Th streets extended.
What was formerly the garden side Of the
Is to be made which will open into a wide
ana spacious entrance hall, thence leading
into the stair hall. The latter will be an
effective feature. and will be lighted by
windows opening on the lawn. On this floor
Will be located the reception ROOM drawing
room. dining room. library ard conserya-
tory The rooms are large and spacious
and will be furnished in a style harmonious
with the general treatment of the house
The halls will be decorated in the Pom
peiian style. The front door will he of plain
wood. studded with iron nail heads. Span
fsh design. The vestibule door will he an
elaborate wrought iron and glass partition
filling the full width of the hall This door
was purchased in Spain by Mr. Moves. In
the dining room, which will be finished in
mahogany, an attractive feature will be
the fireplace. which will contain an old
fashioned hob CRATE, after a colonial model
AS the house is considerably above the
grade of the street the approach will be
by series of terraces after the style of
the old Italian gardens The entrance to
the grounds will be between two columns
supporting wrought iron gate and SPAN
ned by wrought iron arch holding Ian
tern,