River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-05-13

than three hundred thousand people
now residing within the District of Co.
lumbia.
For many years the celebrated house
has been used as third-rate or fourth
rate hotel. The local newspapers have
from time to time, suggested to con-
gress the ACCESSIBILITY of purchasing
this building and preserving it for its
historic associations. The congress
however, is not sentimental, but prac-
teal; and there seems no likelihood
that anything will be done in that di-
rection. For many years the house in
which Abraham Lincoln died WIS used
as boarding house, and only in the last
few years has an association been
formed to preserve it. Nothing has been
done, and nothing now seems likely to be
done, to purchase or perpetuate this
historic place.
The old Roof line is plainly visible,
although the modern mansard sets In
on both sides, and forms an obtuse angle
where it joins the original line of COW
ering. An additional building has been
erected on the north side Of the house,
but the bricks used are so different that
no amount of painting can obliterate
the line of demarkation. Viewed from
the back yard, some of the original
foundation stones can be seen at the top
of the second story. The house now
contains 20 rooms, but originally there
were only 30 apartments.
If George Washington could come
hack on earth to-day. he would un-
doubtedly be surprised to find his orig
inal palatial residence converted into
n boarding house, with the big recep-
tion-room fixed up as a hotel Office;
fire escapes along the south front, and
a balcony clear across the second story,
where his foundation stones were laid.
lie would find no bronze knocker on the
big front door, but in its stead, would
discover an electric button.
Admiral Wilkes, of the navy. pur-
chased the mansion from the Wash
ington heirs, and sold it TO John Tally,
an Irish-American saloonkeeper. who
managed poolroom and barroom at
one-time prominent hotel, and be-
came wealthy in that business. When a
law was passed against gambling, John
Tally moved across the District bound
airy. and kept up that business. He
rented the house to man named Hill
man, who gave it his name, and il is to
this day popularity known as the Hill
nan house. Mr.. Hillman was in bust
ness there for 20 years, but the building
is now temporarily unoccupied.
When the British soldiers destroyed
the capitol building and ravaged the
little ety. in 1914. they respected the
residence of Washington, and it was not
injured nor invaded.
4 story has been current that Wash
ington once had his military headquar-
tiers in this building; but that is not
true. The residence was not contem-
plated nor erected until after the indie
pendence of the United States govern
n.ent had been achieved, and Washing
ton was getting to be an old man when
he built IL.
IT is exceedingly unfortunate that the
building has ever been tempered with
or changed; for it should have been left
as originally constructed. so that IL
might be monument to his memory,
and an object OF veneration for all time:
Just as his country home at Mount Yer
non has been. and always viii be. to the
people OF this republic.
SMITH u. FRY.