Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-27
ONCE EXECUTIVE MANSION.
The Old "Octngon House" Mt WASH
ington, ID. C., and It's Intercst-
ing History.

One of the most interesting houses in
the city of Washington is that which
stands on the corner of New York ave-
nue. and Eighteenth street, commonly
known as the 'octagon" house. 1t is
interesting on account of the fact that
it was once used us the executive man
sion.
In 1893 Col John Tayloe, whose rep
utation seems to have been based large
" on the fact of his being the richest
man in Virginia, decided to build a
home for himself and family in the city
of Philadelphia, but owing to the per-
suasions of Gen. Washington changed
his mind and built instead the cctagon
house, in what was considered in those
days a very out-of-the-way portion of
the city. Gen. Washington assisted in
making the plans and took the keenest
interest in its erection.
Col Tayloe entertained what was
known as the Unofficial set. which COM
prised some of the first families of
Washington, but it was not until the
burning of the white house in 1914 that
it became political center. Then it was
that he removed his family to one of
his Virginia plantations and offered to
rent The house to President Madison,
which offer was accepted
Although unoccupled for years. II
stands to-day almost the same as II
stood in the days when men and women
of fashion thronged its rooms. On as
cending flight of stone steps and en-
tering the bread doorway one finds
himself in a hall almost circular in
shape; the marble tiling which once
| formed the floor is n3w superseded by
pine boards; two stoves of antique pat
tern front each other from inches in op'
posite walls. Beyond is another hall
from which opens on the right the ball
room where Dolly Madison held some
OF her famous receptions. Aside from
the height of the ceilings and the sizt
of the room there is nothing left to re
mind one of its ancient splcndor cX
cept a mantelpcce Of reputed value
some one having at ore time Offered
| $500 for its possession. 1t is beautifully
wrought in iron and was probably i'm
ported. Directly opposite the ballroom
is the dining-room, where numberles
guests have been entertained, whil'
over the circular hall is a small room
also circular in shape, which was use'
by President Madison as an Office. Herr
! il was that the treaty of Ghent wa!
signed.
At the rear of the mansion is the gar
den, surrounded by wall some ten o
twelve feet in height, parts of whicI
ere now in tumble-down condition. !
is recorded that in this garden may still
be found traces of what were knowl
as "ngger auction blocks" for Col
Tayloe was large slave owner, having
had 500 in his possession at one time.
For years past the house has had al
uncanny reputation on account of tn
numerous ghost stories which are il
circulation concerning the strang
sounds heard within its walls. One o
the stories afloat is that old Col. Taylo
sealed within his cellar a creole WON
an and left her there to die. Her skel
eton is said 10 be still entombed, an
the supposed screams of the woman
may vet be heard. Another story is tha
il any member of The Tayloe famil
should find certain vault in the hous
II will necessitate the selling Of III
property, but if it II found by anyon
else all will be well. Efforts have bee
made TO find the missing vault, yet IT
whereabouts remain a mystery.
The watchman, who has lived ther
for seven years. claims, however, tina
be has never yet heard sound whic
could be attributed TO the supernatt
raj. Nevertheless there is one stor
which has the semblance of trutl
While the Tayloes were occupying I'll
house the doorbell rang one day, br
.he maid on answering it could see n
one. Again il rang. and this time III
old colonel himself went, but there wa
10 one there. Finally all the bells !
The house started ringing and nothin
could stop them. They continued RIM
ing until the Tayloe family took the
departure. The local papers noted Il
phenomenon at the time Of its occu
rence.-N. Y. Times.