Daily camera., 1898-05-02
A HISTORIC BUILDING
It Was Once the Executive Mansion
at Washington.
The Old sOctason House" which
Was Built Under the Direc.
tiOn of the First
President.

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 as the executive man
sion.
In 1898 Col. John Tayloe, whose rep
utation seems to have been based large
ly 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 octagon
house, in what was considered in those
days very out-ofthe-way portion of
the city. Gen. Washington assisted in
making the plans and took the keenest
interest in it's 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 unoccupied for years, it
stands to-day almost the same as it
stood in the days when men and women
of fashion thronged it's rooms. On as
cending fight of stone steps and en-
tering the broad doorway one finds
himself in hall almost circular in
shape; the marble tiling which once
formed the floor is now superseded by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 size
of the room there is nothing left to re-
mind one of its ancient splcndor cx-
cept a mantelpiece of reputed value,
some one having at one time offered
$500 for it's possession. 1t is beautifully
wrought in iron and was probably i'm
ported. Directly opposite the ballroom
is the dining-room, where numberless
guests have been entertained, while
over the circular hall is a small room,
also circular in shape, which was used
by President Madison as an Office. Here
it was that the treaty of Ghent was
signed.
At the rear of the mansion is the gar
den, surrounded by wall some ten or
twelve feet in height, parts of which
are now in tumble-down condition. 1t
is recorded that in this garden may still
be found traces of what were known
as "nigger 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 an
uncanny reputation on account of the
numerous ghost stories which are in
circulation concerning the strange
sounds heard within its walls. One OF
the stories afloat is that old Col. Tayloe
sealed within his cellar creole wom-
an and left her there to die. Her skel-
eton is said to be still entombed, and
the supposed screams OF the woman
may yet be heard. Another story is that
if any member of the Tayloe family
should find certain vault in the house
it will necessitate the selling OF the
property, but if it is found by anyone
else all will be well. Efforts have been
made to find the missing vault, yet its
whereabouts remain mystery.
The watchman, who has lived there
for seven years, claims, however, that
he has never yet heard sound which
could be attributed to the supernatu-
rail- Nevertheless there is one story
which has the semblance of truth.
While the Tayloes were occupying the
house the doorbell rang one day, but
The maid on answering it could see no
one. Again it rang, and this time the
old colonel himself went, but there was
no one there. Finally all the bells in
the house started ringing and nothing
could stop them. They continued ring
ing until the Tayloe family took their
departure. The local papers noted the
phenomenon at the time of it's occur
rence.-N. Y. Times. ss.s.sssA