Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-06-08
A HISTORIC BUILDING
It Was Once the Executive Mansion
at Washington.
The Old "Octaxon House" Which
was Duilt 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 us the "octngon" house. 1t is
interesting on account of the fact that
il was once used us the executive man
sion.
In 1898 Col. John Tayloe, whose rep
utation seems to have been based large
Iy on the fact of his being the richest
man in Virginia, decided to build
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 whnt was considered in those
days n very out-of-thc-way portion of
the city. Gen. Washington assisted in
making the plans and took the keencst
interest in its erection.
Col. Tayloe entertained what was
known as the Unofficial set. which COM
priscd some OF the first families of
Washington. but it was not until the
burning of the white house in 1914 that
il became political center. Thcn il was
That he removed his family to one of
his Virginia plantations and offered 10
rent the house to President Madison,
which offer was accepted.
Although unoccupicd for years. it
stands to-day almost the same ms it
stood in the days when men and women
of fashion thronged its rooms. On as
ccnding flight of stone steps and en-
,cring the bread doorway one finds
himself in hall almost circular in
shape; the marble tilirg which once
ko f, s,,rarSnIpI 1,y,
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 ex-
ccpt mantelpiece Of reruted value,
some one having at ore time offered
$500 for its possession. is beautifully
wrought in iron and was probably :m-
ported. Directly opposite the ballroom
Is the dining-room, where numbcrless
guest. have been entertained. while
over the circular hall Is small room.
also circular in shape, which was used
by President Madison MS nm Office. Here
II was TINT the treaty Of Client was
signed.
At the rear Of the mansion is the gar.
t,en. surrounded by n wall some ten or
twelve feet in height. parts OF which
nre now in q tumble down condition. II
is recorded that in this TN rden may still
he found traces OF what were known
rs "rigCcr auction blocks" for Col.
Tnyioc was large slave owner. having
had 500 in his possession at one time.
For years past the house has had m
uncnnny reputation on account OF the
numerous ghost stories which are in
circulation concerning the strange
sounds heard within its walls. One of
The rtorics afont is that old Col. Tnyloe
sealed within his cellar n creole wom-
an and left her there to die. Her skel-
cton Is said to be still cntombcd. and
the supposed screams of the woman
may vet be heard. Another story is that
IL any member of the Tayloc family
should find n certain vault in the house
IL will ncccssitatc the selling Of the
property. bu; IL II is found by anyone
else all will be well. Efforts have been
made to find the missing vault. yet its
whereabouts remain n mystery.
The watctmnn. who has lived there
for seven years. claims. however. that
lie has never yet heard sound which
could be attributed TO the superEatu.
raj. Nevertheless there is one story
which has the semblnncc of truth.
While the Tay'ccs were Occupying the
house the doorbell rang one day. but
.he maid on answering II could see no
one. Again 1t rang. and this time the
old colonel himself went. but there was
10 one there. Finally all the bells in
the house started ringing and nothing
could stop them. They continued ring
ing until the Tayloc family took their
departure. The local I.apers noted the
phenomenon at the time of its occur.
rcnce.-N. Y. Times.