The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-11-23
washington letter.

The house that is 10 be given to Ad-
miral Dewey is not the first presented
by admiring friends to officers of the
army and navy. there having been sew
eral such by way Of precedent; but
II is the first that has ever been sub
scribed to by the country at large and
under government auspices. The first
house presented to an officer of the
army was given to Gen. Grant by his
enthusiastic and admiring friends upon
his coming to Washington at the close
Of the war. This house is situated on
the north side of | street, between
Second and Third streets, northwest,
and although forty years have passed
since 1t was built is still fine man
sion, plain, but decidedly dignified
and substantial. The entire block
bounded by / and X and Second and
Third streets was bought by Senators
Stephen A. Douglas OF Illinois, and
Rice OF Wisconsin, with Vice President
Breckenridge. Upon the eastern por-
ton of this block, facing on | street,
they built there three spacious houses,
but before they were completed war
was declared, and Vice President
Breckenridge departed abruptly for the
South, to assume at later period the
vice-presidency of the Confederacy,
leaving his house on the hands of the
contractor, who rooted it in, laid floors,
and put in doors and windows, and
rented it for hospital during the war
to the government. At the close OF
the war the house was properly fin
ished and committee representing
the friends of Gen. Grant bought it
and the adjoining lawn, measuring
115x315 feet, for the sum Of $4,000,
and presented it, suitably furnished, to
Gen. Grant, who occupied 1t until his
inauguration as president in 1863,
when he removed to the white house.
When the houses were built the
| neighborhood was decidedly aristo-
cratic, but with the departure of Gen.
Grant it rapidly lost it's prestige, the
center of fashionable life moving
nearer to the executive mansion. The
neighborhood, still thoroughly good,
is quite outside the boundaries of the
social world of today
When. upon the accession of Gen
Grant to the presidency, Gen. Sherman
took command of the army, some New
/ York friends bought of Gen. Grant the
house, furnished, for S65000 and pre-
sented it to Gen. Sherman, who occu,
pied it until 1874, when the headquar-
tiers of the army was moved to St.
Louis, where a fine house was given
to him by the citizens. Sherman then
sold the Washington house to Mr..
Matthew G. Emery, who now occupies
man owned it he practically divided
the house into two and built a new
entrance to the western side. After
the property passed into the hands OF
Mr.. Emery he completed the division,
and the eastern half is rented to a
private family The house contained
originally about thirty rooms. The
corner, or eastern, house, built by Sen
ator Douglas, and for some time oc-
cupied by him, Is now used by Mgr
Martinelli as a Catholic Apostolic le-
cation. The house in New York city
which ex-President Grant made his
home after his famous tour of the
world was also the gift of friends
This fund for the benefit of Gen. Gram
was managed by the late Mr.. Frank
Work, of New York City, and amount
ed to $250,000. The house was pur-
| oh oI,f of thic f1tpd anJ FOR som o.
thing like 100000 Gen. Grant liveC
here until his departure for Mount Nc
Gregor, where he died Mrs Gran
sold the house some little time afte
and took up her residence in Wash
ington with her daughter, Mrs. Sar
given to Gen. Grant was the tomb il
Riverside Park, his final resting place
costing about 100000.
On Nov 1, 1888, Gen. Philip Sheri
dan assumed command of the arm,
and removed with his family from Chi
cago to Washington. The gallan
general had many warm friends il
Chicago, and they quietly planned I
gift which should testify in sub
Itantial way to their love for him
Samuel Johnson of Chicago and TWEEN
ty-three close friends contributed eacl
the sum of $4,000 and bought tn
house, No. 1917 Rhode Island avenue
Washington Fortyfve thousand dol
lars was the price paid, and $4,000 wa
spent for repairs. 1t was complet
surprise to the general. who knew
nothing about it until the deed wa
presented to him in his office. The en-