Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1900-01-09
THE DEWEY HOUSE.
COMES TO HIM AS A MATTER
OF CUSTOM.
Homes Given to Military Heroes-Grant,
sherman. Sheridan, Logan. Hancock
and Milea Were Presented with Resi-
aences by Friends and Admirers.
washington Letter. }


mirai 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
1t is the first that has ever been sub
seribed 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 a 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 I'm
ished and a committee representing
the friends of Gen. Grant bought it
and the adjoining lawn, measuring
115x315 feet, for the sum OF $4,000.
and presented 1t, suitably furnished, to
Gen. Grant, who occupied 1t until his
inauguration as president in 1868
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 1t rapidly lost its 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 Cen
Grant to the presidency, Gen. Sherman
took command OF the army, some New
York friends bought Of Gen. Grant tht
house, furnished, for s65, 900 and pre-
scented it to Gen. Sherman, who occu
pied 1t until 1874, when the headquar-
tiers of the army was moved to st
Louis, where a fine house was giveI
to him by the citizens Sherman theI
sold the Washington house to Mr.
Matthew 9. Emery, who now occupie!
1t. During the time that Gen. Sher
man owned 1t he practically divfdee
the house into two and built a new
entrance to the western side. Aftel
the property passed into the hands 0
Mr.. Emery he completed the division
and the eastern half Is rented to
private family. The house contained
originally about thirty rooms. TIL
corner, or eastern, house, built by Sen
ator Douglas, and for some time &C
cupied by him, is now used by Mgr
Martinelli as Catholic Apostolic lie
alton. The house in New York cit.
sch ex-President Grant made hi
Ame after his famous tour of tn
@orld was also the gift of friends
This fund for the benefit of Gen. Gran
was managed by the late Mr.. Fran
Work. of New York City, and amount
ed to $3.50, 600. The house was pur
chased out of this fund, and for some
thing like 100000. Gen Grant live
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
81 toris. The last and most costly HON
. given to Gen. Grant was the tomb |
Riverside Park. his final resting place
costing about 100000.
On Nov. I, 1888, Gen. Philip sheri
! dan assumed command of the arm
n. ard removed with his family from CHI
to Washington The gallan
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