The times., 1901-04-28
THE OLD OCTAG0N House
Changes Since It's Occupation by
the Architects Institute.

Efforts Made TO Restore the Interior
10 Its Original EIegance-How the
Rooms Of the Mansion Were Fur
nished in the Days of Long Ago.
The revival of Colonial architecture be
gan several years ago, and has already
met with favor in many sections of the
country. 1t is only quite lately, however,
that architects not merely of local but
national prominence, have begun TO real
ize that there is in Washington, perhaps,
the best example to be found anywhere
of a genuine Colonial city mansion. rms
is the cid Octagon House, on the corner
OF Eighteenth Street and New York Ave
nue.. formerly in possession of the Tayloe
family Like Vigaolas famous octagonal
palace at Caprarola, this house is one of
those ingenious architectural works which
engage the study and attention of all
true artists. Since its occupation as the
headquarters of the American Institute
of Architects, it has attracted much no
tice from the most prominent members
of the profession throughout the country
on account of the excellence of its plan.
which combines comfort and convenience
with elegance of arrangement.
The Tayloe, or Octagon, house, as every
Washingtonian doubtless knows, was built
in 1900, by Colonel Tayloe. The architect
was DR.. William Thornton, and the pc
culiarity Of his design lay in the unique
shape he gave to the house in order to
obtain for rooms the greatest amount OF
light and air possible, as well as to give
a distinctive and elegant appearance to
the exterior. The latter. to be sure, Is
exceedingly plain. but the beauty of pro-
portion is none the less apparent Instead
of facing the street in the usual manner
the front of the house faces the angle OF
the corner lot upon which it Is built. Ihe
windows in the drawing room look south
toward the Potomac and the Mall. Inc
sunlight streams in through these WIN
dows in winter, warming and cheering all
within. while in summer the apartment
has all the benefit Of the cool pFeezes
The yestibule of the Octagon House is
unique, being more in the nature Oh d
large circular hall nineteen feet In dame
ter, lighted by two windows. ana former
" heated by two old-fashloned stoves III
inches on either side. door opens from
this Vestibule into the nalI, Whlch OCtu-
pies the entire remaining depth OF the
house. the windows at the rear throwing
an ample light upon the staircase. Doors
omen from the hall, the one on the rlShJ
on entering leading into the parior, nlhe-
teen by twenty-seven feet, ana Jne one on
the left into the dining room, also nine
teen by twenty-seYen feet. Ihere Is a
hack haU openfug from the main hall.
These apartments constitute the first moor
of the mansion. The two remaining
stories consist mainly of sleeping apart
Although a great many repairs have
been effected in the Tayloe house by the
architectural club now occupying H. an
it's original fittings and embellishments
have long since vanished. The front
doors. of massive Spanish mahogany an
inch thick, were evidently found too un-
wieldv TO carry off in the days Wheh Ihe
rnansion was left to go to rack and ruin
But the black and white tiles OF Whlch
the floors were composed We're appio-
priated by vandals, as was also the praSs
knocker, which was OF curious pattern
After the death of Mrs. John Tayloe in
1855, the house was given over TO care
takers. From that period until 1899. when
il was chosen as the headquarters OF
the American Institute of Architects, the
house fell into a slow decline along with
the neighborhood in which it is situated,
which was once the most fashionable
When the architects took possession
they caused TO be carefully patched the
cornices, mantels and stair rails me
walls were scraped down and their
original colors have been reproduced.
The handsome mahogany doors were
scraped and polished, and the whole place
nut in complete order. An odd thing
about the doors is that they slowly close
by themselves, the hinges being cut
sDiraIly 1t is said that in its palmy days
the Octagon House never knew the light
of gas nor the heat of furnace. Mrs.
Tayloe abhorred both improvements and
clung to candles and open fire places
The windows of the house are numerous
and of generous size. They are recessed
and cut down TO the floor All the wood
work IS white. excepting the doors and
haud-raiI of the staircase. The mantelS,
which have been restored, are very hand
some and elaborate.
The interior. as it was originally fur
nished. was model Of elegant simplci-
ty. There was all the eighteenth century
! air of quaintness. The drawing room
! walls were tinted q delicate buff, and 1t
| is said that the principal furniture was
! set Of ash Of sixteen pieces, comprising
| a dozen chairs and a settee, with flower
i ed chintZ cushions in the seats. and three
| card tables This furniture had small
panels painted with Tyres and roses. Two