Evening star., 1901-02-16
GROUND
The Site Of General Washington's
Winter Residence.
HOUSE BUILT UNDER HIS DIRECTION
- :=,r- ,@-.... . -
Home Nearby Of Man Who Helped
to Plan the City.
CHANGES IN STREET GRADES

The hotel known as the Kenmore. on the
west side Of North Capitol street, between
and c streets, and the Elliott residence.
on the south, are on historic ground, and
possess peculiar interest. The upper stories
of the former building were erected by
Washington for his winter residence; those
of the Elliott house were built by the an
cestor of the present occupants, who lived
on the ground while assisting in the lay
ing out of the city When the Massachu-
setts troops We're quartered in the Capitol
in the spring of 1861 they had a photo
graph taken of the house, which is repro
duced in the accompanying Illustration.
Originally the grade of the street was
two full stories above that at present.
Twice has the street been cut down, and
the buildings have five full stories with
attic.
When General Washington had retired
from the presidency to the shades of Mt.
Vernon he conceived the idea of having
winter residence at the seat OF government
He had become a property holder in the
city having a few lots near the southern
terminus of 1st street southwest and
square of ground CID bounded by D, f,
2Jth and 26th streets northwest. This was
west of the University Square, known
prior as Camp Hill. and for years after as
the observatory grounds He had acquired
this plat during his service as President
and in 1877 and 9S he purchased the
ground on the hill. The lot on North Cap
itol street is No. 16, square 634, with
front of 541A feet. by average of 100
feet depth. 1t was purchased by the Com
missioners, and to this he added parts of
lots and &. extending his lines by the
north of lot 16 to New Jersey avenue This
last purchase was made of Daniel Carroll
of Duddington, original proprietor
Aside from the connection of Washing
ton with this site, the locality is a his
toric one, and it is not unlikely, though
the building erected by Washington was
not finished in his lifetims, that during the
progress of the work upon the Capitol he
had been entertained on the ground by his
friend, Dr. VIM. Thornton, who was the
architect of his buildings. Dr. Thornton
was of English parentage. He was born in
the West Indies in 1861, and graduated in
medicine in England in 17S6. He came to
Philadelphia and in 1890 married daugh-
ter of Mrs. Ann Bradeau of that city. At
ter visit to the West Indies. he returned
and settled in this city in 1893, and the
year following was made one of the com
missioners of the city Mrs. Bradeau owned
the lot north of the Washington site. and
Immediately opposite was one of the build
ings, yet standing, erected by Mr.. car
roll in which Mr. Ponteus d. Stelle, who
came here from New Jersey. established
his hotel, subsequently moving east of the
grounds. There was located near the CEN
ter of the square cottage similar in de-
sign to Washingtons home at Mt. Vernon.
This is said to have been erected and used
by DR.. Thornton as an office and as the
home of his friend George Hadfield the
architect and Mr.. VIM. Elliott, then
young surveyor. The three, being Of En-
glish nationality and of scientific tastes.
were attracted to each other and Intimate
personal friends for their entire lives.
of the grounds and laid them out in walks
and flower beds
Washington's Letter.
That Washington made preparations for
improving lot IS is proven by the following
letter, addressed to William Thornton, esq.,,
Federal City:
Favored by Thos. Law, esq.
MOUNT VERNON. December 20, 1898.
Dear Sir: Enclosed is a check on the
Bank of Alexandria for $500, to enable Mr.
Blagden. by your draughts. to proceed in
laying in material for carrying on my
building in the Federal City
81 saw a building in Philadelphia of
about the same front and elevation that
are to be given to my two houses whlch
please me. 1t consisted also of two houses
united-doors in the center-a pediment In
the roof and dormar windows on each side
Of it in front--skyights in the rear
''If this is not incongruous with rules of
architecture l should be glad to have my
two houses executed in this style. Let me
request the favor Of you to know from
Mr. Blagden what the additional cost Will
be.
q am. dear sir.
Your most obdt. hbIe. servt.,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
"Willm. Thornton. esq.,.
His "Unfnished Residence."
In his will he refers to his unfinished
winter residence" and, in his schedule OF
property "twe lots near the Capitol, In
square 634, $15,OO0," are included. refer
ence being directed to note reading: Ihe
two lots near the Capitol cost me $96S only,
but in the price I was favored on condition
that 1 should build two brick houses there
three stories high each; without this re-
duction the selling price Of these lots would
have cost me $3.50. These lots. with the
buildings thereon. when completed, VIII
stand me in $4,000 at least ooo
II is apparent from the fact that In 1SO5
+ba i,nproyements were listed in the corpo-
ration books at $1,000 for assessment tnat
was not to tax unfinished houses. 1t was
occupied In the early days of the century
by the Frost family, and was Weil-pa,
| tronized congressional boarding mouse untii a,i
burned by the British in August, 1914,
doubtless the name of Washington attached
| to the house being the incentive to the act
of the enemy.
| of Representatives, and when the whole
| body Of the militia had gone to the field he
| was left in charge. Being absent in Vir-
| ginia, Mr.. john L. frost OF MS ONCE was
| left to care for the Office, the home of the
| latter being in the Washington house. OF
| the efforts to save the, property, Samuel
| Burch and Mr.. Frost September IA. 1914.
| made the following report:
"On the 21st (of Augus) the first Of the
| undersigned clerks was furloughed by
4 Rrigadier General Smith at the request of
| Col. George Magruder for the purpose of
| returning to the city, to take care Of and
4 save such part of the books and papers of
4 the clerks office as he might be able to ef-
| feet. In case the enemy should get possess
sion of the place, and he arrived here the
i night Of that t7day
i 9ruder were not to begin packing up uu-
I iii It was ascertained that the clerks at the
4 war office were engaged in that business;
and It was not. until L o'clock on Monday,
the 22d, that we were informed that they