Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-10
OCTACON HOUSE SOLD
Becomes Property Of Ameri-
can Institute of Architects.
ITS PERMANENT HOME
FORMER OWNERS DISPOSE OF IT
FOR $4,000.
j
Construction of Building Begun IL
1898 and Completed in 1900
Original Owner.

In the course of a few days deed VIII
be placed on record by which the title to
the famous old property known as the
Octagon House. at the northeast corner OF
New York avenue and 18th street. Will be
transferred to the American institute OF
Architects. AS Is well known this national
organization has had a lease OF this prop
erty for the past five years, and as this city
is now the permanent headquarters OF the
institute, it was decided to secure home.
The negotiations for the purchase were con-
Quoted by the Washington Loan and trust
Company, as the representative OF the Tay-
loe heirs, Edward D. Tayloe and May
Lomax Tayloe of Norfolk. Va. The amount
agreed to be paid is 10000.
The old house stands surrounded by am
pie lawns which are screened from tne
street by brick walls on line with the
front of the house. The entire property mas
a frontage of TIA feet on New York avenue
and ISL feet on 18th street. and comprises
an area of about % 900 square feet. aIhere
are on the premises stables ana otner ou.-
buildings such as were common in con-
nection with the homes OF the Weli-to-do
a century or more ago.
The Points Considered.
IT is. however, the house itself which led
the institute to become in the first place
its tenant. and then finally become its
owner. To architects it has special inter-
est. for it Is recognized as one Of the finest
examples of colonial architecture to be
found in this country. In spite of the. neg
lect and bad usage to which it has been
subjected for the past half a century, since
1t ceased to be occupied as residence, It Is
in remarkably good condition =. So -
The erection of the house was begun by
Col John Tayloe one of the wealthiest
re sdents of Maryland, in the year 1I3S,
and 1t was completed in the year 1900. IT
was occupied as a town residence by Col
John Tavloe. and when, in the summer OF iol4
the White House and other public buildings
in the city were destroyed by the British,
this building was for a short time the home
of President Madison Here was signed the
treaty of Client. between this country ana
Great Britain
The property has never been out of the
ownership Of the Tayloe family, although
the son of Colonel John Tayloe. the late b.
Ogle Tayloe. built and occupied the resi-
dence on the east side of Lafayette square,
now owned by ex-senator Don Cameron.
and last season the home of Senator Hanna.
At the time it was built, more than nun
dred years ago, 1t was regarded as one OF
the finest residences in the country
Material Used in Construction.
1t is built of red brick trimmed with
sandstone of the same variety that was
used in building the White House and the
old part of the Capitol building. A short
flight of steps leads up to the main door
way, which opens into large hall. cir
cular in shape The doors leading into the
rooms opening from this hall are also cir
cular in shape, conforming to the lines OF
the hall.
When the institute took possession of u
five years ago ii was In a diiapidated and
neglected condition. Considerable money
was spent in cleaning UP the old place. and
it was then discovered that the doors and
inside shutters We're of solid mahogany. 1t
was also found that the mantelpiece in the
parlOr was of fine cement composition
The design of the house was the work OF
DIR. William Thornton. who was the author
OF the plan of the Capitol building. and who
designed several other houses In this city.
After the woodwork had been cleaned and
paint and soap and water used freely the
old house showed the grace and beauty o!
it's original design. -
There were no attractions attempted, but
simply restoration, and the result has
proved highly satisfactory. Notwithstand-
ing It's age the building is strong, and is
evidently in good shape to await the close
of another century of its existence.