Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21
REAL ESTATE !! GOSSIP
Additions toa 4 Number of
New Residences.
PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION
BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE cITY's EARLY YEARS.
Changes in Squares in the Vicinity of
the Capitol Building and
the Results.
PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION

A notable addition to the number of fine
residences In this city will be the one
which Is to be erected by Mr.. Dickinson
Jewett The site selected Is the lot which
was purchased some time ago by Mr..
Jewett and is situated eligibly at the
southwest corner of Connecticut avenue
and 8 street. In fact the situation 1s
somewhat unusual, as the ground has a
frontage on two avenues and two streets.
The former are Connecticut and Florida
avenues and the latter and 21st streets.
With broad openings on these wide thor
oughfares and an ample depth, the house
has been designed by Marsh & Peter, ar
chitects, SO as to suit the surroundings
and at the same time to illustrate the
idea of the owner Of what a private resi-
dence should represent
The house is to be low and broad, with
rather high pitched roof, covered with
red tile, thus suggesting in its exterior
interior, entirely free from the contracted
effects of the average city house. carries
out the idea expressed in the exterior.
The treatment of the outside is that Of
the English renaissance and will be
worked out in dark red brick with white
joints and white cornice. There will
be but little stone used and that will be
principally about the main entrance of
tHe MUSE, WHICH Will De IN the center OF
the street front. the latter extending
on that street eighty feet. All the de-
tarls VIII be perfectly plain and simple,
the effect being dependent on the har-
monlous proportions and the skillful
combination of the materials The. in
terror finish will be in white the doors
being of mahogany. The feature of the
main floor will be the two large rooms at
each side.
Rooms of Large Size.
On one side will be the dining room and
on the other the drawing room. The di-
mansions of both will be the same-and
Will be nineteen feet wide and thirty-six
feet deep. The entrance vestibule will be
lined with marble. and there will be steps
leading up to the main hall, which will
extend through the width of the house
from the dining room to the drawing
room. receptions room will open from
the vestlbule hilesifrom the drawing
room will be a library In the base
ment will be a billiard room and a den
with the domestic departments, while a
bowling alley will be provided which will
nave length of sixty feet
mere are to be tive stories, with a third
IN the h-pltched droof. The garden in
the rear will be reached by a door leading
directly from the. house. This garden will
be quite feature of the establishment
as the space forsit ass much ampler than
Is often found about city houses.
The Market for Homes.
The taking Of another square in the vi
cinity of the Capitol for the use of the
government carries with it consequences
OF considerable Importance to the CITY,
The most obvious as well as the most i'm
mediate Is that abebnsiderable number of
householders. having parted with their
homes, will be obliged to secure other
places or residence In other words, a
n h11y- mill
market, and as result there will be a
good deal doing, both in the way of the
sale OF houses as well as in their erection
When the square on the south side Of the
capitol grounds was recently acquired the
influence was perceptible In the real estate
market, and there is no reason for think
Ing that the same thing will not follow the
proposed change In the holdings of such
an amount Of improved property as is in
cluded In the square on the north side
Unlike the square to the south Of the
Capitol grounds, which has now been clear
ed on preparatory to beginning the excava-
ton for the erection of an Office building
for the House of Representatives the
square to the north is not fully improved
nor indeed, is there as much historic in
terest attached to the buildings.
OF Historic Interest.
In general way all the squares in the
immediate vicinity of the Capitol have
much Importance In connection with the
early history of the city, for there some of
the first buildings were erected. This was
due to the proximity to the home Of the
legislative department of the government
and also to the fact that the land thus i'm
proved was owned by men who were the
largest proprietors of or investors in city
property before the removal Of the govern
ment took place. Daniel Carroll of Dud-
dington and Thomas Law did most of the
building right around the Capitol, and 1t
should not be forgotten that the only
buildings erected by Gen. Washington, the
founder Of the city, in the new place were
located on North Capitol street between C
and d streets.
For some reason which has never been
explained these houses were selected by the
British for destruction when they invaded
the city in the summer Of 1914 although
their efforts were confined mostly to lay
ing the punblic buildings in ruins It is
probable the invaders had knowledge that
some of the papers of Congress had been
removed from the Capitol and deposited in
the Washington houses which were no
doubt occupied by officials of the House.
Some three or four years after that event
the executors of General Washington Of
fered the property for sale, together with
the foundations of the houses, which 1t was
explained were in good condition, and about
the year 1918 new structure was erected
on this site.
Erected by Daniel Carroll