Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-01
WEBSTER'S OLD HOME
FAMOUS STATESMAN RESIDED
NEAR PRESENT POLICE COURT.
Ground Recently Acquired by the Dis
trict-Incidents of Half
Century Ago.

The recent acquisition by the District OF
lot 2, square 4S9, fronting on d street be-
tween 9TH and 9th streets, for the extern
sion of accommodations for the Police
Court will be followed by the razing of the
walls of the Webster Law building. part
of which were erected fully three -fourths
of century ago. This locality was within
the lines of Davy Burns when the land was
taken for the city. but the lots did not pass
from the possession of the government TIL
1903, when the titles were signed by
Thomas Munroe, who, as superintendent of
the city. succeeded the Commissioners
whose clerk he had long been, November
3, 1909.
Mr.. Munroe made a conveyance of lot
two to Pierce Purcell, and three days after
title passed to Mary Carroll and others.
children of Bridget WEIGH. In June. 1917,
Valentine WEIGH conveyed one portion to
Reuben Burdine and another to Mary D.
WEIGH, and shortly after permanent i'm
provements were made upon 1t. These
were two two-storeS and attic brick dwell
ings Of the style of that date, with dormer
windows, wide hall and rooms.
Mr.. Burdine, who was department clerk,
occupied the east house, and for many
years his garden adjoining was pleasing
attraction. The WEIGH family resided in
the west house for some years, but it was
acquired by Mr. Burdine. who, in 1855, dis
/,
from whose estate they have recently
passed to the District Prior to the pur-
chase by Mr.. HELEN the neighborhood was
one in which there had been little improve
ment. and IN streets and avenues there was
much grass. 1t was nevertheless an attract
I've spot. The old Unitarian Church had a
small but influential congregation, in which
were Chief Justice Cranch, John Quincy
Adams and other prominent personages
not forgetting Joseph Gales, jr., and w. w.
Seaton of the Intelligencer, residing on the
corner. The residences of William Hewett,
Gems. Roger Jones, r. c. Weightman and
Walter Jones and many leading lawyers
were within a stones throw. and across
Louisiana avenue was the American Thea
ter; the Masonic Hall and Museum was
nearby, with Trinity Church occupying the
site of the Columbian Law building.
Webster's characteristics.
A former resident of that location says
that Daniel Webster lived on this site in
the last years Of his life. The house had a
stone porch in front. where Mr.. Webster
often sat in the cool of the evening. Occu-
plying as he did the position of Secretary Of
State, he had much company. and there
were not a few dinners and other functions
there. Nevertheless he seemed to enjoy the
sight of children at play.
81 remember once how he amused US one
afternoon said The Stars informant 1--WE
were running past, when we heard him
noted say 'K-a-u-p-h-e-y-coffee' OF course.
we laughed at him and he smiled at US.
Some of us wondered If he were not max
ing fun of us. as we were not over intelli-
gent looking at the time. Soon after we
saw a box of coffee mills SO marked. and
came to the conclusion that that was where
the statesman had found such spelling
ut was not, however, when there were
crowds at his receptions that he seemed
most at home. but when he had half
dozen or so of guests. If We may except the
winter Of 1852, when he had presidential
aspira lions. Then he was warm and genial
to all, and 1t was not the time for him to
make an enemy. either personal or politi-
cal. and the larger the crowd the happier
and more hearty was his greeting.
Among Mr.. Webster's frequent guests
was Col. Seaton. with whom he was ON
the most intimate terms for years, broken
only for short period because of a politi-
cal difference. Another intimate was Gen.
Scott. to whom the presidential nomina ton
went in 1852.
1T was while Mr. Webster resided here
that he received the news Of his friend
Scotts nomination, and some who were
nefghbors say that his chagrin was at once
perceptible, and his death few months
later some attribute to his disappoint-
ment"