The Washington times., 1905-11-16
HISTORIC MANSION
TO Be PRESERVED
RiVerdale Home of Cal
verts Will Be Revived.
WASHINGToNS WENT THERE
Other Famous People Were Also Enter
tained at Old Place in
Former Days.

spirited persons have inter
ested themselves in the old colonial
mansion at Riverdale, which was for
merry the home OF the famous Calvert
family. Descendants OF Lord Balti-
more. founder OF Maryland, long lived
IN this stately old house, and some of
the most distinguished men who figure
in American history have been enter
tanned within it's doors.
OF late the cid place has been going
to ruIn but now Colonel Wilson, OF
Texas, and a number of patriotic vyo-
men have Joined in a desire to restore
the historic mansion and grounds They
have purchased the property. and VIII
put all necessary repairs to it. so that
one OF the most noted homes in Amer
iean history Will be preserved.
Historical Interest.
The old mansion has much historical
interest attached TO it, in that it was
the home OF the famous Calvert fam
ily, which was not only distinguished in
its noted head. Lord Baltimore but
through intermarriage with the Wash
ingtons.
A few months ago the property and
all the house furnishings were put up
for sale at public auction, but the
house and grounds were not disposed OF
at tIltiL time because there Was 10 BlQ-
der who offered a sufficient amount for
the historic property. Many OF the
furnishings. however pictures, bric-a-
brac, silver. and glass, were sold. the
majority Of which went for the
proverblal song. Old mahogany tables
and chairs We're sold at a phenomenaliy
low price. and other things went accord
ingly.
Tradition attaches TO every corner in
the old colonial home. and the con-
spicuous part it played IN the history
of other days makes its retention a
matter OF keen interest to Washing
tonians.
To Be Restored.
II is the intention Of Colonel Wilson
and the other purchasers to restore the
old mansion to the condition in which
It was when Hery Clay and Daniel
Webster were among the distinguished
visitors there. It was within these his
toric walls that Henry Clay drafted the
famous Missouri Compromise bill OF 1921
IN regard to slavery
The connection between the Washing
ton and Calvert families was through
the marriage OF Martha Washington S
son, John Psrke Custis, TO Eleanor Cal
SER. daughter OF Lord Baltimore.
Joseph l. Keefer. of Washington, has
for years been interested IN the history
OF Washington and has gathered to-
gether a fund OF interesting material
concerning these two distinguished fami-
lies, and has made note of much data
which has not vet been published.
General Washington was a stanch
friend OF Benedict Calvert. son of the
sixth Lord Baltimore, whose daughter
Eleanor married Mrs. Washington's son
The latter served with distinction as
aide-de-camp TO General Washington IL
the Colonial war. He died OF camI
fever at Yorktown. Va. leaving his
wife with four children. The two eldel
girls, Eliza and Martha, were taken by
their relatives to DR.. Stewart of Hope
Park. near BeltsvilIe. Nd.
Adopted by Washington.
The two youngest, George Washing
ton Parke Custis and Eleanor Park'
Custis, were adopted by their grand
parents, General and Mrs. Washington
and were taken by them to Mt. Vernon
Eliza Custis married John Law and
lived at the corner Of New Jersey ave
nue. and street southeast Martha
Calvert became the wife of Georg,
Peter. living on @ street. between Thir
ty-nrst and Thirty-second. while Georg'
Washington Parke Custis married
daughter of Colonel Fitzhugh. OF Vir
ginia. and built Arlington. The mar
rage OF Eleanor Parke Custis TO Maj
Lawrence Lewis. took her TO Wood
lawn, a historic estate four miles frnu
the gate Of Mt. Vernon.
In this connection IL is well 70 not
that WoodIawn has also fallen int
patriotic and generous hands The Ian,
was originally given to Nellie Custi
and her husband by General Washing
ton. and the house was built by tn
Lswises. Shortly before her death
Nellie" Custis left Woodlawn an
went to Audley. We. where she died.
A few years ago the estate was bough
BY the playwright. Paul Kester. 70
tfo.eo0, who sold it recently TO Ney
York woman for SIS 900. The house an,
grounds VIII be kept intact by thsi
latest purchaser.
Old Riverdale Mansion.
Ire old mansion in Riverdale IS close
IS corrected with the early history o
she country. Benedict CaIvert's sor
George, married Roseus Eugene stier
and they resided at this place Henr
= stier. Roseiie's father. was a wealth
banker from Antwerp. and George III o
England. gave him the land upon wTnc
the house was built. The bricks wer
hauled In an ox-cart from 81. Mary
the first capital Of the province OF Mary
land
The mansion was built about 1850. an
IL Is said that General and Mrs. Waan
ington were frequent visitors. The 10
cation OF the National Capital at WASH
ington IN 1871. gave the place an attrac
ton which lasted until nearly the clos
OF the last century,
George Calvert's Oldest son, Charle
--