Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-03

brough success One Of his axioms was
related to a Star reporter today by friend
of the deceased and will serve to illustrate
his business tact An acquaintance was
discussing with Mr.. Willard his large and
valuable real estate holdings in the District
and elsewhere. and asked him what was
the secret of his success In property deals.
Why" was Mr.. Wizards reply, the
answer to your query is simple. 1t is not
in knowing how to sell property. but how
and when to buy 1t. Good property will
always sell itself and bring its full value
when 1t is needed
Came to Washing ton at Fifteen.
Caleb Clapp Willard came to Washington
when he was a lad of fifteen years, and.
after receiving education he was launch
ed into the hotel business at Old Point
Comfort, Va. and there and in other places
he gained an experience which stood him
in good stead when he entered the hotel
field of Washington as proprietor OF me
Ebbitt House, at 18th and + streets. when
has for years been the acknowledged head
quarters for army and navy officers
When Mr.. Willard came to Washington
in his boyhood it was to join his brothers.
Henry A. and Joseph c. Willard. then the
proprietorS of Wizards Hotel. This was
in 1S49, and after attending Washington
Seminary, now Gonzaga College. Mr.. Will
lard received his first insight into the
hotel business. which afterward proved
to be the nucleus of his fortune He was
nineteen years of age when his brothers
put him in charge of the old Hygeia Ho-
tel at Old Point Comfort, which at that
time had a capacity for 1000 guests and
was the only summer hotel south of New
York.
Yellow fever became epidemic in Norfolk
a few years later, or in 1850, and the house
was closed Shortly afterward it was pur-
chased by Mr.. John Segar. Mr.. Willard then
went to Chicago and other points in the
west. year later Mr.. Willard came back
to Washington on account of the Illness OF
his brother Joseph. 1t was at this time that
he purchased one-haif interest of Mr.. Segar
In the Hygeia Hotel. and had the exclusive
management Of it until 1862. when the gov
ernment ordered the hotel to be torn down,
because it interfered with military ana
naval opera tons.
The privilege of experimenting the de-
struction of the building, however was
granted to Mr.. Willard one hundred SOL
diers and forty carpenters being placed at
his disposal The ground was cleared in
two weeks. At the outbreak of the civil
war Mr.. Willard was sent to New York for
the government to take the first order for
six months rationS for 10000 troops. He
returned on the transport with LEGO three
months men from Vermont, commanded by
General Phelps, L. S. A. Upon his return
to Fort Monroe Mr.. Willard was appointed
commissary storekeeper and ordered to re-
cefve these stores from New York, and had
under his charge 100 Boston stevedores,
each man measuring more than six feet in
height. After reSigning his commission
Mr.. Willard went to New York and became
half owner of the Girard Hotel. with the
late Milford Smith CT the Grand Hotel,
Broadway. Later Mr.. Willard returned to
Fort Monroe and was placed in charge of
the building for the accommodation Of Off
GERS and exchanged prisoners from both
the north and south, who were places in
his custody.
Monitor and Merrimac
Mr.. Willard among the few survivors
who witnessed the memorable battle be-
tween the Monitor and the Merrimac
In 1864 he came to Washington and pur
chased the EIbbitt House, and built it up %
what 1t now is, which, up to fifteen years
ago. was equal to any hotel in the country.
and can show upon its registers more prom
inent names than any hotel in the city.
During the time Congress made no appro-
priaton for the pay of army and navy Off
GERS he invited such officers to be his
guests at the 1Ibbtt This act his part
made the late Gen. Sherman a lifelong
friend, and this famous officer once re-
marked: Willard made a fortune and
there not dirty shilling in it,
Mr.. Willard was personal friend and ar
dent admrer of President Mckinley, and
one of his most cherished possessions is a
photograph where both were taken to-
gether, showing a striking facial resem-
blance between the two Mr.. Mckinley
was a guest at the Ebbtt for fourteen
years, and went from there to the White |
House. Mr.. Willard was rendered the COM
misSionership of the DistSict of Columbia
by President Mckinley, well as many
other important offices of trust. but these
he invariably declined, preferring a life of
retirement to official one.
In the development of F street Mr.. VII |
lard was the pioneer and the first to con-
struct large buildings in that section. nota- |
bly, among them the Adams building the
large double iron structure, still one of the |
finest in the city. His confidence in this |
locality was great that at low prices |
he secured a frontage on F street from
18th to 14th street. on which are now To- |
Gated the Ebtt House and geological sur
vey buildings his modesty preventing him
from ever putting up his own name over
any of his own buildings
In 1889, after conducting the Ebbitt
House for twenty-five years. he leased 1T
to syndicate and retired from business
He reserved a handsome room in the
Adams building as his downtown Office.
Another of the many handsome proper
ties owned by Mr.. Willard may be men,
toned to Hooe Iron building, almost
adjoining the Ebbitt House. which was
completed at an estimated cost of more
than $3.50. 900 including the price of the
land on which 1t stands.
His Home Life.
While one of the wealthiest men In the
District, Mr. Willard frugal and I'M
pretentous. He gave freely in deserving
CO ses of charity and was of kindly DISPOSE
ton, having a large circle of friends who
are panied by his loss He purchased his
he me at 14th and P streets, which fronted
by ample grounds with many rare shade
trees. from Mr.. Kingman. old-time
were out of repair. but Mr.. Willard re-
modelled the structure and beautiffed the
grounds. and 1t is now one Of the pictur-
esque. old fashioned homes for which this
city was noted years ago.