Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-12
Residence Being Built for Mr..
John R. Mclean.
DESIGN AND COLOR SCHEME
Spacious Rooms Seldom Found in
Private Houses.
LAWNS OF FILTRATION PLANT
What Is Going on in Various Sec
tions of the District During
the Fall Season.

The erection Of the residence FOR Mr.
John r. Mclean at the southwest corner
OF 18TH and I streets has reached such q
state. especially as to the exterior. that
II may be said to be practically finished.
There Is a good deal to be done inside the
house. 80 that IT will be several weeks
before the structure is out OF the hands
OF the workmen.
In one sense the house is a rernodsled
building, as a good portion of the old
home OF Mr.. Mclean. occupying the site.
was used in the new structure. In other
words the new material has been built
about the exterior space of the old, and
also beyond. covering the vacant ground
to the west. But there Is nothing in the
appearance OF the house at this time to
suggest that II is an old structure. or that
waJ remodeied. In no one particular
does II recall the old house which was
one Of the landmarks OF the city, and be-
came famous thirty years or more as the
home OF Hamilton Fish. while he was
Secretary of State in the cabinet of Gen
Grant.
Comfortable, if Not Artistic.
The old house was typical of the style
o. that day. and was a perfectly plain
structure OF red brick. designed with
about as much regard to harmony and
grace as the average drygoods box 1t
was well built and comfortable which is
something that cannot be said nowadays
or much Shower and more pretentfous
examples of domestic architecture.
However. in the new building which
mas taken its place Mr.. Mclean has a
house admirably fitted for social purposes
and with pleasing and beautiful ex-
terror. In the latter particular a rather
unusual result has been attained. as both
house and the color scheme are about as
perfect as is found in examples Of domes-
tic architecture.
Plain, But Elegant.
There Is no suggestion about the house
that It cost good deal Of money to build
except. of course. to the observation OF an
eye practiced in such matters. which
readily perceives that to have such brick
work costs money. The doIiar-mark ts
not written all over the surface of the
house. In fact. 1t has plain simple walls
Of brick resting upon a low foundation of
granite. and finished with tile roof with
deep caves.
The whole effect is made to depend upon
the accuracy of the proportions and upon
a careful study of the effect of color as
brought out in the brick work For ex-
ample the bricks used are long and thin
color.
The mass has been influenced by the I,se
OF mortar. This is white, and the Joints
are thick. so that a factor in the color
eject me mortar has an important func-
ton.
Z. Sturdy Foundation.
There Is another detail, and that is the
sorm OF the foundation. which gives an
impression of sturdy strength both by the
character OF the material used and also
perhaps In greater degree by the
strength of the rounded upper course
The walls rise two stories above the base
ment, and the broad surfaces of this
mass. broken only by rather small oren-
lngs, might easily have conveyed the i'm
preston perhaps Of heaviness was II not
That the fine freize of the same brick
used in the walls. but laid in geemetric
design. serves TO tighten the effect Of the
the tiled roof
The main entrance to the house is from
the street front. 1t is on a level with
the street. and leads into vestibule. where
there is short flight of steps to the
entrance hall OF the house. On each side
are steps down into the basement. where
the rooms for the use OF guests who wish
10 lay aside their wraps are provided.
Series Of Splendid Rooms.
The entrance hall gives access to the
series Of magnificent rooms. which occupy
the great area of this floor These are
three in number. and including the dining
room. four. Two of them are the largest
rooms to be found in any private house
in this city. In order to preserve the
proper proportions which the unusual
length and width required, the ceiling in
both instances extends through 10 the
roof. where large skylights serve to food
light.
The great apartments open into each
other. and into the dining ROOM which re-
tains the size that is remembered In the
house before the changes wefe made The
old picture gallery also remains about the
same. and In addition has been added an
other Immense room with a library, the
latter in the portion at the corner of Yer
mont avenue and / street. Such a group
ing OF spacious rooms Is not equaled in
any residence in this city. and provides
space for social affairs that is capable
not only of accommodating large numbers
at one time. but OF doing II with ease and
comfort. and even splendor.
A Change in Business.
Norman Percy Foster recently resigned
his position with the American Security
and Trust Company to take up the sale
fee of Swartzell. Rheem & Hensey Com
pany. He isr the son OF Mr. Percy 8.
Foster and a graduate OF Amherst Col
lege
Mr.. Riggs Library.
The residence OF Mr.. E. Francis Riggs,
1911 Massachusetts avenue is being en-
larged by an addition on the east side.
occupying portion of the ground on
that side OF the house. The new part
will be an enlargement OF the library,
w.t., OF course, rooms IN the basement
ana upper floor.
The work OF construction, which is In
charge of Mr.. John s. Larcombe, Is well
under way. SO that the new section will
be ready for use IN short time
More Facilities Needed.
An addition has been about completed
by Mr.. Larcombe to the building of the
Home OF the Good Shepherd. west OF 37th
street, in Georgetown. 1t Is three stories
In height and adds TO the facilities of
three floors by providing laundry, school
room and dormitory.
New Business Building.
Everything is In readiness to begin the
construction of the building at Il3s Con-
necticut avenue, which is to be the new
bone OF the uptown branch of the Inter
national Banking Corporation with the
exception OF the material itself Until IL
IL assured that what has been ordered
can be obtained. and the work can 20 on
without interruption. Il Is not the inten-
ton OF Mr.. Sanford the builder. to break