Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-01
SCOTT KEY MANSION
STEPS TAKEN TO HAVE THE
BUILDING PRESERVED.

save the home of Francis Scott Key in
Georgetown and preserve it as a monument
to the author of the Star Spangled Banner"
number of prominent men met at the
University Club and started the ball rolling
by electing officers of the Francis Scott
Key Memorial Association, adopting bylaws
and outlining a campaign to raise the nec-
essary funds. The old Key mansion, which
is on NJ street near the Aqueduct bridge,
is at present owned by former District At
torney Hugh Taggart, and it was stated
last night that the property can be pur-
chased for 5000. 1t was also stated that
the fund to buy the home and renovate
it and maintain it need not be more than
$50, 900. -.
Henry B. F. Mcfarland. president of the
board of Commissioners, was elected presi-
dent of the association; Admiral George
Dewey, first vice president; Rear Admiral
W. s. Schley, second vice president; +. s..
X. Smith, great-grandson of the famous
author, secretary, and William d. Hoover,
treasurer A board of trustees was also
elected. as follows: Commissioner Mac
farland. F. S. X. Smith, William ID. Hoover.
Justice Barnard and Assistant District At
torney Stuart Mcnamara. Others who were
present at last nights meeting were Justice
Anderson. William Henry Dennis, g. L.
Phillips of Baltimore and Henry Quarles
Nicholson, editor of the Maryland Monthly
Magazine.
Pays Tribute to Key.
Commissioner Mcfarland presided at the
meeting. Before calling for the regular
business he made a short address in which
he paid high tribute to the patriot poets
name and said that the purpose of this as
ISOLATION is a most commendable one, and
he predicted that it will have general sup
port. He called attention to certain mag
azne articles recently printed referring to
1.-THE 0iSgracefnl waV' in which the Old
mansion has been treated and the lack Of
patriotic interest in it.
Admiral Dewey told the story of the
adoption of the Star Spangled Banner
as the national anthem at meeting of the
Francis Scott Key Memorial Association
here last night. He said he was instru-
mental in its adoption by this government;
saying that once while he was abroad and
was dining with Prince Henry of Prussia
on the latter's flagship, the band played
Hail Columbia" He called the princes at
tional anthem and referred to the Star
Spangled Banner" Later he and Justice
Moody, then Secretary of the Navy. dis
cussed the incident, the result of which was
the issuance of the Presidents order desg-
mating the Star Spangled Banner the
recognized national anthem of this govern
ment.
An entertaining address was also made
by Admiral Schley.
The next address was made by Francis
Scott Key Smith, who had suggested the
organization of this association and who
has been prominent in the plan ever since.
After outlining the general purpose of the
meeting and the forming of the association
he suggested a number of plans by which
funds may be raised. He recommended
advertising the movement throughout
the country, and the starting of a
penny contribution" plan in the public
schools. 1t Is his idea, after acquiring the
homestead and putting 1t in order, to pur-
chase all the available property and furni-
fiir hqf holn To Fro mole
Key and replace it in the building. When
this had been done, he declared, he does
not believe 1t will cost more than 500 a
month to maintain the building. AS an ad-
dtional means of raising money he sug-
gested the republishing of poems and songs
written by his great-grandfather and pub
fishing those which remain In manuscript.
He is of the opinion that considerable of a
sum of money could be acquired in this
way.
Committee on Bylaws.
Commissioner Mcfarland, the presiding
officer, appointed committee to prepare
and present the bylaws, consisting of
Messrs. Smith, Mcnamara and Dennis The
committee subsequently reported that the
bylaws had already been prepared and
that papers of Incorporation were filed jan
uary IL with the names of eighteen incor-
porators. The bylaws as adopted provided
for the officers, as previously mentioned,
and the provision of 81 a year as dues. to
be paid in advance. The bylaws as first
offered proposed to make an initiation fee
of IS and annual dues Of s., but these fig
ures were considered to be too high to
make the movement popular and the cost
was lowered to 81. According to the by
laws any American citizen Of good charac-
ter and standing is eligible to membership.
The association will meet once every year.
Each member of the association present
contributed his 81 dues and the fund was
in this way started and the meeting was
adjourned.
After the adjournment the members en-
gagged in interesting talks on historical and
patriotic subjects, during which Admiral
Dewey told how, in the last five or six
years, that THE Star Spangled Banner
has become officially recognized as the ma
tional anthem in the army and navy, by
order of the President.