The Washington times., 1908-01-12
Myer Home Sold as Site
for Army and Navy
Building.
Landmarkof Washington
Viii Make Room for
Handsome Structure.

With the passing Of the old Myer
place as a residence at the corner Of
Farragut Square and I street, which
has Just been purchased by the Army
and Navy Club as site on which TO
erect a new club building, one of the
most interesting and at the same time
artistic mansions in the city viii become
q thing Of the past For over hair q
century MISUNDERSTANDING have admired
the quaint Gothic structure, with It's
pretty grounds and trees, the whole
suggesting little piece Of old English
country life.
Occupied by Ambassador.
And the house is more English than
one would suppose, for many years,
it was occupied By the English Ambas-
sador to the United States, and in one
OF its rooms, the library on the sec
ond Tfoor, in the southeastern corner
of the building, the present King Of
England, Edward VII, once slept That
was in the year 1860. when the young
Prince Of Wales visited America and
was entertained at the embassy, which
then occupied the place.
Accurate details of the history OF
the old house are difficult 10 obtain,
for the reason that 1t passes the mem
DRY Of WashingJOnians now living. ii
is said, however, by members of the
Myer family, who sold the property TO
the Army and Navy Club, that the
house Was built some years before the
war, originally for a New York man by
the name of Knapp 1t was subse-
quently occupied as the British en- bassy
and then as the Russian embassy. The
Alyer family consists OF the three
daughters and son of the late Brig. Gen
Albert J. MyeT, who was chief signal
officer from 1858 20 1880, and who was
one Of the founders of the weather
service. he having devised the method
of telegTaphing the coming of storms
row in use. The son, the Rev. Walden
Ntyer. is a master at st. Paurs School,
Concord, y. II.
Gothic Architecture.
The house is rare example Of the
revival of Gothic architecture that oc-
Cured IN the latter half Of the last
century. Il is the work of James Rem
wick, A noted New York architect, who
leading Washington architects say,
was one of the most noted of his time.
He was born IN 1913 and died in 1855.
Among other notable buildings by this
artist are the Smithsonian Institution,
Vassar College, st. Patrick's Cathedral,
and Grace ana Calvary churches in New
York.
The Gothic style is adhered to
throughout the interior and extends
even 10 the stables. The interior is
remarka bic. Entering through d mar
row hall, from which rooms open on
the right and left one comes to a cen
trail rotunda. This rotunda extends tC
the roof. On the second floor is a gal
1ery around which the doors 20 the bed
rooms are ranged. From the rotunda
on the first floor also are enhances to
the other rooms Everything is Gothic
the doors, the windows the decorations,
giving 10 the whole that dignided and
almost religious aspect of the old cathe-
drals of England. There are thirty
two rooms IN all
Bachelor Club Quarters.
The house will presently be used by
the club for bachelor quarters, as q
new building is not in immediate con
temptation. When the club does decide
to erect a new home it will be one
as expressed by a member. that vii
last for all time
There are 15.TO0 square feet in the
property and the price paid was about
$3.50 a foot. making one of the most i'm
p0rCant real estate transactions in some
time. The deal was made directly witt
the owners by a committee Of the club
and then ratified by the membership.