Evening star., 1908-01-12
JOEL bAg4ow
K9t @ RRIWr eDN
R5T EvGToN

remembered as the hero OF a romant,,
marriage to Miss Williams of George
at Kalorama.
Nor did the navy and army men fail
70 seek the generous hospitality. with
the usual result. Miss Emma Lovett
ingston Breese at old st. Johns in 1855.
me pride was so distressed by her hus-
bands immediate assignment to sea duty
that Secretary Dobbin. for a gift. pre-
husband on the flagship insthe Mediter-
ranean' Wh1ch was. We may be sure, a
most acceptable present Commodore
Breese was made rear admiral by the act
@rs1 9l as1s, ana was commandant of the
brooklyn navy yard during the civil
war one sister married Capt Lansing
U.S.A., another Medical Director George
Maulsby, U.S.N.
kalorama had never been SO beautiful
as 1t was in the spring of 1861 The oaks
planted by Joel Barlow along the avenue
| which wound around the hillside to the
plain thence to the entrance lodge at the
present street, had grown till their
boughs interlaced over the driveway: the
trees about the little Fulton summer
house on the bluff lowered high; the fine
pirus japonica hedge formed an impervi-
Gus wall Of green around the lawn where
the lockwood had grown into trees; at
every turn was some rare tree or shrub,
while in the formal garden at the east.
carefully maintained as il had been left
by Mrs. Bomford, was such a collection
OF rare Towering shrubs and plants as was
not to be found elsewhere. The mansion
with its long picturesque front in the old
time yellow tint, was completely embow-
cred in a grove of noble forest trees;
through vistas formed by openings cut In
the trees views Of the river and city from
Georgetown to the Capitol, and even
Alexandria, could be had. Crocus. DAFT
fodils and jonquils blossomed on the green
sward among the dandelion stars, great
clusters of wistaria and pawlonia blooms
hung from vine and tree, the air was
redolent with the fragrance Of lilac and
honeysuckle. In the wooded portion OF
the estate the ground was carpeted with
violets and arbutus, the redbud and dog
wood frightened the background and the
blossom Of the ash swayed in each gen.
tie breeze. On a day in April the gentle
men of the family drove home greatly
excited-Fort Sumter had been attacked
and had surrendered-a, great civil war
was inevitable. Then came the call for
troops, and soon regiments of soldiers
came pouring into Washington and were
encamped on the hills around the city.
Losing speaks of the camp on the level
field of kalorama along the creek. The
guns fired at Bull Run were heard during
the afternoon service that was conducted
by the regimental chaplain in the little
summer house. Has the reader ever
listened to the faint booming Of guns
from distant battlefield? To the civil
ian the sound brings a benumbing sensa-
ton of horror never to be forgotten. It
early became evident that a hospital for
the isolation of patients with contagious
diseases would be required. For such q
purpose no locality possessed the advan-
tages of Kalorama. So the government
leased the place and the family removed
fn a. daI Tho al ton nj
buildings were removed when the army
was disbanded in the fall of 1865; the
officers that had been in charge proposed
to give fine farewell ball on Christmas
eve: unfortunately for their plans.
through a defective stove pipe, fire
started which completely gutted the east
wing of the mansion before controlled.
No report of the fire or evacuation was
merest chance learned that stragglers
had full possession and were destroying
what the army had spared. Mr.. Thos.
Lovett appeared on the scene in time to
ANONYMOUSLY dragged down the hill with
a rope around its neck by a negro boy.
1t was a cherished relic, having been
brought from Mexico after the Mexican
cannon balls from Mediterranean battle
fields, brought home by Admiral Breese,
are now in the Lovett Free Library at
Mt. Airy. Philadelphia. Many years
the government Of either rent or damage
claims.
X X
The mansion was elegantly rebuilt IN
1872; for the supports of the portecochere
Mr. LOvett used handsome iron pillars that
had once done duty in the armory at
Harpers Ferry. In 1875 Mr.. George
Lovett married for the second time, the
lady being a daughter of Admiral Charles
S. Boggs of 'Varuna" fame. and thus
another notable family became associated
with kalorama, Mrs. Lovett being a de-
scendant of a signer Of the Declaration
of Independence and grandniece OF
Capt. James Lawrence. U. S. n.
kalorama was no longer country
place: by the rapid growth Of the city
after the war II had become suburban.
1t was still beautiful and no tour OF
was complete that did not in
clude a drive through the grounds. This
was favorite drive with Gen. Grant
who greatly enjoyed the views from its
outlooks. James G. Blaine would have
Gated at this place-in fact a negotiation
for the purchase had commenced which
was tragically interrupted by the assassl-
nation of President Garfield
years later the mansion was abandoned
and torn away in order that lots might
be graded to correspond with the levels
Of the intersectng streets. The elegant
modern residence of Mr.. Thomas M
Gale very nearly occupies the site of the
Did house. Memories of great men who
erved their country ably and well-Scott,
Madison. Monroe, Barlow. Full
on Baldwin, Bomford, Decatur and
,thers of later date-wth fair women the
social queens of their time. cling to tho
Kalorama of which only the name re-
Mains Is 1t not fitting that a memorial
haYr TO
fashion somewhat of the pastY
In the prepare ton of this paper have
rawn largely upon the Life and Letters
# Joel Barlow" by Charles Burr Todd,
nd other publications. / wish also to
Express my gratitude for the assistance
o generously and courteously given mo
" members of the families So long as
ociated with the life OF Kalorama.
CORA BACON FOSTER.