The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-24
Builders Unable 10 Complete
Palatial Home for Secre-
tary's Christmas.
PLANNED AS SURPRISE
BY WIFE OF OFFICIAL
Great Structure Occupies Com
handing Position on Sixteenth
Street Hill.

The biggest and most expensive
Christmas gift that VIII be given IN
Washington this year is the paIatial
home IN Sixteenth street, near the in
tersection OF Columbia road, which
Mrs Franklin AIacVeaEh is building as
d holiday gift 10 her husband. the
Secretary OF the Treasury
The builders. the George a Fuller
Company, have tried 10 complete the
building and get Il ready 10 put in
Secretary 1IacVeaghs stocking on
Christmas eve, but hurry as they might
they stiH require two CT three weeks
70 put on the finishing touches.
Mrs. AIacFeGgf's secret was jealousy
guarded for months. Only two persons
were let into the secret Of her purpose
% give the house 20 her husband this
Christmas-the architect. Nathan c
Wyeth1 and COrcoran Thorn. trust Of
nCer C the American Security and
Trust Company. but the secret leaked
out and the Christmas package was
opened before the apDOiI tel day.
Light Brick aad Limestone
The new residence Is a large four
story building OF ght brick and line
stone. the most northern In the line Of
costly mansions which crown the brow
OF Sixteenth street hII. Il contains
thirty rooms and VII cost about
S20s 90.
II would be difficult 10 pick out the
leading features OF tie houses inter
Tor. but the most unusL - com Of the
house is the music room on the second
floor which this v-eei, Sc being finished
Organ builders are erecting huge
pipe organ which VIII Hi one end OF
The room, which measures thirty by
1tty feet The ceiling Is wlae-arched
and the room Itself IS admirably
adapted 10 private enterta iDuents in
which 2 program Of music Is a feature
The largest room Of the house. I'D
paUent--, IS the CiDlEE room g by %
feet. also on the second floor. Il IS pan
eled 81 carved oak and the ceiling is
an ornamental one OF classic design
The windows OF the dining room over
look the CITY to the south At the east
end OF the room there IS a vide opening
into the conserve tory. which may be
shut Of BY Siding doors OF kalaDeiD
non Classic columns stand at each
side OF the entrance TO the cOlserva-
tory,
The conservatory is a spacious glass
room at the eastern end Of the house,
and extends two stories in height
Library in Mahogany.
The library is a notable room To-
Gated over the music room, on the third
fOor. It also extends the entire width
Of the house and looks out 10 the west,
moth, and south Il IS all n mahogany
The ceiling is beaued with mahogany
tinheTS. and the bookcases, OF mahoE-
any, are ranged around three sides OF
the room. NJ the south end IS an elor-
nous usho CanE fireplace the rns1tel
nine feet from the floor
The first floor has been designed esDe-
CiaIIv for Secretary lTacEeaEh-s own
uses. Beside the entrance hail, which
g IN limestone, is located his private
office, access TO which IS had through
q RECEPTION room.
The only exterior feature IS the IoCgla
on the south side Of the house opening
out from the third floor This IS IN
brick ard limestone, and viii make =
delightful fOunSinC place in hot vvea-
Their
There are SIX bathrooms and four re-
riCinE rooms IN which the side walls
and ceilings are tiIed-
No expense VIII be spared IN furnish
ir.g the house