The Washington herald., 1912-12-29
READY TOOPEN
DICKSON HOME
Asylum for Aged. Monument
to Late John Dickson,
Ready for Occupancy.
INVESTMENT OF $175,O0O
1t VIII Accommodate Sixty-6ve Aged
Men and Is Fully Endowed by
Terms Of VIII.

Silent, though none the less eloquent,
tribute to the memory of Henry Dickson,
merchant. traveller, and philanthropist.
will be expressed this week when the
doors are thrown open to the John Dick
son Home, which he founded. This new
est Charity in the District of Columbia,
/ home for aged men who are unable to
procure homes for themselves will be
opened next Wednesday, January l. \ :.
Designed by Arthur b. Heaton. arc1i-
tect.. the. John, Dickson Rome constitutes
a notable addition to the architecture of
the National. CAPITAL 1t is located on
a tract Of land of about four acres on
Fourteenth Street. between Piney Branch
Road and Gallatin Street Northwest.
The building is of pure colonial type. OF
brick, hreproof construction. two stories
and attic in height. Porches have been
placed at each end and on the east and
west sides.
The property was purchased, plans ap-
proved. and the building constructed un-
der direct supervision of the trust COM
mittee of the Washington Loan and
Trust Company. trustees under the will
of Henry Dickson.
The home Is admirably situated for its
purposes Some fine trees on the tract
have been preserved, and the building has
been so placed on the property that sun
shine is admitted to each room at some
time during the day.
A driveway and footwaIks form the ep-
proach to the main entrance to the home
on the Fourteenth Street side, and wind
ing macadam roads also pass through the
grounds from east to west, touching at
another entrance on the Piney Branch
Road side of the structure. 1t is intended
that these roads may be used by the pub
lie, though not for heavy vehicles. The
grounds are entirely surrounded by q
hedge of California privet, which. with
bushes, shurbs, and trees, placed with
care and good taste, constitute an at
tractive setting for the beautiful colonial
building.
Planned After Others.
When plans were under consideration for
the construction Of the John Dickson
Home, it was decided to profit by the ex-
perience of others in building and equip
ping homes of this character, and John
JOY Edison, president of the Washington
Loan and Trust Company. made trips
to a number of like institutions in other
citieE from Boston to Chicago studying
them from every angle and adopting a
number of their best features to be drawn
into the plans by Mr.. Heaton, architect Of
the local home
All the interior arrangements of the
John Dickson Home are well adopted to
the purpose intended. The main entrance
from the east side leads into a spacious
hall. with the office of the home on one
side. and reception room on the other.
At the south end of the main floor is
a sitting room and library, containing
two open fireplaces, with writing rooms
adjoining. Directly facing the main hall
Is a sun parlor. which is to be used as
an additional sitting room, and very
wide passageway.
Beyond the sun parlor is the dining
room. which has an abundance of light,
and members of the home will be seated
at round tables, six persons at each
table. The kitchen is on the same floor,
and is an open, light room, with a
thoroughly modern equipment of culinary
appliances.
Although it is the intention to allow
each man to have a room for himself.
provision has been made for occupation
of some of the larger rooms by two,
when that is agreeable. Most of the bed
rooms are ten by fourteen feet in size.
and each of them has a ventilated closet
for clothing. Accommodations have been
provided for about sixty-five. but room
can be found for more if necessary. All