Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-29
READY FOR TENANTS
Refuge as Gift of the Late
Henry Dickson.
MEMORIAL TO HIS FATHER
Building to Be Formally Opened
Next Wednesday.
HOME Is FREE TO AGED MEN
Institution Attractively Located on
14th Street, This City-Condi-
tions for Admission.
HOME Is FREE TO AGED MEN

The new John Dickson Home nom
sectarian institution for aged men. on
! 18th street between Farragut and Gala
| tin streets northwest, will be formally
| opened Wednesday, January l.
WashinSton's newest charity. the nota-
| BILE gift OF the late Henry Dickson, a
memorial to. his father. has been COM
| pleted furnished and made ready to re-
| ceive those for whose benefit it was
| founded. ~
The John Dickson Home is regarded as
an important recent architectural contri-
button to the city. Arthur B. Heaton
architect, has produced a pure colonial
! ireproof brick building. two stories and
attic in height, with double porches at
| each end. and large porches on the east
and west sides. The Washington Loan
and Trust Company, trustee under the
viii of Henry Dickson, i'm executing the
trust imposed upon 1t purchased tract
of land of about four &C; in which
the building has been set. The tract IL
regarded as admirably situated for the
purpose fronting to the east, two squares
on 18th street. bounded on the north by
Gallatin street and on the west by Piney
Branch road. The location and plan of
the building is such that sunshine is adj
mitted 10 each room in either the morn
ing or afternoon.
The main entrance to the building is on
the 14th street side. and is approached
by driveway and footwaks. The
grounds are completely surrounded by
California privet hedge with bushes.
shrubs and trees placed with such taste
as with the beautiful colonial building
make the whole attractive. Through the
grounds are macadam roads, leading to
entrances at the west and east sides.
These roads may be used as public high
ways. though not for heavy hauling.
As Permanent Memorial.
The officers and directors of the Wash
in2tOn Loan and Trust Company. reaiiz-
Ing the Importance of the bequest of
Henry Dickson to create a home for aged
men in the District of Columbia, at the
outset, acting through the medium of its
trust committee-which had long and
carefully considered the scope of the be-
Quest-and desiring to build perma-
nent memorial to his father which would
not only be credit to Mr.. Dickson. but
credit to the city of Washington. depu-
tized it's president. John Joy Edison, be-
fore the plans were finally contaminated.
to visit institutions of similar character
in all the large cities ranging from Bos-
ton to Chicago. The result of Mr.. Ed
sons investigation enabled him to present
to the company a plan which not only
embodied the most important features of
construction and of regulations of other
institutions. but effected an advance in
the way of substantial improvements.
The result is the opening up in the city
Of Washington of a fully equipped and
complete building.
The interior arrangement is declared
to be admirably adapted to the purpose
OF the institution. On entering from the
east side. there is a reception room at
one side of the hall and the Office on the
other Sitting rooms are at the south
end, with writing rooms adjoining. Be-
tween the main hall and building and
the dining room there is a sun parlor, to
be used an additional sitting room and
passageway. At the north end Of the
structure is an infrmary. equipped with
all the necessary appliances for members
Of the home needing medical attention.
Dimensions of Bedrooms.
All the bedrooms are 10 by IA feet
in size. except two or three which are
larger-adapted to the use Of two occu-
pants. Each bedroom has a ventilated
closet for clothing. 1t is the intention
to allow each man to have a room to
himself, though provision has been made
for the use Of some of the larger rooms
by two. when that is agreeable. Accom-
modations have been provided for about
SlAty-HNc members, Out more can ne
cared for if necessary.
The furniture and fixtures are in keep
ing with the colonial style of the build
ing. The dining room has an abundance
of light. and occupants of the home will
be seated at round tables. six at each.
The kitchen is on the same floor and is
an open. light room. with all modern
appliances.
The other homes visited were, with one
or two exceptions, in charge of woman
gIDerintendentS who evidently make
them more homelike and pleasant for
members. To make this one homelike
was kept in mind by the trust committee
and every convenience tending toward
that end has been provided Residents
at the home will be allowed the greatest
freedom in coming and going, as though
they We're in domiciies of their own
The directors of the Washington Loan
and Trust Company will Tuesday make
a final inspection of the home and on
the following day it will be formally
opened for the reception of members
Invitations have been extended to the
people of Washington to visit this home
Tuesday afternoon. The generous provi-
sion by Henry Dickson for his fellow
men is of so lasting and permanent
character as to be the means of caring
for those selected by him for this mag
niticent charity for many generations to
come.
The home was founded by a beuuest in
the will of the late Henry Dickson. who
directed 1t to be named the John Dick
son Home" In carrying out the trust
to build and establish a complete home
II was clearly kept in view that IL should
be on memorial lines-a monument by
Mr.. Dickson to his father
Native of Ireland
John Dickson emigrated to this country
from Ireland about 1850 and settled in
Georgetown. engaging in business as a
coal merchant, where he laid the founda-
ton of his fortune. Henry Dickson. his
son. inherited the business and estate and
continued the business until poor health
compelled him to seek home in southern
France lie finally settled In Nice hut