Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-06
MODERN PROGRESS
D00MS LANDMARK
Building Once Home of Presi-
dent Washington Soon to
Be Demolished.

Another interesting old landmark Of
Washington is soon to give way to the
march of progress. In this case the
phrase landmark of Washington is lit
orally true, for the structure in question
is the Washington Inn, formerly the Ken
more Hotel, and before that the Hillman
House. on North Capitol street between
B and streets. and it was reconstructed
from two residences built by George
Washington in 170S-1799
The old house will go with many others,
The two squares are bounded on the north
by C street. on the east by Delaware ave-
nue., on the south by B street and on the
west by New Jersey avenue. and the
buildings are to be removed to make room
for the new park between the Capitol and
Union Station. The government has con-
demned and bought all the. land and
houses in the two blocks, and has sold the
building material to firm Of contractors.
which proposes to begin demolishing the
structures early next week.
Engine House to Remain.
Almost the only house in the two blocks
that will not be torn down will be No. /
truck house on North Capitol near c
street A provision in the act providing
for the acquisition of the land by the gov
eminent specified that this house should
remain. The sum Of $4,000 was asked in
the last District appropriation bill for
new site and home for No. 1 truck, but
the House struck 1t out and as it will
take nearly a year and half to get
an appropriation through for the new
site and building. the present home
Of No. l truck will be left standing for
some time as the sole structure in the
scene of desolation.
While the old Washington inn is the
most interesting of the old houses to be
torn down, many of the others have his
tories. especially those of colonial date.
of which there are several, and those
facing the Capitol grounds. AS late as
1890 the. houses facing the Capitol
grounds formed a fashionable residence
section. Senators and representatives
had their homes there, and in the after
moons and evenings the streets were lined
with carriages of callers, much as Con-
necticut avenue, the Avenue of the Pres
fares are now. Senator ingalls, had his
home at North Capitol and streets
until the early nineties. this residence
being afterward occupied by Representa-
tive Babcock, former chairman of the
House District committee. His widow
sold it to the government when 1t was
decided to condemn the section to carry
out the park plan.
Ayers Murder Recalled.
In the old Washington inn occurred the
noted murder of $780, when Mrs. Bonine
killed young man named Ayers, con-
Tossing a week after the deed but during
the interval she pretended to join the
search of others for the slayer All
around this old inn are houses of colonial
date. many of them extremely well built.
with carved mantels and other adorn-
ments Of olden days. About forty years
ago the grade Of North Capitol street
at this point was considerably lowered.
and props we're put under the old houses
of that day and additional stories built
underneath the old structures, to make
them level with the street.
This was done with the old Washington
residences. He addressed letter to Will
liam Thornton. the architect, at Federal
City, from Mount Vernon In December,
1913. In which he Enclosed money on &C.
count, ito proceed in laying in materials
for carrying on my buildings in the Fed
eral City,
His Letter to the Architect.
Washington wrote to the architect:
Il saw building in Philadelphia Of
about the same front and elevation that
| are to be given to my two houses which
pleased me. 1t consisted Of two houses
united-doors in the center. pediment
| in the roof and dormer window on each
side Of it in front, skylights i'm the rear.
IF this is not incongruous with rules of
architecture, l should be glad to have my
| two houses executed in this style"
The architects and builders carried out
| Wa shin RfOn'S reulleat and the sfrlcfUre
| had two entrances for many years, al
| aff