Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-20
Passing of Old Building on Site
of One Erected for First
Presidents Winter Home.
FOR MANY YEARS HOME
OF NATIONAL LEADERS
Burned by the British August %,
1914, and Subsequently Rebuilt
Into Two Houses.
BY JAMES CROGGON.

BY JAMES CRoGGoN.
In the demolition of the property be-
tween the present Capitol grounds and
the Union station plaza. the principal
building which will disappear is that
now known as the Washington Inn, for
the site was originally occupied by a
three-storied mansion erected for
Washington. which was intended for
his winter residence. However but lit
tie of the original structure remains,
onN the two end walls of the three
upper stories, the building about 1918
having been superseded by two dwell
ing houses. Aside from it's historical
interest associated with Washington in
the early days of the last century. it
was the dOmicile of a number of the
most prominent men of that day.
Washington had before this time
been interested in Washington real
estate, having as early as 1892 acquired
square 234, situated west of the old
observatory grounds, now occupied by
the naval bureau OF hygiene, and it
Is supposed from it's location that he
had an idea of building a residence
there.
In 1898 he acquired lots in the Car
rollsburg section on the Anacostia or
Eastern branch, investing there be-
cause 1T was supposed that that sec
ton would be the commercial part of
Washington, and he had also in the
same year bought two lots on the east
side of New Jersey avenue, west of
the lot on which he built his mansion
in 1893, having purchased that lot dur
ing the previous year.
1t appears that soon after the purchase
he wrote to his friend, DIR. William
Thornton, agreeing to the suggestion to
of members of Congress. That he de-
cided to build one house instead of two.
On December 70, 1898, he sent a check
for $500 for the purpose of laying in ma
terial for the building. DR.. Thornton SUI
pervised its erection. and Messrs. George
Blagden and John Lenthal. both of whom
were employed on the Capitol and whose
descendants are living here today, were
the builders. Plans We're made by DIR.
Thornton and the proposal of Messrs.
Blagden and Lenthal was accepted by
Washington January 50, 1889 The build
ing was completed in the latter part of
that year, but some delay occurred in
the delivery OF glass, which was ordered
in Boston through Gen. Benjamin Lin
coin. The grounds were enclosed and set
out with trees and plants under the gen.
erals personal direction and some of
these trees We're on the street and few
remained within what are now the Cap
itol grounds. An aged yew northeast of
the Senate wing is today pointed out as
one of the trees planted by the general.
On Level With Capitol Floor.
The house faced eastward and it's foun-
dations being about on level with the
ground floor of the Capitol, there was a
magnificent view. especially from the up
per windows. and evidently he had the
idea that the city of Washington was to
be built up in that direction.
There is little doubt that had Wash
ington lived to occupy it that, next
to the public buildings, it would have
been the most prominent point in the
capital and the center of society. As il
was, it became in the early days of the
century, when most of the leading men
in Congress resided in Georgetown for
want of accommodations here. the home
of many of those prominent in Congress.
On the meeting of Congress in 1900. IL
became one of the principal congress
sional boarding houses, and for many
years it was conducted by Mrs. Frost
Here were gathered many of the leading
men of the nation. Prior to its destruc-
ton by the British, August %, 1914.
among others it gave shelter to were
Nathaniel Macon, an old revolutionary
soldier, who served in his day the long
est time of any of our legislators, thirty
seven years: William H. Crawford of
Georgia. who was prominent in the legiS-
lative halls and in the cabinet and in
1925 one of the candidates for Presi-
dent of the United States: Col. John
Taylor of Carline, Va, a writer of note,
especially on political subjects. and also
a member of Congress; r. Marion, 4
representative from South Carolina from
1905 to 1910: John Galiard, who served
as senator from South Carolina from
1904 to his death in this city in Feb
ruary. 1926: James Turner, once gov
ernor of North Carolina and a senator
from 1905 to 1916.
John T. Frost, son of Mrs. Frost. was
for long time clerk in the House of
Representatives and lived there and was
with the army at Bladensburg on the
approach of the British.
Official Report on Burning.
AS congressional boarding house it
went out of commission August %, 1914.
having been burned by the British prob
ably because they had learned that some
papers of the House of Representatives
had been moved thereto. John T. Frost
was in charge of the office of clerk of
the House In the absence of Patrick
Magruder. the clerk, and after the desc
Grafton by the enemy Mr.. Frost made the
following report, September Ia, on behalf
of Samuel Burch and himself:
ION the 21st tof August) the first of the
undersigned clerks was furloughed by
Brig. Gen. Smith at the request Of Col.
George Magruder for the purpose of re-
turning to the city, to take care of and
save such part Of the books and papers
of the clerks office as he might be able
to effect, in case the enemy should get
possession of the place. and he arrived
here the following day.
'Hiseorders from Col. George Magruder
were not to begin packing up until 1t
was ascertained that the clerks at the
war office were engaged in that business;
and 1t was not until Il o'clock Monday,
the I'D that We were informed that they
had begun to move the effects of that Of
flee, although we were subsequently told
that 1t had commenced the day before.