The Washington times., 1914-12-13
Interest Again Attracted to the
Older City Which Abounds
in Mansions of Historic
Interest.
By EVELYN HUNT.

Old Georgetown, dear to the hearts of
its conservative inhabitants, is again
about to come into its cwn. With the
new bridge at Q street well under way,
the interest of the public is again at
tracted to the older city with its many
beautiful residences, its interesting his
tory. and its aristocracy.
When Washington was yet a wilder
ness, Georgetown was a thriving,
wealthy little city under the British
crown: later when Washington was in
its infancy and the seat Of government
was first established here. the social
elect, the Diplomatic Corps, and other
high officials occupied the handsome
homes on the heights above the Po-
tcmac. 1t was there that the finest car
riages were seen and the most ghtter1ng
social assemblies were found.
AS the National Capital expanded the
fashionable world gradually drifted
nearer the center of the government,
although most of the old land owners
held their ground. Now that this new
spanning of Rock Creek will bring the
old town and the newer one together,
II will bind the smart neighborhood Dor
dering on Sheridan circle to the once
fashionable Georgetown Heights. and
the smart set is expected to drift back
into the old channels of exclusiveness.
"Greyholm" Just Purchased.
Already Vaudeville Carlisle has pur-
chased the old Washington home, now
known as "Greyholm," at Thirtieth and
r streets, which was owned for many
years by Judge Peck, who also built the
large house on the next corner, then
mart of his lawn. for his son. This Is
tho house which f. II. Sothern has
leased from its present owner Mrs'
Wagner, and where he and MS Wie'
Julia MarIowe, having had thelr Pia hs
unset by the war, will rest during the
To make way for this lonG-needed
bridge, the old Rittenhouse home VIII
have to be moved, as II now stanus IN
the center Of Q street half way t"tween
Twenty-seventh and twenty -eis nun nun
streets facing a large eXpanse OF lawn
which originally included the entire
block. H. &,
the Ditrict. and for more than CiShty
wears was the home of the RlttehhouSe
family before il was purchased py how
ard Hinckley, its present owner. Ihe
records indicate that il was built about
1865 bv an Englishman and later sold TO
Joseph Nourse. Register Of the Treas
ury during Washington's Administra-
-ion to whom the rather meaEer Gov
erument records were intrusted on re
moval of the Capital from Philadelphia
to Washington.
About 1895 the CAROLS purchased the
nropertv. which Tas transferred few
wears afterward To Richard WhltaH:
whose daughter married member OF
+,,o pittenhouse family, and there enter
tanned General Washington. president
Adams, and other notables OF mat Gay
The present owner aims TO keep Il IN
repair. and at the same tiihe return ~ is
apnaarance of $50 years ago. MI
IJincklev rented this colonial manson
for several years to Col. and Mrs. VIII
Iiap, Tangfitt, who entertained there in
. fasbion in keeping with the traditlchs
of the place II was on tnat lawn
aynone, the trees. vines ana sht lnheIy
Tari,@ the beautiful panorama of Wash
i. aC.ilG tbat Dorothy Langiltt their
. it'r-b,ar became the bride OF Capt
ITrancis r. Willy. few years ago.
Built By Rittenhouse.
Tho attractive home Of Tom HYDE
.rd his wife on the southeast corner OF
Tyanty-eighth and @ streets was D uiS
Co. Ms HYDE by her father, the Same
pittenbouse. ct the time ot her mar
riaqe lust fifty years ago. =
Not far from the RittenhouSe no o. 10 %
..T,y-ermay" owned and pult CSe 49,, a
hundred 4,
bsyidson. whose daughter, flS 49,
cant davidson, married Charle DouE pug,
=, scion of a family long identllled WIN
C;eoTgetown. This still beauutui hoine
- 9t The head Of Twenty-elghth slIee.'
adioining Oak Hill Cemetery, ~hlCh
VS. originally included I'm Its grouhos'
The lawn was terraced to the creek,
ND extended south until il joined the
Rittanhouse property. The suTrouIu-
Inc grounds still include several acIes
which attract the attention OF the pass,
er-bv because Of the ancient trees ana
aged shrubbery. The house was pur-
chased from Mr.. Dodge by John w.
Mcpherson. whose daughter owns II
at the present time. Mr.. and MIS-. VII
liam Orme have occupied the place Tor
years. aud there entertain lavishiy. the
large rooms with their high ceilings and
long windows. the broad halls. and
Dorches being unusually adapted to the
nurpose. A view Of all washington can
be had from many parts of the house
and grounds.
Another member Of the Dodge family
lived in the lovely old dwelling on the
southwest corner OF TWenty-eighth ana
q streets which is now in the posses
son Of Mrs. Randall Wagner. formerly
Carrie Dodge. and her sisters. That
house and the old Cooke mansion, as II
is called, were built at the same time.
about 1853. by Downing, well-known
architect Of that day.
Francis Dodge was the first owner