Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22

* F the many thousand persons
who have visited the soldier
lads Of Camp Meigs during
the past months very few
appear to have any knowl-
edge Of the historic Interest,"
attached to the place. The Original
name Of the estate, together with the
road that skirted its northern and
western borders, was Brentwood,
due to the fact that Robert Brent. first
mayor of Washington. built q mansion
Of ruin.
In its day 1t sheltered men dis
tinguished in Army. Navy and legisla-
tive circles. The historic house Is
beautifully situated on an eminence
partly hidden by a grove of lordly
oaks. The tract comprises eighty-one
acres, and Is bounded by Florida and
Patterson avenues, Sd and 7th streets.
where 1t adjoins Columbia Institution,
thence In northeasterly direction to-
ward Ivy City
The hill commands n panoramic
sweep OF wide extent over the Dis
trtct. Maryland and Virginia. There
is no one spot in Washington from
which a better lew can be obtained
IN the pivotal turn of one's body can
be Secn every building of Importance,
together with a pleasant prospect of
outlying places.
~
The mansion was built in 1916, the
same year that st. Johns Episcopal
Church was erected. Both house and
edifice were designed by that archi-
tect. Benjamin Latrobe. whose work
Stands out SO prominently in the
United States Capitol as a great
architectural example. The center
portion is two stories In height,
banked by symmetrical wings OF
generous proportions. The entrance
steps. upon the platform Of which
stand four columns supporting pedi-
mont, thus emphasizing in it's APP
proach the pure Ionic colonial archi-
lecture, Of which the entire building
IS z perfect example: In the city
proper 1t is the last house of It's kind.
A short distance to the east is the
burial vault. built of bluestone, with
gable roof. Lettered on a sandstone
Intel is the Inscription, "Requiescat
IN pace" betoking the faith Of the en-
tombed. In October, 1916, entrance
to the vault was effected by plunder-
seeking vandals and some of the
bodies subjected to dissertation. The
scattered bones were reinforced at
81. Johns cemetery. Forest Glen, and
the door of the vault was bricked up
TO forestall any further attempts at
vandalism.
1t was unnoticed at the time.
strange to relate. that among those
whose ashes were SO ruthlessly dis
turbed was Robert Brent, who In 1902
was appointed the first mayor Of
washington by President Thomas
Jefferson. Brent held this civic Office
Tor ten successive terms On his
mothers side he was a nephew Of
the first American Roman Catholic
bishop, John Carroll. The Carroll
family played prominent part in
the affairs of the nation when the
government was in its infancy.
In addition to the mayoralty, Brent
fl.ed other Offices Of trust, such as
Justice of the peace. 18O1-17; Judge
Of Orphans Court. 1so6.1sl4, and pay
master general, 1SOs-19. He was also
q member of the school board. He
was elected the first president Of the
Patriotic Bank, which occupied the
present site of the National Metro
politan Bank. In 1914 he was APP
pointed one of three commissioners
for the District to receive subscrip-
tons for the capital stock OF the
National Bank to provide funds for
the war with Great Britain. This