Evening star., 1918-05-23
old CHEVY CHASE
CLUBHOUSE AF|RE
Members Asleep in Dormi-
tory and Routed in
Scanty Attire.
DAMAGE PUT AT s13,5oo

The original building of the Chevy
Chase Club. one Of the Oldest and
most historic farmhouses in this part
of the United States. was partially
destroyed by fire shortly before
o'clock this morning.
Four employees and several members
of the club, who had their sleeping
quarters in the dormitory. as the old
building was known. escaped from the
building. and, with the assistance OF
neighboring residents of Chevy Chase,
saved nearly all their effects.
Through the efforts of flremen from
engine company No. 2s, who respond
ed to telephone call, the west end
of the structure was saved from
flames, but was badly damaged by
smoke and water.
Damage to the building is estimated
at between $4,000 and $4,000. and the
machinery of the club laundry. which
was in the east end of the old struc-
ture. was totally destroyed at loss
of $4,000. Damage to linen and other
contents was placed at $4,000.
The club has $4,000 insurance on
the building, but none on contents.
All the club linen in the laundry was
destroyed.
Greenskeeper Injured.
Dametrio verna Prima, greenskeep-
er at the club, was burned on the
hands and neck in his efforts to
arouse other employees who were
asleep on the second floor over the
laundry. where the fire started. He
did not require hospital treatment.
The members Of the club who had
their sleeping quarters in the west
end of the old clubhouse are: Alex
ander Britton. Charles H. L. john
w. Leadbeater. w. T. Bingham, man.
ager of the club, and Capt. G. Y.
Wheeler. Mr.. Johnston lost most Of
his effects.
Prima, who was one of the first to
discover the fire, ran through the
pants One or two of the members
said they were awake, and they gave
the warning to their fellow-roomers.
Prima, In arousing the others. was
himself trapped on the second floor
and did not make his escape without
being burned.
Samuel S. Haight, a carpenter.
whose room was directly over the
laundry, where the fire was raging,
was aroused by Prima, and jumped
to the ground from his window. He
just missed landing on a skylight of
the laundry. under which flames were
cracking.
Jesse Denton, with A. F. Harris,
colored were the other two employees
in the building who made their escape
uninjured.
When the firemen arrived under
Capt. Charles F. Beers they found
members of the club and more than
a score of nearby residents. scantily
clad, rushing in and out of the build
ing with clothing and other effects.
Within a few minutes the lawn in
front of the clubhouse was covered
with the rescued furnishings.
The origin Of the fire has not been
determined. 1t devoured rapidly the
old white pine timbers Of the build
ing, part Of which had been standing
since 1747. The original farmhouse.
in the days of George Washington.
consisted Of four small rooms.
Each succeeding family that ac-
quired the place added to it. About
1903 Abraham Bradley, first assistant
postmaster general, bought the house,
with large surrounding tract. When
the seat of government was moved to
Washington he made his home there.
and after ne went out of office his
son, Judge Joseph H. Bradley, lived
on the estate.
The Bradleys sold the place to a
Davidson family. who later trans
ferred it to John c. Bullett Of Phila-
delphia and an Admiral Rogers Of the
Navy.
Favorite Drive of Washington's.
Bradley lane. which was originally
private drive through the estate.
was one Of the favorite rides of
George Washington. Henry Clay and
other noted personages Of that period.
During the war of 1912 the old
clubhouse was used as a storehouse
for Treasury documents while Wash
ington was in the hands Of the Brit
ish The house was a relic of the
method of pioneer home building
pegs being used instead of nails.
President Taft. during his admin
stration, had a private room In the
old clubhouse. which he used while
when the Chevy Chase Club was
originally Incorporated in 1893 by
Thomas Hyde. F. l.. Denny, A. f.
Bates, Joseph K. McCammon. George
Howard and Woodbury. Blair the old
structure was used as the clubhouse
III tHOSe tH'- iotheI IooHlS duO
rest rooms Of the Chevy Chase Hunt
Club and Golf Club were in the old
building Work on the new struc-
ture. fifty yards north of the old
building, was begun in 1909 and was
completed in May. 1911.
The new clubhouse was occupied
June Z, 1911. Since the occupation
of the new clubhouse the old struc-
ture has been used as a dormitory
with accommodations for members
with one wing for employees The
laundry. in which the fire originated
was added some years ago to the
original farmhouse.
The old clubhouse was the only
structure damaged. The wistaria
vine, which covered the greater part
of the old clubhouse, was one of the
Oldest and most beautiful vines in the
country and gave a picturesque fin.
ish to the relic around which it grew
When the fire had been put ou,
members of the club walked through
the ruins with deep feeling fol
what they considered one Of the his.
toric treasures Of the National Can.
ital. Despite the damage done b,
smoke and water, 1t Is possible tina,
the west half of the original club.
house will be rebuilt.
$40 600 for Husbands Death