Evening star., 1919-12-14
The Rambler Writes of Old COrCOran HOu
r is the fate of landmarks to pass.
This reflection comes to the
Rambler because Of the news

puDlSneu IN Ine star some time
ago that the United States Chamber
of Commerce had bought the w. w.
Corcoran house and its appurtenant
land, and also because of the repro
duction in The Star oil recent date of
drawing of the great building which
the chamber will erect on the site of
the long familiar red brick house. a
house that has been a feature of the
jackson Park or Lafayette Square
neighborhood for almost as many
years as the oldest reader of these
lines has lived. The coming change
moves the Rambler to tell what he re-
members and what he has lately
learned of the land and building at
the northeast corner of Connecticut
avenue and IL street.
The house and various lots adjoin-
Ing that on which the house stands
were bought by w. w. Corcoran for
$4,000 from Moses II. Grinnell and
his wife, Julia, of New York city under
terms Of a deed recorded at Washing
ton. June S, 1S49. Moses Grinnell OBJ
tained this property, including lots
Nos. to ~, by deed recorded at
Washington. December H. 1S47, from
Richard Smith of WASHINGTON. DAN
lei Webster of Marshfield Mass:
Thomas Swami of Baltimore and r. NJ.
Blatchford and Prescott Hall of New
York city. The consideration named
ir that deed was ST.
X X
The property stood in the name of
Daniel Webster from June, 1874, until
the date of the deed to Grinnell. The
deed to Daniel Webster-who is de-
scribed in that instrument as Daniel
webster of the City of Boston in the
State of Observation-Disclosures from
Robert p. Swami of Loudoun county.
Va. and Richard Smith of Washing
ton. the latter being the trustee
named under a deed of trust to secure
certain sums of money advanced by
the Bank of the United States and
George Bomford to Thomas Swami
Thomas Swami took certain lots in
the square as devisee of his father.
Thomas Swami, WHO by deed record
ed August 2S, 1927, secured this land
from Gen. James Breckenridge and
his wife, Ann, who obtained it by pur-
chase under a deed dated February
II, 1917, from Mary Pattison, to whom
the square was devised by Samuel
Davidson, Original proprietor" by
his will dated in 1906 and probated in
1910. This is a brief sketch of the
line of descent of the parcel of land
on which the Corcoran house stands,
the house lot being now numbered IA,
but in the original subdivision and
subsequent subdivision of the square
it was lot No. 5.
In The Evening Star of Friday,
February "a, 1883, which was the day
on which Mr.. Corcoran died, there
appeared the following:
Mr. Corcoran, the venerable philanthropist.
was an intimate friend of Daniel Webster.
The fine house Lafayette square, in which
Mr. Corcoran lived for many years. was once
the residence of the great state sman, having
been presented to him by some Of his friends
When Mr.. Webster retired from public life
Mi. Corcoran purchased the house from him.
In this elegant and substantial residence, sur
rounded by its spacious gardens. Mr.. Corcoran
formerly entertained In very handsome style
From 1880 to 1850 Mr.. Corcoran was the
gracious host of the public men of all the
states. Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Clay. Mr.. Calhoun,
John Quincy Adams. Mr.. Everett, Mr.. Choate,
Mr.. Birney, Mr.. Clayton. MIR. Buchanan, Mr..
Sumner Mr.. Winthrop. Mr.. Fish and indeed,
all the great leaders, north and SOUTH came
together under his roof At time Mr..
CercOran's mansion the center of the
most fashionable and distinguished society Of
the capital and his entertainments were Of the
most elegant and costly character.
Square No 1876, bounded by 10th, II
and l streets and Connecticut avenue.
is in the southwestern part of an old
tract called Port Royal. When the Dis
trict of Columbia. or the territory of
Columbia, or the federal territory, or
"the ten-mile square, as it was va
riously called, was surveyed in 1871
the eastern part of that tract appears
under the ownership of two men, by
name Lynch and Sands; the middle
part Of the tract was owned by John
Davidson and the western part by
Samuel Davidson. The south boundary
Of the tract extended from the corner
of New Jersey avenue and l. street
to about what is now 18th and F.
streets, the line passing diagonally
through the north part of the White
House grounds. The north boundary
of Port Royal extended from about Sd