Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-01

THE original structure was the fret
Official building In Washington George
Washington was authorized to select a
site, because he had been a surveyor. but
sentiment, rather than topography, Is
thought to have determined his choice
for the south windows of the White House
overlooked the Potomac toward his be-
loved Mt Vernon
"Washington did not live in the White
House. Ho is said to have walked
through the rooms a short time before
his death. John Adams. its first oc-
cupsnt. thought it ought to have been
nearer the Capitol. Mrs. Adams wrote,
In 1900 that the river, which runs up to
Alexandria. Is in full view Of my win
dow and I sec tho vessels PASS and re-
pass
But that is ahead Of tho story " her
a site was selected n prize was offered
I'm 1892. of $500, or gold medal. for a
plan. Capt. James Hoban. a native of
ireland and resident of Charleston. S.
c.. won the contest. with u. design SINH
lar to that of tho family seat of the
Dukes Of Leinstcr, dublin. Fortunate
ly. Hoban was alive when the work of
rebuilding was undertaken after the fire
of 1914, and when the structure was com
pleted again, in 1878, 1t more nearly
followed the original plans. Moreover,
when the present wings. one for execu-
tive Offices and tho other for public
corridor, were added in 1909. further
features contained in the Hoban designs
were included.
Scarcely a Congress came and wont
for half century without an attack upon
the alleg ID extravagent expenditures
-
reconstruction came in for the Gus
tomary criticism. Uoban. as architect
was paid at the rate of $500 a year
| the clerk of the workers received 81 a
day; and tho oversecr. 50 per day
BY the time of President Monroe''
Inauguration the Executive Mansion
was rebuilt but not furnished Mr.
Monroe had purchased valuable furni
ture for his private home while he va,
in Paris. This he sold TO tho govern
ment, IT was transferred to the White
| House for his use there. and he wa;
authorized to buy other pieces for thu
| official rooms,
The idea of . campaign orator tina
the Presidents home WAS "a palace al
splendid as that of the Caesars, and a.
richly adorned as tho proudest Asat
Mansion. hardly found an echo from it
early occupants, especially the ladies' o
presidential families.
Mrs. John Adams, first mistress @
the Mansion, wrote of her new abode.
The lighting Of the apartments. fror
the kitchen to psrlors and chambers,
a tax indeed; and the fires we are obige
to keep to secure us from daily agues
another very cheering comfort. To at
sist us in this great castle and render les
attendance necessary, bells are who'll
wanting. not one single one being hun
through the whole house, and promise
are all you can obtain. This is so grea
an inconvenience, that I do not kno'
what to do, nor how to do. If they wi
J put me up some bells. and let me hay
wood enough TO keep fires, design to
pleased. ! could content myself almo'
} anywhere three months but. surrounde
| with forests, can you believe that voc
, is not to be had because people cannt
be found to cut and cart it We have M
the least fence. yard. or other col
} venience. without. and the great III
furnished audience-room | make dryir
room of. to hang up the clothes in