Evening star., 1921-05-20
.0[DC0[ON|A[ HOME
SUBJECT OF SKETCH
Miss Jackson Reads Paper on
"Tudor House" Before His
torical Society.

| Tudor House." the stately colonial
home of the Peter family, situated in
picturesque grounds at 31st and Q
| streets, was the subject Of an inter-
| esting paper read by Miss Cordelia
Jackson before the meeting Tuesday
night in the Cosmos Club assembly hall
of the Columbia Historical Society. She
stated that there is no question about
this famous old mansion being of as
great historic interest as any other
home in the National Capital.
Just when this house was built is
not definitely determined, but it is
known. according to Miss Jackson,
that Thomas Peter. famous in the
annals of Georgetown, was living
Parke Peter, granddaughter of Mrs
Martha Washington. 1t was within
its walls that the first great-grand-
child of the wife of George Washing
ton was born. an event which, Miss
Jackson said, was made memorable
Mount Vernon. 1t was here also that
the Marquis de Lafayette was enter
tained during his last visit to Amer
lea in October. 1924. Robert p. Lee
made his home in this house during
his last visit to this city in May,
1869.
Quotes Annals of Georgetown.
Quoting from the annals of George
town. Miss jackson read: There used
to be high state held at Tudor Place
in the olden time. when the Washing
tons. Lees, CuStiseS. Fairfaxes, Cal
verts. Dangerfields, Spootswoods and
Carriers. with all that was best OF the
Washington, used to meet at the en-
tertainments given there at 3 period
when the courtly manners of the old
colonial times prevailed"
The exterior and interior OF the
house were graphically described, as
were the grounds surrounding it and
the furnishings and decorations with
in. Records show that the house has
been but little altered in design. Miss
jackson told how the old place has
this day, when it is being occupied by
Armstead Peter, jr., and his family.
Paper by Allen C. Clark.
'John T. Towers. Mayor and Print
err was the title of the paper read
by Allen G. Clark, president OF the
society. In describing the characteris-
tics and accomplishments of this
prominent Washington citizen of the
early days of the capital. Mr.. Clark
lauded the memory of this man. who
had not only the distinction of being
mayor, but was the first superin-
tendent of public printing. He spoke
of his having opened printing Office
in this city in 1S40 at 10th street and
Pennsylvania avenue. and that in
the early SOS he started daily
evening newspaper, the Whig Stand
ard.
Mr.. Clark recounted Mr.. Towers
service as councilman and alderman
and afterward as mayor. He quoted
from a message sent by him to the
city council regarding local affairs. in
which His Honor. the Mayor" spoke
of his pleasure at the advancement Of
the public education here. He wrote:
Now he have "a schools, 81 teachers
and more than 1000 pupila" At
that time the population Of Washing
ton was less than $1,000.
Interest i'm Recreation Park.
Mr.. Towers interest in the creation of
recreation park (now Rock Creek
Park) were described. Mr.. Clark read
letter sent to Mayor Towers by Charles
Fletcher. owner Of the "Kaiorama" prop-
erty, in which he advanced the idea for
the creation Of such a park as has since
been realized This was in 1854 The
park also was advocated by John Bur
roughs. the naturalist, in 1868, and by
The Evening Star in 1865
During tho general discussion by mann,
bers following the reading cf these two
papers Washington Toph4m added to
Mr.. Clark's tribute to tho memory Of
John Towers. AS an interesting incident
he displayed the license signed by Mayor
Towers in 1856 which permitted Mr..
Topham's father to engage in business
in this city.