Evening star., 1922-04-23
THE RAMBLER WRITES OF AN OLD FAMILY
AND A HOME KNOWN AS 1.-THE PARTHENON

w the course OF these B!adensours
stor,ss the Rambler called your at
+ention to a fine and handsome oid
4 house on a mill overlooking the vii
,.o. -, p,adensburg and a long. wide
extent of the valley OF the Eas.en
branch. In that ramble. which was pop-
usned in February. this was written:
..Tbe Rambler has heard it called
1.owndes hill because Christopher
1ovndes, a Bladensburg merchant ouiit
a house on this mill in 1746. but on the
heights to the east big homes were
built BY other members OF the Lo~noes
family. and those heights have also Deeh
called Lowndes hill. The Lo"noes
house OF 1746 was named Bostock by the
builder, and the Rambler has heard tne
hill called Bostock hill. A few rods
north of the l746 house Is another old
house. The Rambler has not learned IT'S
story, though a number OF years ago
tenant told him that 1t was built more
than a hundred years ago by sea cap
tain, and that the interior OF the house
was fashioned to look like the cabin OF
shin. Tho informant would probably
have said that the house was built Oh
brick brought from England as ballast
but for the disagreeable fact that 1t is
a frame house. and also because the
Rambler was in q hurry to get back to
town, for 1t was a winter day OF sleet
and cold wind But perhaps the brick
in the foundation and chimneys were
brought from England as ballast. II
seemed to be a very difficult undertaking
to set up a house anywhere In the WASH
ington region without the aid OF oricKs
brought from England as ballast, though
as a matter Of fact the brick were usual
ly nodded and burned close to the site
of the house, and no English brick were
imported as ballast or otherwise.
THE house which stands few RODS
north Of the Lowndes house OF l746 IS
q beautiful and majestic old home win
fine grounds and a noble outlook over
the country south, west and north. II
must have been the home Of that fortu-
nate and prosperous class which we old
timers called quality folks Of quality
or quality folks 1t has been matn-
tanned in a nexcellent state OF upkeep
and Is one Of the attractive places
around Washington. 1t probably dates
back to time previous to the American
revolution, but the Rambler is guessing
at its age. For many years 1t has be-
longed to members OF the Rogers family.
Several members Of this old family live
at Hyattsyille and some time the Ram
, bier will tell you the story Of this ven
erable house. The house and its site
are called Parthenon Heights. and In
that way this hill Of which I am telling
you Is sometimes called Parthenon
Heights or Parthenon hill. no doubt IN
memory Of the beautiful and estimable
Athene Parthenos, a celebrated virgin TO
whose honor the Athenians built tenn
pie on the Acropolis or upper city in
the time Of Pericles."
THE home called Parthenon was
= that OF a man who was good ana
gentle and was celebrated for his
learning, wisdom and achievements.
The Rambler, In q way. hesitates to
take up the subject Of this man, be-
cause he fears that he may not be
able to give his memory that full
measure Of justice It deserves, but
he means to do the best he can to
make you understand that the old
master Of Parthenon Heights or
simply Parthenon. as he loved to call
It, was far, far above the average OF
men. and this subject must also lead
to the telling OF part OF the story OF
one Of his sons. who is eminent, and
perhaps pre-eminent is the right
word. in several departments OF
scieEioe.