The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-07

washington, April z. = Daniel
Webster's old home in this city is
being torn down Next month, when
the Chamber OF Commerce OF the
United States holds its annual
meeting here, the place where
Webster lived will be barren
ground ready for the foundation
stone Of the national headquarters
of the Chamber.
After that, where the stately red
brick mansion stood for so many
years, Greek temple of commerce
will Immediately shoot up, and an
other of Washington's landmarks
will be remembered only by a
wooden tablet stating that Daniel
Webster once lived in a residence
on that site.
The Old picturesque side Of
Washington is gradually vanishing.
Homes where the nations heroes
lived and where history was made
are being torn down every year to
make room for office buildings,
clubs and hotels. Unfortunately for
their security, most of the famous
homes of early Washington were
built in what has become a branch
of the downtown district. The
neighborhood is not fashionable
enough to lure the wealthy to bid
for the historic mansions, and un-
less some patriotic society steps in
the real estate market along with
less romantic property.
The home of Francis Scott Key,
ner', was allowed to pass in this
way, though even in a city filled
with famous buildings the Key
house was regularly visited by
tourists.
Not all Of the picturesque old
homes have been demolished, it is
true. Some have been remodeled
and now serve modern uses. The
Octagon house, where Dolly Madi-
son gave some of her most bril-
liant drawing rooms" after the
White house burned in 1914, is now
the home of several artist organ
izations. Dolly Madison's home on
Lafayette square has become the
Cosmos club.
Some historic houses have been
converted into apartment buildings,
Offices and studios. The ballroom
Of one residence where early Wash
ington society gathered to dance
the quadrille and waltz is now a
studio frequented by chiffon clad
Greek dancers.
Old Homes for Sale.
But these homes that have been
spared so far are not necessarily
to be preserved as permanent his
toric monuments. Many of them
are for sale. Investors and build
ers come to study the broad lots
on which they stand, ignoring the
mural decorations OF the bathrooms,
the sun parlors and the colonial
doorways. The old houses have
served several generations and
their space is needed.
The Webster mansion, once re-
garded as Washington's most COM
plete and elegant home, is being
torn down rapidly The garden wall
with its stone dog over the high
gate is gone. The lockwood tree
beneath which Webster used to sit
and read or write speeches is NOV
ed to the Lincoln memorial grounds. !
For years it has been known as
Webster's tree, and it is still to be
associated with him
Through the low windows with
tnelr, psMes OF glass NON gone the
half-wrecked drawing rooms ana
halls OF the mansion attract the
gaze of the passer-by. Washington
! is recalling little stories about Dan
iieI Webster and "the old C0rcoran
place" as the house is generally
known
1t is remembered that when Web |
ster came to Washington to be sec
rotary Of state under President
Harrison, his friends and admirers
wished TO present him with money
to buy this home on Lafayette
square. Webster lived in it during
his term of office, but historians
say he finally decided to purchase
a home in Massachusetts with the
fund raised for him.
Webster always remained a farm
er, tree planter and country gentle
man. Even Washington, with its
generous lawns and magnificent
distances, was too much of city
for him. He was not at all in
trigued by the distinction of owning
one of the capitals show places,
a residence facing the White
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