Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-11
PASSING OF WASHINGTON
EXPLAINED
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin

WASHINGTON, April S.-Daniel
Webster's old home in this city is be-
ing torn down. Next month, when
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States holds its annual meet
ing here, the place where Webster
lived will be barren ground ready
for the foundation stone of the ma
tional headquarters of the Chamber.
After that, where the stately red
brick mansion stood for SO many
years. a Greek temple of commerce
will Immediately shoot up, and an
other of Washington's landmarks
will be remembered only by a wood
en- tablet stating that Daniel Web
ster 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 ear 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 h
downtown district. The neighbour
hood is not fashionable enough to
lure the wealthy to bid for the his
toric mansions, and unless some pa
triotic society steps in to save them
the buildings go on the real estate
market along with less romantic
property.
The home of Francis Scott Key,
author of THE Star Spangled Ban
ner," was allowed to pass in this
way, though " in a city filled
| with famous buildings the Key
house was regularly visited by tour
lists.
Not all of the picturesque old
homes have been demolished, it is
true. Some have been remodeled and
now serve modern uses. The Octa-
gon House, where Dolly Madison
gave some of her most brilliant
drawing rooms" after the White
House burned in 1914, is now the
home of several artist organizations.
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 Washing
ton society gathered to dance the qua
drille 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 historic
monuments. Many of them are for
sale. Investors and builders come
to study the broad lots on which
they stand, ignoring the mural deco
rations 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, onc re-
earded as Washington's most COM
torn down rapidly. The garden wall
with its stone dog over the high
gate is gone. The lockwood tree be-
meath which Webster used to sit and
read or write speeches is moved to
the Lincoln Memorial grounds. Fol
years it has been known as Web
ster's tree. and it is still to be asso-
ciated with him.
Through the low windows with
their panes of glass now gone the
half-wrecked drawing rooms ard
halls of the mansion attract the gaze
OF the passer-by. Washington is re-
calling HIlie StOrico dpouI OohiSA
Webster and "the old Corcoran
place" as the house is generally
known.
IT is remembered that when Web
ster came to Washington to be Sec
rotary of State under President Har-
rison, his friends and admirers
wished to present him with money
to buy his 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
err, tree planter, and country gentle
man. Even Washington, with its
generous lawn and magnificent dis
ltances, was too much of a city for
him. He was not at all intrigued
by the distinction Of owning one of
the Capitals show places-a resi-
dence facing the White House across
Lafayette Square, a place that was
considered by some to be even more.
ldesirably located than the Executive
Mansion. There was some talk at
one time of building a new presi-
Dental residence on the site of this
home offered to Webster. Yet Web
lster refused the responsibility of
owning permanently so fine an
establishment. He preferred his
farm lands at Marshhsld. in Massa-
~chusetts.