Evening star., 1927-09-24
BY DON :. WARREN.

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BY DON < WARREN
Picturesque to an unusual degree,
.Edgnmoor. Md. is a community made
<up largely Of English aud colonial
homes Of distinctive appeal, which
has grown to moderate size III the
past decade on q lovely. partly wooded
countryside section located to the
west of Wisconsin avenue extended,
about a half hours drive from central
Washington.
Here in this community are to be
found not only architectural designs
worthy Of emulation, hut also a
very definite demonstration of the
value of the building of homes that
are suitably fitted into their settings,
homes purposefully planned, that en-
bance rather than detraCt from the
beauty Of neighboTing houses and
which thereby are in turn benefited.
Here, also, as in other sections preyi-
.nusly described. natural attractions of
sthe area and man-made developments
shave been nodded together into one
.rleasing effect.
Spaciousness Special Feature.
One of the outstanding features of
sthe section is the feeling of spacious
ness which has been created by the
.broad stretches of lawns on which the
homes, in virtually every instance.
have been placed. The extensive
grounds of these homes, all of which
have been carefully Handicapped, are
productive of a restful atmosphere
that is not TO be found in the more
pretentious homes of the congested
sections of the city, where the high
:lndrket value of the land necessarily
limits the extent of the property
(which the majority of home owners
could afford or would care to keep
up. The grounds of the Edgemoor
homes in some instances are as large
as two or three acres, although 9TH
ers are Of more moderate size, vet
large enough to balance their houses.
While these spacious grounds, of
course, are larger than would fit the
needs of the average salaried home
owner, Vet there are many valua BILE
lessons in planning, landscaping and
other home development problems
here which could well be studied by
owners of smaller properties
Great Native Trees Found There.
In the wooded sections of this com
G1unity are to be found some of the
greatest native trees of the entire
District of Columbia or it's environs.
Stalwart oaks, elnls, hickory and wal
nut trees, some of which are cente-
llarians-some believed to be $50
years old-still stand on this tract
to form a framework for the houses
which have been built under their
heavy foliage The orientation of the
houses in some instances has been
planned to preserve some of these
trees, and in some cases, as in the
Bride home, on Fairfax road, the
house was given an L-shaped outline
which made possible the preservation
Of shapely white oak, which now
stands as the pivotal point of a for
NAL garden at the rear of the place.
In addition to the spacious, well
kept lawns and gardens and the
natural growth of trees. the suburban
and restful aspects of this community
have been made more definite by the
introduction of new growths of trees
and a wealth of hedges and other
shrubbery. Trim rows of privet hedge
and occasional blue spruces and other
evergreens serve partly to shield the
houses from the street, giving an ex-
clusively yet friendly atmosphere to
the place.
Streets Afford Striking Vistas.
Adding to this effect are the rather
narrow streets, which are lined with
either tall. stately Lombardy poplars
or spreading elms or naples, which
afford striking vistas down their
lengthy stretches. Here and there
also in the parkways are to be seen
formal cedars and weeping willows,
providing notes of differentiation.
Another unusual feature Of the COM
munity is the popularity of gravel.
covered driveways leading in sweep
ing curves from the streets to the
garages at the rear Of the houses.
Some of the streets also are gravel
covered, light gray in color, which
blends in with the quiet color scheme
of the section.
English Houses Typified.
A lingering study Of the homes
gives Impressions Of interesting ram
bling outlines Of the typical English
cottages. of stucco paneled brick chin
neys with chimney pots; vertical ex-
posed timber work; weathered shingle
buildings of rustic feeling; native stone
walls inclosing private gardens: of re-
fiecting pools and fountains; of white
colonial structures set in striking con-
trast against green backgrounds, and
of rear yards and rear elevations of
houses that have all the attractiveness
of front lawns and entrances.
The architectural styles of these
homes are chiefly Of the English and
colonial mode and yet each is distinct
Iy different; some have simple, un-
broken roof lines while others are or
rambling lines with gables and dor
mers; some are rectangular in outline
and some are L-shaped, with one form
ing the outline of L.
Wooded Lawn Is Feature.
One of the most interesting of the
Tdgemoor homes is that of Charles S.
Robb on MOorland lane, a tWo-and-a-
half-story residence of the English
mode, which is set far back from the
street on a broad knoll surrounded by
plumbers OF rall. sturdy oaks. walnut