Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-18

Washington. who remodeled the old
mansion and added the east wing con-
| tanning several drawing rooms and q
banquet hall. In 1907 washington sold
the estate for $4,000 to Joel Barlow,
poet, statesman and philosopher and
| one of the most conspicuous figures of
his day. President Washington appoint
ed him as consul to Algiers. Later ne
was appointed by President Madison as
Minister to France.
Joel Barlow was an intimate friend
of Robert Fulton and tradition has 1t
that it was at the Barlow estate that
Fulton made his model of the Clermont,
the first steamship to be navigated sat-
isfactorily. President jefferson also was
a frequent visitor at 'Kalorama," the
name bestowed upon the place by Joel
Barlow and derived from the Greek
words signifying beautiful view"
Barlow was later sent to France on q
special political mission and while trail
ing Napoleon through Poland in the
hopes of an interview with the French
emperor, he fell Ill from exposure and
died in Poland on Christmas eve, 1912
His widow, who survived him six years,
fell heir to Kalorama and after her
death, the place eventually passed into
the possession of one of Mrs Barlow s
nephews, Col. Bomford, who became the
first chief Of Ordnance of the United
States Army
In 1919. the place was leased for a
period to the, Prussian Minister, Baron
Won Greuhin. The baron about that
time stirred up quite a deal of gossip
in Washington circles by marrying the
pretty governess of Gov. Middleton's
family, and 1t is said that the ladies
n f~.s. i
reception OF the Minister'S new wife.
Decatur's Body There rs Years.
In 1920. when the American naval
hero, Stephen Decatur, was killed in a
duel by Commodore Barron, his body
was placed in the family vault of Col
Bomford, who had been one of Deca-
t,lr's closest friends. The body remained
in the vault at Kalorama until 26 years
later, when 1t was removed to Philadel-
phia to st. Peters Churchyard. In
later years, the bodies of other of the
old owners were moved to Oak Hill
Cemetery.
The estate, embracing 81 acres ex-
tending from Woodley Lane and Rock
creek TO Florida avenue. crossing the
creek at P street, was sold in 1874 to
Mrs. Charles Fletcher, who paid $25, 900
for the entire property.
During the Civil War. the Kalorama
mansion, then In perfect condition, was
leased by Mrs. Fletcher's heirs to the
Government to be used as a hospital
for contagious diseases; smallpox In
particular. Christmas, 1865, a fire
started in the building, due to q defec-
tive f1ue, and destroyed the entire east
wing of the building.
Shortly after the Civil War. James G,
Blalne, would have had a residence for
the President located at this point-in
fact negotiations FOR purchase had
commenced when they were tragicallv
interrupted by the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln.
The present home, which is to he
torn down in the Spring. was built by
one OF Mrs. Fletcher'S heirs, William
A. MearnS, toward the end of the last
century, very nearly over the site of
the original mansion, which had been
torn down in order that city lots might
be made to correspond with levels of
intersecting streets
Realizing the great interest attached
to the place because of its unusual
history and thinking that perhaps the
home may contain construction items
of interest to historians and antigua
rians. the German authorities have
been reluctant to proceed upon the
demolition OF the building until every
opportunity has been given to those
interested to visit and inspect it.