Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16


ton is q dirt pile short distance
north Of the Capitol.
For weeks wreckers have been busy
a. demoIShing buildings thereabout In
preparation for magnificent park to extend
from Capitol to Union Station. The immediate
result is a scene that would pass for some
where in France" just after the war. One Of
those piles of upturned earth, the one on the
west side of North Capitol street, just In line
with Indiana avenue, is stored soil. Together
with some surrounding humps and hollows,
it once belonged to George Washington-the
site of the historic building, "the generals
house."
This is the story of that house.
TT began back in the 179Os, when we set out
= to build National Capital In the woods on
the banks of the Potomac River. Things were
not going well. Few houses were being built.
It looked as though the little new Capital
would not be ready when the Government
should, under the law move to it IN 1900.
Appreciating this. George Washington deter
mined In 1898 TO build q large house In the
embryo Capital capable Of serving as rooming
or boarding house for members Of Congress
one of those doings of the great man. by the
way, that he never gets credit for. He had only
recently retired from the presidency with much
honor and a depleted bank account. But he
resolved upon this building Ito aid in the &C.
cOmmodation Of the members of the General
Government, inconyenient as it Is to my
finances"
Washington already owned several lots in his
young namesake city that he had bought to
promote the tagging development, but none Of
these suited his present purpose. He cast about
for q location near the Capitol. Among. lots
considered was one now included In the site OF
the Library Of Congress. But final choice fell
upon two lots just north Of the Capitol They
were then known as lots and is in square 634,
and fronted upon the west side OF North Capitol
street, between B. and c streets In those days
that locality had much greater elevation than
at present; indeed, the two lots were upon the
crest of q hill.
1t was in the Fall Of 1898 that Washington
bought lot from his friend, Daniel Carroll Of
Duddington, for $4284O in cash, and lot 16
from the District commissioners for $53792 IN
three equal annual payments without interest
the then usual terms of public sales.
Washington seems to have had very clear
ideas as to the sort of house he wanted 20
build, and very hay ones as to the way ia
build 1t. It was to be q form OF double house.
the two parts arranged for use separately or
together-often spoken of as 'WaShington's
house." more often perhaps as ''Washington's
houses" The detailed plans were made by DIR.
William Thornton.
IRON time to time, suggestions came up
from Mount Vernon, usually Of q modest
tentative sort. II am not skilled in archi-
lecture" wrote Washington. "and perhaps know
as little Of planning-but as the houses mean
to build win be plain, -. mcloSe q sketch
to convey my ideas !" Again he wrote:
''These ideas. as you viii readily perceive, pro-
coed from person who avows his Ignorance
Of architectural principles, and who has nc
other guide but his eye to direct his choice
The house plans at last ready, they were turned
over to a contractor, Mr.. Blagden. He was tC
receive $1,000, Washington taking upon him.
self the painting glazing and iron mongery.'
Then began the usual troubles. First, Of course
that almost inevitable complication change Of
plans. This started even before the ground
was broken.
Upon visit to Philadelphia, Washington
saw house similar to his proposed one but
with more impressive front. That would not
Philadelphia already ridiculing the Capita
in the woods" So back he came with a new
vision to be drawn into those plans. It didn'
seem to draw well-apparently violated some
architectural canon.
This brought mild FIRE from Washington
~Rules of architecture" he wrote, "are calcu
lated, presume, to give symmetry and just pro
portion to all the orders and parts of build
1ngs in order to please the eye. Small de
partures from strict rules diScernible onl!
by skillful architects or by the eye Of criticism
while ninety-nine in a hundred-deficent o
this knowledge-might be pleased with thing
not quite orthodox"
It is not known to what degree heterodox!
was allowed to alter the plans. Another thin
altered them anyway-the lack of an eighteenth
amendment in those days certain prospec
tive tenant wished wine cellar to be includet
and, of course, there could be but one answe
10 a reasonable request like that.
At length, real building got under way, bu
not so you would notice 1t. Even by the Sprin,
OF 1899, when the honeymoon of Nelly Custi
and Lawrence Lewis led them through tn
embryo Capital they could not report to Wash
ington much show of a building on hi
ground"