Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
George Washington's House in Washington

THE house was the largest In the vicinity OF
the Capitol, three stories high, with an at
tic story having dormer windows. 1t was cap
able Of accommodating between 20 and 80
boarders." 1t was built Of brick though you
might not have noticed that as it was painted
white and Sanded.
That exterior finish was in accordance with
one Of Washington's own building 'canOns."
He had painted and sanded everything at
Mount Vernon and insisted upon the same nm
ish for this house. Upon that point, anyway.
he had shown no backwardness of suggestion.
He had written Architect Thornton telling him
exactly what was to be done, and how it was
to be done Ordinary sand not white and clean
enough-muSt make sand by pounding and
sitting soft freestone-dust must be separated
from it by gentle breeze"-houSe 10 be
painted with heavy white paint-while that still
fresh, the white sand to be dashed on "as long
as any will stick"
The Generals House." from its size, It's
whiteness and its elevation upon hill, was
striking feature of little Washington City. 1t
was one of the sights from the StagecOach that.
went lurching by on its way from Baltimore to
Georgetown.
of washington. Though he had not lived to
see his house completed, yet he had known that
1t would be by the time Of the coming OF the
Government
How Just one more year would have rounded
out the great mans life. He had led his cOun-
founded a city for its Capital-and then, by %
little missed the proud moment when that city,
his nanesake became ofncially the seat of Gov
eminent. That moment would have meant all
the more to him for the big white house on the
hflI-token of his special thought and sacrifice.
Washington's will was found to refer to this
property in the schedule of holdings as costing
$4,000 at least" Work upon the house was
continued by the estate and the building COM
pleted in 1900.
THE story of its occupancy is rather confused
While evidently given over chiefly to MEM
bers of Congress, a part of it was early occupied
by.eresident Jeffersons Secretary Of War, Gen.
Henry Dearborn. Under varying fortunes the
house played its part in the establishment Of
the Government in the new Capital until the
memorable year 1914
When In that year the British forces burned
the Capitol, White House and other public
edifces they also consigned this building to the
flames The act is not readily explained. Per-
haps the invading British were aware that GER
tain public records had been taken from the
CapitOl and carried to this house for safe keep
ing. At all events, house and records went up
In flames.
For long, the blackened, empty walls Of the
Generals House" reared their uglineSS upon
ment to his little nameSake city was but an
eyesore the more so from its conspicuOusness.
In 1917 the washington estate disposed OF the
property at public sale, and for but tithe OF
Its cost. Thus at q smart loss ended the gen.
erals part in making the new Capital ready
for Congress
The purchaser, David English, was followed
by quite q line of successive owners, who made
various changes in George WashingtOn's SOHO
walls. The chief change was one of consider
able addition and new name-the HMlmar
House. After long years this became the Ken
more. For while . simple wooden marker
placed by Congress upon the building preserved
memory Of the Washington associations here.
More years passed until In 1910 came an
other purchaser Of the property the Unitet
States. That was the end. The purpose o
the Government was to include the site In I
great park to extend from the Capitol to tn
Union station, and soon began the downfall o
George Washington's walls that had stood TO
over q century. Still the park project held hr'
after the last vestige Of the historic house had
disappeared.
Then came the Great War and all that pro.
posed mark area was covered with temporary
structures incident to making the world SAFE
for democracy" As 1t happened, one Of thes'
was placed where WashingtOn's house hat
stood. For years that Administration Building
No. O. though bearing no inscription, served a:
O sort Of marker for the historic spot Nov, h
the recent work of demolition, desirable as Il
has been, that. too, is gone
Next win come the beautiful park, and UNI
less some steps are taken to mark the site of TIT
Generals House" 1t will become perhaps but
q rock garden or just another place to NOW.
Jew bits of the National Capitals histOri'
soil so deserve perpetual recognition. In
deed, this one seems to have an especial CLAIM
upon Congress. Doubtless Washington'S hOus'
accommodated more members Of Congress, wa
more nearly q congressional home, than an.
ntter I,rivate building in the infant Canital