Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

at the northeast corner Of John Marshall place
and street. is to all appearance what waa
once one Of WaShington'S most stately homes.
Today some of its windows are boarded up and
the building has every indication of being ON
the downward trend, for even its handsomely
carved door and doorway on the street side
bear indications of decay and neglect
A few years ago it was the headquarters Of
the Sunshine Home for Women, but all of ito
splendor and sunshine seem now to have dis
appeared, and it may well be assumed that
rarely does passerby ever give its past serv~
ices even the slightest thought.
Its Flemish bond brickwork proves its age to
be at least hundred years. and there are in.
dications that at least a part of the structure
dates back close to 1900. as the deed from SUI
san M. and John Thornton to G. C. Grammer,
dated 1919, mentions buildings, ETC.. as a part
Of the property transferred.
From the Grammer estate, in 1851, it went
to the late Francis A. Lutz, for many years o
leather goods manufacturer on PennSylvaniR
avenue next to the National Hotel
For many years this old home has borne the
name "Hymen Hill" name given it, it is said,
by the late noted philanthropist, w. w. Cor
coran, who attended there the marriage Of
william Stettmus to RoSina Grammer whose
daughter married Champe Brockenbrough
Thornton of Port Royal, va, and whose daugh.
ter. Resale Thornton, in turn married Leland
Stanford CONFESS
I IKE many old buildings in Washington
and elsewhere for that matter-much diff
Guilty is encountered in getting at the real
history of Hymen Hill.
We are told that John Quincy Adams once
resided here. as did Isaac TOucey. Attorney Gem
eral in the cabinet of President James K. Polk.
Another story is to the effect that the original
house on this site was erected by o Mr. Cald-
well, seafaring man Of Philadelphia. All Of
which may or may not be true.
However, If President John Quincy Adams
did reside here, it was probably prior to 1917.
Indeed, this might be likely for Mr.. Adams
resided somewhere in this city from 1903 to
1908, while he was serving in the Senate.
When he returned here In 1917 to enter the
cabinet Of President James Monroe as Secretary
of State. he leased house at 9Th and C streets
from Daniel Brent.
In 1921 he purchased the Cuts residence at
1888 to 1885 street northwest, where he re-
sided until he entered the White House in
1925. When he left the White House In 1929,
without the usual formality Of bidding good-hY
to his successor, Gen. Jackson, he leased the
Commodore Porter residence on Meridian HILL
Between this time and his tragic death in the
Speakers room Of the House Of Representatives
on February %, 1848, there is little likelihood
that he resided at the Grammer home
Isaac Toucey, who may have resided here.
was q Representative In Congress from 1885
to 1889, and quite likely first made his ap-
pearance in Washington on the former date.
He was Attorney General from 1848 to 1840 q,
part Of which time he acted as Secretary Of
State. In 1852 he entered the Senate where
he remained until 1857 when he entered the
tary Of the Navy until 1861, and unless Gottlieb
Grammer conducted a boarding house at his
residence, which Is not likely then the prob
ability of MI. Toucey residing in this old home
would be remote prior to 1857, when Mr..
Grammer died.
Among Mr.. Grammer'S children to be hom
In this house was the Rev. Julius E. Grammert
who first saw the light Of day in 1881 The
burial place of the Grammer family, including
Gottlieb Grammer and his wife Elizabeth Cborn
1895, died 1929 is in Congressional Cemetery
where the graves are appropriately marked with
tomhstones.
Both the Grammer family and the Stettinus
family were early purchasers Of property in this
vicinity, Mr.. Stettinus buying q lot in 1898
or 1899 near where the Bank Of washington
now stands.
After "Hymen Hill" was purchased by AEr.
Lutz In 1851, he added an additional story to
the building and changed the type Of the roof.
He also removed the high mantels which were
peculiar feature of the interior Of the house:
From the fact that these mantels were
deliberately carved to represent the rigging and
equipment Of Seagoing ship-Such as sparS
and anchors, fancy, it Is thought, of its
builder-color IS lent to the statement that
the original structure was erected by Mr. Calds
well OF Philadelphia.