Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-19


BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
TINE wreckers have done their
work, and the old British en-
baSsy, Connecticut avenue and
l. N street, has vanished in the
mistS of Memory Lane. Only a
sorry heap Of dusty debris remains to-
day to mark for q little while the site
of what was once the second most
famous residence" in Washington. SSon
new structure will rise on the loca-
ton and it will not be long before re-
membrance of the old house will be a
matter Of Importance only to those who
have q professional interest in the AN
cient history" of the Capital
Connecticut avenue was q new street
when the British government decided
to buy lot 800. square 1873. The tram
line to Dupont Circle, p street and the
car barn at Twenty-fourth street had
Just been completed. 1t Is recorded
that the property was purchased from
James M. Latta, trustee under deed
from Jessie D. Bright. July "a, 1872.
The surroundings were not attractive. 4"
Nearby were old frame buildings,
dilapidated barracks from Civil War
days. and fields of rank wild growth.
At Twentieth and P streets stood the
old Hopkins brick kiln 1t Is said that
the plan to build in such neighbor-
hood was opposed by certain critics
who considered it "unsuited.'
Prussia Built First.
The Prussian government already
owned legation building at 734 Fiji
tenth street.-the first European state
to provide properly for its Minister in
Washington. Sir Edward Thornton,
representing Great Britain, was living
In rented house at the northeast cor
ner of Farragut Square and I street
residence purchased in 1865 by
Charles Knapp from Elisha Riggs.
With the increase in the Importance
of the city, both as the center of the
Federal Government and as a town re-
hecting in its architectural character
the expanding political and cultural
significance of the Western World, Sir
Edward and the British Foreign once
perceived that 1t was imperative to have
adequately impressive and permanent
quarters in Washington, and the &C.
QUESTION of the land was the first step
toward the practical accomplishment
Of their ideal.
The house was planned in the Foreign
ONCE in London. On Christmas day.
1873, Eugene" wrote to Frank LESLIE
1-4NSSA q w ANCWSk1oPCL, NcW I OTk. S1r
EDWARD Thornton is now building a
magnificent mansion, in the English
style. 1t :. will be, when completed,
the most substantial building in Wash
ington." Whether the most substan-
tiaI' or not. the legation was intended
to be a residence of the very best type.
1t was constructed With care and intel
ligence. and the decorations were
planned to be worthy of the character
of the edifice. The Foreign Office was
not susceptible to the criticism that "a
show place" was too grand" for the
purpose.
Considered Handsome.
In later years, when inevitable
changes took place in the aesthetic
ridiculed as "old fashioned" and ginger
bready," but at the time it was drawn
1t represented the best Of which con-
temporary architects were capable, and
even to the end the old house still re-
tanned certain features deservedly con-
Sidered handsome"
When first completed. it is fair to
say, the legation was a good example of
the cultural status of the British ma
ton. 1t was, of course, the fruit Of a
somewhat weird period in human his
tory-the period of the Franco-Prussian
War. the instructions in Cuba, the
Beecher- Tilton scandal in New York
and the kidnapping of Charlie Ross in
Pennsylvania; the period Of the comet.
President Grant was in the White
House. his life made miserable by par
tiSan criticism of a type which has dis
appeared from American politics.
Sir Edward moved into his new es-
Enlistment in 1876. Soon afterward
the neighborhood began to boom
Washington society migrated in the di-
rection of Dupont Circle. The Shep-
herd houses at Connecticut avenue and
K street, the Phillips row in Connect
cut avenue. the Gardner Hubbard house
at Connecticut avenue and Nineteenth
street. the Prof Graham and Charles
Bell houses in Connecticut avenue, the
Blaine house at Twentieth street and
Massachusetts, avenue. the Leiter-WeSt-
inghouse residence at Dupont Circle and
New Hampshire avenue and the Stew
art castle" at Connecticut and Massa-
chusetts avenues were built. The lega-
ton was known as 1900 Connecticut
avenue.
Entrance Impressive.
Entrance to the house was through
massive porte cochere marked with
the British coat-of-armS. The vesti-
bule had heavy mahogany doors, the
inner ones being decorated with the i'm
perial symbols. When the doors were
opened the visitor beheld a beautiful
staircase with portrait Of Queen Vic
toria In coronation robes at the head OF
the landing. On the right in the lower
hall, in later years, was portrait OF
Queen Mary.
To the left Of the entrance were two
drawing rooms and ball room. In the
latter were portraits of King Edward
and Queen Alexandra. To the right OF
the hall were the Ambassadors study
and reception room. The state dining
room, with a portrait of King George
occupied the west side Of the building
Throughout the ground floor there were
crystal chandeliers. The windows were
fine and high in their design. It is
said that the mahogany doors and
mouldings were brought from England
Furnishings ana draperies were rose
green and gold in color. Dark blue
velvet carpet was on the hall and stairs
A fine rug, marked 1851, was in the
ball room-a relic of the famous Crys-
tai Palace exhibition. A solid silver
service of great beauty was used on spe-
cial occasions.
In 1900 an addition Of seven room.
was built for the chancery. During the
World War the old coach house or 60.
$500 v,,a~ ~~un~AnlAA aud -