Evening star., 1933-10-31

on each side: the thick walls of the
house permitting this.
In the rear Of the house were large
grounds, sloping gracefully In success
sion Of flowered terraces to the edge
of the water of the Potomac River,
which flowed past to add additional
charm and attraction.
During the latter part Of 1912 and
the early part of 1918 this old home
was demolished to be replaced by a
structure containing three stores on
the ground floor, with storage space
above so that the rental value of the
then owners receive a larger income
upon their investment. In this recon-
struction a portion Of the original east
wall, all OF the south wall and the
original foundation walls were used and
left intact.
Some years prior to the demolishing
of the house, Hugh T. Taggart, assist
ant United States district attorney
for the District Of Columbia for many
years, and a DR.. Ritchie, both long
time residents of Georgetown, apprc-
ciating that the old house was in dan
ger of destruction with its neighbor-
hood fast becoming business section.
purchased the property so as to hold
and save it from destruction. After
their purchase they caused to be painted
across the front Of the house in large
black letters the words: THE Key Man.
SION" and thus the property stood for
number of years, the lower floor
and office being rented to bootmaker
and fruit vendor; the upper floors as
tenements.
Suggested Association.
During the early part of 1907 the
writer in conversation with Mr. Tag
gart regarding the property gained the
information that Mr.. Taggart feared it
would after all be destroyed as his CO.
owner, DR.. Ritchie, had died and d..
Ritchie's heirs desired to tear the
house down and convert it into busi-
ness property from which greater
rental could be received. Mr.. Taggart
was much concerned over its possible
destruction for he feared, as the heils
of DR.. Ritchie outnumbered him. he
would have to accede to their demands
unless some arrangement could be
made whereby an association could be
formed to purchase and take over the
property for restoration and preserva-
tion
Mr. Taggart further though that as
the writer was direct lineal de-
scendant Of Key I should make an
effort to organize such an association
for the purpose.
Considering this suggestion the writ
er later held other conferences with
Mr.. Taggart and purchase price was
agreed upon. The writer wrote some
SO or more persons in Washington and
Baltimore regarding the formation Of
an association for the purchase, res
toration and preservation of the prop
erty: inviting them to become incor-
porators of such an association to be
known as the Francis Scott Key Me-
mortal Association.
Favorable Replies Received.
These letters were written and mailed
in the Fall of 1907 and favorable &C
ceptances were received from Henry
B. F. Mcfarland, then president of the
Board of Commissioners of the District
of Columbia; Admiral George Dewey,
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley,
the heroes of Manila Bay and Santi-
ago. respectively; Justices Job Barnard,
Daniel Thew Wright, Ashley M. Gould
and Louis E. McComas of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia; John
R. Young, clerk of that court; E. Clay
Timanus. then mayor Of Baltimore,
William D. Hoover. then trust officer of
the National Savings g. Trust Co. and
now president of the same institution
Daniel w. Baker. then United States
district attorney for the District Of Co.
lumbia Stuart Mcnamara. assistant
district attorney; William Henry Den
mis-, member of the bar of the District
of Columbia: Henry Quarles Nicholson.
an editor and publisher Of Baltimore.