Evening star., 1934-04-08
OLD GEORGETOWN
!: HOMES IN. TOUR
Historic Dwellings Will Be
Opened to Public April
13 and ID.

week on Friday and Saturday alter
moons.
Under auspices of st. Johns Epis-
copal Church, Georgetown. parties
will be conducted through the stately
rooms once known to many of the
men in whose minds the destiny OF
this country and city were shaped.
From the home at 1887 N street.
where Mayor John Cox of old George
Town entertained Gen. Lafayette IN
1924, down through the list to the
house in which Admiral Stephen De-
catur's widow resided after her dis
tinguished husband was killed in a
duel with Commodore Barron in 1920,
the residences to be seen are replete
with historic associations.
Students Visit Homes.
Their sole interest, however. is not
to be found in connection with great
names, for architecturally many OF
them are regarded as gems OF the
styles developed during the early
American era. Students OF design
from all parts of the country have
visited them to scrutinize the work
of such noted pioneers in the field as
DIR. Thornton. famous as architect of
the Capitol; Capt. de la Roche, La
trobe, Downing and others.
Some of the homes, built in the
eighteenth century. have at one pc
riod or another in their histories sunk
into disuse. only to be renovated and
restored when their innate beauties
were discerned by members OF the
modern generation.
While the mass Of legend and fact
surrounding the 20 places is too vast
to bear repetition in less than one OF
the 1870 to o'clock periods arranged
for the daily tours, some OF the more
important facts are indicated in re.
Gently published Portrait Of Old
Georgetown" by Grace Dunlop Ecker
Houses to Be Visited.
Half a dozen homes selected at
random include:
No. BOLT N street, now the home Of
Mai w. E. P. French Here lived
Mai. George Peter, first soldier at
Is when he ran away to join Mary
land troops against the Whisky In
surgents; later known as founder OF
the United States Field Artillery be-
cause. while commander OF Fort
McHenry in Baltimore in the Jetfer-
son administration, he organized the
first Lighthouse battery in America.
The home was built by Thomas Beall
in 1874 and purchased from him by
Mai. Peter.
No. 3I33 Dumbarton avenue, occu-
pied by Mrs. Edith A. McCarteney
great at-granddaughter of its builder,
Henry Foxall who had the house con-
etructed in 1900 for his daughter. Mrs.
Samuel McKenney. Foxall was the
owner of the famous F'oxaQ cannon
and gun foundry, and donor OF the
first land for the Foundry Methodist
Church.
No. 1887 N street, a part OF Cox's
Row at 1881 to 1899 N street, built by
Mayor John Cox of George Town as
early as 1870. He held Office as the
first citizen Of George Town for 26
years. and it was during that period
his famous entertainment for Lafay-
ette was held in this residence. 1t Is
said 600 reed birds were served at the
supper. Tradition has it large
tunnel was built connecting 1887 with
the river. and an opening suggesting
this might be true was discovered
recently in the garden. The house is
now occupied by Col. and Mrs.
william A. Mccain.
"RiIey House" on List.
No. 3O38 N street, built in 1900 by
Romulus Riggs but known for years
as The Riley House" after it was
purchased by DR.. Joshua Riley,
famous tutor of George Town doctors
in the nineteenth century. The house
later was bought by Lincoln's grand
daughter, Mrs. Johnson. 1t is at
present the residence of Maj. and
Mrs. Henry Leonard.
No. 1912 N street, built in 1779, and
most famous as the home of Admiral
Decatur's widow when she left their
great Jackson place mansion after
the death of her husband and moved
to George Town.
And, incidentally, the St. Johns
Church itself, which may be called
to attention as the oldest Episcopal
church in the city. 1t was built after
a subscription campaign which re-
ceived the cooperation of Thomas
Jefferson. The first rector, Rev. Sayrs,
began his services there in 1904, and
when he died five years later was i'm
mortalized by an epitaph still to be
found in the church. 1t was written
by Francis Scott Key and indicates
that gentleman, then a vestryman,
had more than a sudden inspiration
to aid him in writing the Star
Spangled Banner"
The emit nh reads.
Here once stood forth man, who
from the world
Thought bright its aspect to the
youthful eye,
Turned with affection ardent to
his God,
And liv'd and died an humble
minister
OF His benignant purposes to man.
Here lies he now-yet grieve not
them for him
Reader! He trusted in that love
where none
Have vainly trusted-rather let
His marble speak to thee, and
shouldst thou feel
The rising Of a new and solemn
thought
Wakd by this sacred place and
sad memorial
o listen to its impulses! It's
divine
And it sball guide thee to a life
Of joy,
A death of hope and endless bliss
thereafter"
Complete List Of Houses.
The complete list of houses to be
visited on the tours follows:
On Friday afternoon, April 13, those
of Gen. and Mrs. Clarence c. Will
liams, 3033 N street; Maj. and Mrs
Henry Leonard. 3038 N street: Mr.
and Mrs. Lowell Mellet, 1908 N street;
Mr.. and Mrs. Devereau Green, 1928
p street; Mrs. Isabella Greenway
3147 street; Mr.. and Mrs. John
H. Small, 3035 Dumbarton avenue
Hr and MrS Robert Have Van Ga Mt