Evening star., 1934-05-12

- XEMPLIFYING the charm of
X an old Georgian home, the
new residence of Mr.. and Mrs.
Alanson B. Houghton at 3003
Massachusetts, avenue, recently COM
Melted. is worthy addition to
the fine homes that have been erected
in this fashionable section in recent
years.
SUGGESTING age in its structural fea-
lures, as we'll as in the extensive
nlanting of the grounds, the house
has been built entirely OF old bricks.
Clouds Mill, near Alexandria, fur
nished much of the face brick. This
building is known to have been stand
ing on the Cameron Run mill race as
early as 1875. A century-old mill
near Laurel and the historic Metro
politan Hotel, which stood for W
years at Pennsylvania avenue and
Sixth street, also contributed mellow
old bricks, which face the walls OF
the house and inclose the garden.
Built on triangular lot which
measures 260 feet on the Massachu-
sets avenue building line and 22O
feet on Thirtieth street. the house Is
composed of central block, having
a frontage of rs feet, and two wings.
which bring the total length to 135
feet and the depth to 78 feet.
From Massachusetts, avenue semi
circular driveway approaches the
house in a generous sweep. which Is
repeated in magnificent double
hedge Of English box. High bushes
of tree box planted near the wall ac-
cent the ends of the main front.
Magnolia, crepe myrtle and Towering
shrubs add color to the beautifully
sloping lawns. where also are seen the
towering tulip trees which have bor-
dered Thirtieth street for many years.
On entering the main hall ones
attention is arrested by the glimpse,
gained through the north entrance
opposite, of pink garden walls inclos-
ing a mass of Spring planting. A
generous stairway mounts in grace
full line to a landing with large case
ment window and thence to the mas
ter's bed rooms.
FIanking the entrance vestibule are
found coat rooms and elevator shaft,
while from the main hall spacious
doors open to the west into drawing
room and dining room and to the
east into a library, measuring 38 by
"a feet. In these rooms one gains
an impression of important pieces of
furniture, pictures mellow in color
and rich tapestries against plaster
paneled walls, with elaborate cornice
ornamentation. In the dining room
fruit and flower panels framed into
the wall add pleasant touches of color
and a collection of valuable china
is seen through the glass doors Of a
Georgian wall-cupboard.
Beyond the library secretary's
room and Mr. Houghton's office
occupy the east wing. From the
office one steps out upon large
hagstone terrace, inclosed by the
house on three sides and having the
walled garden on its north. Large
boX-bushes flank the hall door and on
the opposite side low planting forms
a border to the terrace, except where
two short flights of stone steps lead
down to the garden. At the west end
of the terrace high tree-box bushes
frame a Georgian wall-fountain, with
f1uted bowl overfowing into blue
tiled goldfish pool.
The garden consists of parterre
rectangular in form, except at the
north end. where a radical arrange
ment of planting conforms to the
semi-circular line of the inclosing
wall Bright flower beds, with large
box-bushes at intervals and flag
stone parths form the borders and
lead to east and west sections, which
are. respectively, lower and higher
than the main garden. White and