The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-27
But Few of
These Are
Left

ings that were first erected
after it was decided to build
the Nations Capital on the
muddy banks of the Potomac.
Once what is now the bust
ness district was studded with
these graceful homes that have
seen history made, homes that
were gems Of architecture. To-
day scarcely a score remain.
Today Washington is ex.
panding along the lines laid
down long ago by that gallant
young French officer, Major
Pierre Charles L'Enfant. But
in the process of that expan-
sion, the ruthless hand of the
wrecker has been laid on many
of the old buildings which were
erected when his plan was ap-
proved.
A few remain as shrines to the
city that was. There is the De-
cature mansion on Jackson
Square, where that officer died
after a futile duel. There Is the
Octagon House, the Blair man
ion, several others equally famous.
But the rest-with few exceptions
are gone-gone to make way for
the new Government buildings
with their classical designs, for
great new office buildings, Tor
parking lots, for towering apart
mentS and hotels.
Dignity Of Age
Once Pennsylvania Avenue was
lined with stately residences. To-
day they are almost gone. On
the length of the historic street
there remain today but two build
ings of colonial design.
Business is crowding out the
historic structures, but in a few
cases they are fighting valiantly
for existence. With the dignity of
age they cling on, mellowed with
years.
Take the historic building at
Fourteenth and H SITS. N. w.,
which houses the Walter A. Brown
real estate firm. There it stands,
its massive Georgian double Chin
neyS towering skyward as they
have for more than a century.
Just when that building was
erected the oldest residents can
not recall. But they are sure
that on that hot summer day in
August, 1914, when the British
under General Ross and Admiral
Cockburn entered the Capital, the
house stood there and the occu-
pants heard the tramp of British
boots as the RedcoatS made their
way to the White House and
burned it.
Later, when peace returned and
the little town started to expand,
this residence was enlarged and
became the oxford Hotel. Men
aging now recall the days when
it's taproom was one of the ia
NOUS gathering places for the
bloods of the town.
No Clubs Then
There they met - there were
no clubs then-and drank and
gambled. There friendships were
cemented, business deals consul
mated punches brewed and tod
dies mixed, while outside horses
champed at the hitching racks
and sleepy ooachmen-slaves in
those days-awaited the breaking
up of the convivial parties inside,
Now the old building has been
transformed again. The fireplaces
are bricked up. Electric lights
have replaced the ornate candle
1abra and lamps of other genera
tons.
But there has been no change
in its outer grace, the perfect
lines Of chimneyS and roofs, that
blending Of the Georgian archi-
lecture Of England and the Colo
NAL Of America.
On the Fourteenth Street side
Is a huge bay window, flooding
a big room with the morning sun.
There are the high ceilings, a
graceful curving balustrade on the
steps to the upper floors. The
walls are still paneled with pine.
The steps are worn with the pass
ing Of countless feet, but the stair
way is a thing of grace.
In the rear of the building is
still a trace of the stable yard.
The whole building is a page
out of the past, with an atmoS-
phere that makes one think of
Dickens and his ability to depict
the charm of age.
The interior has been changed
somewhat since those days back
in the 50'S-no one seems to
know just when-that the old
residence was converted into a
hotel. Additions were tackled on
the rear, and the building
Tambles around, but nothing was
done to ruin the grace of the
exterior.
Fast Disappearing
Down next to the Police Court
Building stand two of the most
graceful types of this fast dis
appearing group of buildings
dating from the colonial era.
Towering buildings, with their
dormer windows, their double
fireplaces. once they were show
dwellings Of the Capital. Now
they too have assumed a part
in the business world,