The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-29
HISTORIC HOUSE
COMPILE TELY
MODERN|ZED

ALEXANDRIA, Va, June 20.
One of the most striking modern
ization jobs undertaken under the
impetus of the Better Housing
Program has just been completed
in this famous old Virginia town
across the Potomac from the Ma
TONS Capital.
Built in the years when George
Washington was still in dresses,
the Stanch little brick dwelling,
which is in the shadow of the
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
and within stones throw of the
grave of the Unknown Soldier of
the Revolution, had sagged into
a woebegone senility, surrounded
by weeds, refuse and trash.
In that disreputable state, the
Haleys-James and Joan-dis-
covered it and, with vision mixed
with courage, decided to buy. To-
day their optimism is rewarded.
The trim little house of Wolfe
Street is splendid example of
skillful blending Of the old and
new.
House Revitalized
From the ship spar beams of
the kitchen to the tall white gate
in the front courtyard, the house
has been revitalized. It has air.
conditioning and the last word
in heating units. In the quaint.
brick-floored kitchen, the most
modern equipment is artfully
placed among spacious cupboards,
concealed behind doors with
picturesque Holy Lord" hinges
designed long ago to keep the
devil away.
White-Shuttered windows are
screened with Venetian blinds and
the random-width planked floors
have been shellacked, waxed and
polished until they CLEAN. The
walls of the hall and the tiny IL
brary have been painted white
Ito make them seem lighter and
larger" Miss Mildred O'Neill, the
decorator, explains. Living room
and dining room have been painted
soft yellow to insure the effect
of sunshine whether Old Sol is on
duty or not.
Color Schemes
The kitchen walls, as those of
the library and hall, are also
painted white. Upstairs, one of the
bedrooms has a color scheme of
peach and turquoise, while the
other, with its quaint pine furni-
ture, is decorated in white, with
glints of scarlet.
Joan Haley has furnished the
house in keeping with it's tradi-
ton. The cobbler's bench before
the fireplace in the library. the
dough trough table in the living
room, the kettle on the crane at
the dining room hearth, the pew
ter sconces and the ships lantern
at the doorway-all keep faith
with the two centuries the house
was weathered so VIGOROUSLY.
This week the Haley house
opened its doors to a much inter
ested public. News reel cameras
hummed, photographers COM
manded, Nov - still" Alexan-
dria's mayor, E. c. Dawson, at
tended, smiling, members of the
press and FILA officials wandered
in and out.
Other Work Done
But the Haley house is by no
means the only splendid example
of remodeling that is going on in
Alexandria. Dan S. Hollenga, bust
ness manager of the Alexandria
Chamber of Commerce.. reports
that the Virginia city is a beehive
of modernization activity. that
more than 80 of Alexandria
treasured old buildings had their
faces lifted" last year. He says:
painters and carpenters can
be seen at work in almost every
block. From the old spark plug
factory on Washington Street
that is being transformed into a
modern apartment house to the
structure that is being remod-
eled for a clothing manufac-