Evening star., 1935-10-20
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

Washington has always been a city
of contrasts, as to the juxtaposition Of
its public buildings, its homes and
their occupants. There are no greater
ones than can be seen today on street
between Second and Third streets
northwest. Here, in backwater as it
were, seldom chanced upon by the
inquiring tourist, Is neighborhood
which was once the mecca of the
political, social and religious world
just prior to and after the Civil War.
OF the Seaton School, which is in
its midst, Gen. Sherman said when
he came to its dedication from his
truly imposing home across the street
in 1871: Il am the opposite neighbor
of this school. Its coming into our
midst is causing me a total loss Of
$4,000 This school Is not too large
and it is not too good, but the neigh
borhood is a little better than it ought
to be. We who live In it are willing
to give our time and money to this
school if our boys and girls who come
to it will only grow up to be worthy
of the country that claims Them as
its own"
Changing trends have effected ex-
traordinary changes in the one-time
glories of this neighborhood Wander
by and you will see for yourself that
Georgetown is not the only portion
of our city where past and present
mingle Take Minnesota Row." for
instance, across the street from the
Seaton School from one of whose i'm
portant domiciles Gen. Sherman walk
ed that "balmy october Saturday aft
ernoon" so long ago. The historical
marker simply says Minnesota Row,
built in 1856 for Stephen A. Douglas
Henry NJ Rice, John c. Breckenridge,
Douglas Hospital during the Civil
War"
Why called Minnesota Row. we do
not know, except that one of the
houses was built for Henry M. Rice,
first Senator from Minnesota, and that
Minnesota was admitted to statehood
in the year that the row was built.
Here in the heyday of their grandeur
were three great double houses of 20
rooms each, and numerous rear addi-
tions. Their massive front door portals
opened to the wealth, the fashion and
the politically great of that moment
GUS time. Within their gh-ceilinged,
spacious drawing rooms dignitaries
greeted their equals. Hospitable din
ing rooms, paneled to the ceiling in
lustrously shining walnut, remind one
Of the banquet days Of yesteryear.
Home Of Douglas.
A Civil War chronicler tells us that
400 beds for soldiers were placed on
the lower floors Of these homes during
the Civil War when the row served
as one of 56 military hospitals and
was known as Douglas Hospital. It
was so designated because 20l, the
corner house, was originally built for
"the little giant" Stephen A. Douglas,
who was Senator from Illinois, mas
ter of oratorical invective and Lin
coins bitterest political opponent, al
though he supported him during the
wars duration. Today 201 is a COL
ored apartment house called The
Grant.
AS I recently approached close
enough to read dingy historical tab
let fastened to the buildings exterior,
an elderly colored woman seated with
in the heavily paneled vestibule So
ciably commented, "They tells me sure
enough white folks once lived here, the
big wigs and mostest importantest
ones there wuz." Indeed they did"
was my reply as scanned the list of
those who had once been its inmates.
In addition to Stephen A. Douglas,
the List ran: Joseph P. Bradley, i'm
portant citizen; Richard Wallach, one
time mayor Of Washington, and Arch
bishop Sebastian Martinelli, apostolic
delegate from Rome. who during his
residence here in 1901 received the
summons home which resulted in his
being further honored by Mother
Church with the priced cardinals red
hat.
Like an urchin impudently thumb
ing its elders, the R-K-O Aim build
ing, which is a central distributing
plant for the moving picture industry
at present, occupies 203 I street. It's
frontage juts out to a justifiable mod
ern street level in sharp contrast to
the dignity with which the original
structures in this row sit back from
the street. Here once lived wealthy
and powerful Senator Henry M. Rice
of Minnesota.
Within our generation the Juvenile
Court was for time quartered at 205
I street. Just before the Civil War
it was occupied by John c. Breckin-
ridge of Kentucky, Vice President of
the United States under President Bu-
chanan, and himself an unsuccessful
aspirant for the presidency on the
Democratic platform against Lincoln.
Here it was that he lived when he
resigned his seat In the Senate to be-
come Secretary Of War Of the Confed-
crate States in Jefferson Davis cabi-
net.
Another Historic House.
With the regal air Of q grand dame
lifting her skirts aside from an alien
world of modernity as she faces the
gaze Of those new to her
hitherto unquestioned place in the
scheme Of things as they were, 207 Is
the last mansion In once great Min
nesota Row to be maintained In its
manner. It Is the cher.
ished residence of Mr.. and Mrs. VIII
liam M. Hanney, just as It was that
of Mrs. Hanney's distinguished father,
Matthew @. Emery. Mayor Emery"
as he was known ta the day Of his