Evening star., 1936-07-26
Ancient Mansion in Southeast
Glamorous Spot in D. c. History
Site Purchased in 1875 as Part of Resi-.
Dental Development in Vicinity
of Capitol Building.

President Adams stopped when he
visited the new city that was in
process of evolution before the re-
moval of the seat Of Government
from Philadelphia
Tradition has it that Washington
was a frequent guest at the Naples
and that Lafayette was an overnight
visitor. In the broad front hal, there
can still be seen the pointed pew III
which it is claimed both Washington
and Lafayette sat upon their visits
to nearby Christ Church.
1t is also said that during The War
of 1912 many of the wounded from
the battle of Bladensburg were cared
for in this hospitable old home
Ill fortune in the way of unwise
investments and the too-lavish en-
tertainment Of his friends resulted IN
Capt Duncanson. the original cwner,
having to place his holdings in
chancery In the year 1909, and his
retirement in the obscurity of poverty
to a small frame house near the
rivers edge. Frances Scott Key, des-
tined to win immortal fame as the
author of THE Star Spangled Ban
ner," then a barrister, known for his
personal rectitude and fairness to his
clients, was chosen as one Of the
trustees to administer the property
during this period Of its history.
Among the Is owners through
whose hands this property has
passed, much interest centers in the
occupancy b. Capt Augustus A.
Nicholson of our United States Navy.
who took over the estate in 1888
Here, his beautiful wife, who was in
i'll health, later committed suicide.
For long time afterward, rumor had
it that the poor soul came back to
the house at nightfall to the ac-
compartment of soft music, with the
result that for many years the prop
erty went unoccupied because it vas
looked upon as haunted.
Bought by Senator Clayton.
In 1856 it was purchased by Sena-
tor John M. Clayton. Many changes
and additions were made, among them
the construction of the right wing
or ball room, whose ceiling and walls
were decorated BY Brumidi, the tall
ented Italian brought from his native
land to do certain Of the frescoes
at the Capitol. A letter in the pos
session Of the Briggs family rom the
artist states the price which Senator
Clayton paid for the work.
Senator Clayton, his hospitable wife
and beautiful daughter gathered under
their roof-tree the elite of Washington
and the politically great of their day.
We are told that Webster, Clay
and Calhoun, Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglas here laid aside
the cares of public life and forgot
for the moment their political diff
ferences while they mingled In the
charming society, which made Of the
Naples one of the most popular
meccas of that time.
But again sorrow overlook the old
mansion in the death of the Clayton's
lovely and dearly beloved daughter,
after which the ball room was never
again opened during their lifetime,
dILQ I1lC SIlcFcO 0ClldLOI dllQ 1llS Wllc
forsook society. Then came a series of
ups and downs for the estate.
Finally in 1871 the property was
purchased by Emily Edison Briggs,
famous throughout America and favor
ably known even in England as the
author of the OLIVIA" letters from
Washington. The friend of Lincoln,
she was the first woman correspondent
permitted to cover the White House.
Daily during her occupancy Of the
Naples, which she rather favored call
ing Maple Square, q horseman could
be seen waiting at its front entrance
for her daily letter to speed 1t on its
way by train to Philadelphia, where
it would appear the next day in For
ney's Philadelphia Press.
A son. j. Edison Briggs, born in
1857, and then a lad in his teens,
brought his associates in droves to the
old house, so that it resounded during
the daytime with the SHOUTS of
children about their play as we'll as
in the evening with the wit and