Evening star., 1937-10-31
Bv JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.
Rich in historical and social tradi-
tion is the site of the present head
quarters of the American Association
of University Women at 1884 I street
NV, and there is peace and content
ment now on the site that was early
enshrouded with popular superstition
of ill-omen.
And where mems commercial club
once stood, distinguished college wom-
en- have been meeting in council this
past week under the leadership Of
their president. Dr. Margaret S. Nor
riss, dean of Pembroke College, Brown
University.
When the Capital WAS in its infancy,
so the story goes, there stood upon the
site. brown frame house surrounded
by lovely rose garden. Its idyllic
atmosphere was shattered by constant
rumors that a ghost was walking the
home and its garden paths to the &C.
compartment of weird noises.
To dispel the pail of superstition
its owner, according to tradition, had
the entire house moved to the nearby
country side and the garden plowed
up. But. for over a quarter of GEN.
tury, nearby residents insisted that i'll
was connected with the spot.
Became Rendezvous.
In 1876 Col. Robert Fleming, father
of Robert V. Fleming, president of the
Riggs National Bank, was commits
stoned to erect upon this site, then
becoming the center of the city's most
exclusive residential district, town
house for A. B. Stoughton, wealthy
patent attorney. This house was to
be q present to his daughter, the wife
of Paymaster Bacon of the United
States Navy When Mr.. Stoughton
died before the house was completed
the rumors, long dormant. again reared
their heads and Mrs. Bacon, allotted
the house in the division of her fathers
estate, elected not to live in it. but
rented it to Representative Wood Of
New York. During his term in Con-
gress it became the rendezvous for the
political lights of the time.
During President Cleveland's ad-
ministration 1884 I street was owned
and occupied by Postmaster General
Don Dickinson. To it focked official
and social leaders, the stories of its
haunted past apparently forgotten.
Newly-appointed Secretary Of Navy
Benjamin Franklin Tracy during
President Harrison's term of Office
purchased the residence from Mr..
Dickinson for $4,000. Extensive re-
pairs were made and a three STORY
addition to its east side was made in
1889.
Mrs. Tracy, the chatelaine of the
household at this time, was native
of New York State and college
graduate. Although an invalid for
many years, she was acclaimed every
where as one of the most gracious and
thoughtful hostesses since Dolly Madi-
sons time because of the warmth of
her greeting and her individual inter-
est in her guests. Two daughters,
Miss Mary Lucy harrington and Mrs.
Wilderming, were their parents social
aides.
Colorful Scene.
The columns of the Washington
press give colorful descriptions of
brilliant New Year eve reception, the
last of the distinguished gatherings
of the gay '90s' held there. They
stress the charm and beauty of the
Tracy home. Despite "the inclement
evening"" we are told, crowds gath
cred in front of 1884 street on either
side of the arched canopy, which led
from the doorway to the curb, to
catch such glimpses as they could Of
the arriving guests. drawing up to the
crimson carpet laid down for them,
in shiny broughams driven by proud
coachmen.
Scarcely month had elapsed when
the extra and the regular edition of
The Evening Star of February 8, 1890.
gave the tragic details of fire which
resulted in the deaths of Mrs. Tracy
and her two daughters and the almost
complete destruction of their home
and it's contents while they were
sleeping. 1t was supposed that the fire
started on the lower floor of the house
and almost completely gutted it be-
fore the sleeping occupants met their
doom. The east room of the White
House on February S, was the scene OF
the funeral services.
Undeterred by the revived rumors,
Augustus c. Taylor, an Army oficer.
purchased it in 1891, and built upon 1t
at a cost of $4,000, a ''five-story resi-
dence with a 45-foot front, 54-foot
height and 53-foot length" Accord
ing to one description the main part
of the present building at that time
was fashioned to stimulate "the inte-
rior of transatlantic liner IN parts.
Seat of Embassy.
The seat of the Imperial Russian
Embassy from November, 1905, to De-
cember, 1911, it was at no time in its
history more the center Of the gay
social, political and diplomatic life OF
the Nations Capital. During this
period of Its occupancy it is claimed
that President and Mrs. Roosevelt were
both among those informally partici-
pating In its hospitality. Mrs. Corcoran
Thorn, wife of the president Of the
American Security b Trust Co., whose
own home Ia at i726 street. was also =