Evening star., 1938-10-23

assured that the practical evidence Of
her example convinced many that
home comfort and liberal and cheer.
full hospitality were possible without
servants. Her experience was within
the sight and knowledge of those vot-
ing on the question, and largely aided
in the decision for freedom in Califor.
MIA"
!. Indeed, a scanning of the life Of
Jessie Benton Fremont might prove
of decided value to some Of the young
wives of today, who insist upon start
ing life where their parents left of.
The Benton house was totally de.
stroyed by fire on February ~. lR55,
and the dwelling removed a few years
ago was erected on the same site by
Senator Benton, who died there In
April, 1858.
Gen. Fremont will be recalled BY
those familiar with political history as
the first candidate of the Republican
party, in 1856, when he was defeated
by James Buchanan, who received 174
electoral votes to Fremonts ia.
/, Thomas H. Benton, as might be pre-
sumed, was Democrat of the old
Roman" type.
The Fremont house was also occu-
pied by Alexander H. II. Stuart, who
served in President Fillmore's cabinet.
1t became the parsonage of the First
Presbyterian Church in 1866, the date
the Rev. Byron Sunderland took up
his residence here In more recent years
it became boarding house, being con-.
Quoted in 1899 by Mary c. Ellis. 49,.
No. 1924, though not standing, is par
ticularly noteworthy because 1t was
here that Samuel F. B. Morse boarded
when Congress passed his bill for the
first telegraph line. From 1853 to
1857. Postmaster General Campbell
resided here and later Zenas c. Rob-
bins, when 1t was the home Of Henry
L. Ellsworth Of Indiana.
The three houses still standing on
the north side of this street, like the
rest Of the residences that formerly
stood in this thoroughfare, are worthy
of reference. The corner house at
Third street, now occupied by the Dis
trict of Columbia Health Department
Chest Clinic. was built for David Aiken
Hall, who first occupied it in 1az9.
After Mr.. Halls death it was bought
by Samuel Emery. brother of Matthew
G. Emery. last Mayor of Washington.
Later it became the property of j. B.
Cralle. -.
At one time Mr.. Hall, who was very
fond of flowers. cultivated an entire
square of ground which he owned on K
street, between Fourth and Fifth
streets NV, raising the rarest varieties
of plants as well as some choice vege-
tables under glass. -.
The next house west of the Hall
house must be quite old, its bricks being
laid in Flemish bond. House No. 307
is not quite so old.
Where once was the headuuarters
of the Young Woman's Christian
Home. at 3ll c street, between 1s4o
and 1850 was erected a dwelling for
William Bradford Kibbey, who moved
here from the east side Of John Mar
shall place. He was q leather mer.
chant and his store was on pennsylya.
mia avenue. When he died. the property
went to his daughter, Miss Bessie J.
Kibbey and she turned the property
over to the home as a memorial to her
parents. As the needs of the home m
creased and further room was neces-
sary, house BIS was purchased and
made available for its many guests who
were privileged to reside there.
Further west on c street, where the
Harper Building stands and the
Municipal Court tries its cases, early
in the Districts history stood an old
fashioned double house of brick, orig.
inally OF two stories. Next to It was
the Exchange Hotel, to which 1t at
one time was connected as an annex.
On the site Of this property was
the famous hotel spring that fur
nished the National and Metropolitan
Hotels with water and several foun-
tains on the Avenue, and had enough
in reserve to supply the Public Baths,
located somewhat to the west, where
was once the Post Once Mail Bag
Repair Shop. fos4.
Another historic building, which
has long since disappeared, was known
as McGurk's Jail. because James
McGurk was here incarcerated while
awaiting trial and later execution for
the murder Of his wife. This execu.
ton, which was the first to take plsce
In the District, was carried out q
little west Of the Capitol, on octobse
28, 1902. <