Evening star., 1938-01-02
By John Clagen Proctor.
y HE many types of houses in

By John Claget Proctor.
~HE many types of houses in the
Capital City must be interest
ing, and amusing as well, to
L the professional architect and
those who make study Of architec-
ture. especially in the big American
cities. But, perhaps, in no other place
does better field present itself for
comparison and criticism than right
here in Washington, where we still
have all forms to study, including
mansions, comfortable dwellings and
just plain shacks, nearly all of which
have been handed down to the present
generation from the days when the
city was in its infancy.
But it was not intended to be this
way. Indeed, the building regulations
as promulgated by President WASH
ington on the seventeenth day of Oc-
tober, 1871, had just the opposite in
tention, and if adhered to would at
least have prevented the erection here
OF any but respectable looking homes
and other structures.
However, it was soon realized that
FOR newly plated town, in republic
just beginning to grow, the stringent
laws laid down could not always be
complied with, and once the bars
were let down the damage was done.
II was Washington's order THAT
the outer and party walls Of all houses
within the said city shall be built Of
brick or stone" also that THE wall
of no house to be higher than 40
feet to the roof in any part of the
city; nor shall any be lower than IS
feet on any of the avenues" The
First President also provided against
the construction of vaults under the
streets and "encroachments on the
footway above by steps, stoops.
porches cellar doors, windows, bitches
or leaning walls"
In less than three years the regula-
tions began to be modified, and on
July I, 1894. Thomas johnson, David
Stuart and Daniel Carroll, the original
Commissioners, so changed the rules
as to admit of areas or bitches of
Z feet in breadth, cut in the street, and
secured by a good wall" etc.
ON June Is, 1895. President Wash
ington, deeming the restrictions
then placed upon the erection of
buildings as impeding the settlement
Of the city by mechanics and others,
gave permission for the erection of
wooden houses in the chosen Capital,
covering not more than 800 square
feet, and not to be higher than II feet
from the sill to the caves. This change
in the regulations was to be effective
until the first Monday in December,
1900, and further extensions along this
line were made until January J.. 1918.
Thirteen days later, James Monroe,
then President Of the United States.
approved the changes made up to this
time. and continued them in force
until January l. 1920, providing, how
ever. that no wooden house, as before
described, should be placed within "a
feet of any other house. and by act Of
March 80. 1922, as passed by the City
Council. all changes made prior to
this date were approved and continued
in force.
Here, however, 1t was provided that:
go" Every house hereafter erected in
the City Of Washington shall be
deemed and taken to be frame house,
the outer walls of which shall not be
OF stone or brick: and no frame house
shall be higher than 20 feet from the
sill to the top Of ridge Of the roof"
Thus 1t can be seen that what was
from the first intended to be a city of
fine homes only became city Of all
types Of houses. and even today, many
frame structures, including few one
story houses, are to be seen in
Americas most beautiful city. But
gradually, as the city began to be built
up, the building regulations became
more rigid, and today it is only in some
OF the outlying sections Of the District
that frame dwellings can be built. Just
q few years ago, Mades Hotel, then at
the southwest corner Of Pennsylvania
avenue and Third street, now part Of
the Mall, was the only frame building
on the Avenue from the Capitol to
Twenty-second street west, but as this
building is thing Of the past, only
brick and stone buildings now prevail
on this noted thoroughfare in the
downtown part Of Washington, and the
city Is becoming more attractive in
every respect as the years go by.
MANY years ago it appears to have
been the duty Of Federal OH
Ger to superintend the construction Of
both public and private buildings in
the city, but since this ofIicer seems
not to have been 50 particular about
private dwellings. many things were
permitted that were contrary to the
regulations. However, since 1877.
when Thomas M. Plowman became
inspector Of buildings for the District
OF Columbia, real effort has been
made to carry out the regulations,
with . maximum Of success, although
some strange things have happened in
the past that have caused the inspec-
tor and the city of1cials much anx-
iety and worry.
OAA0 AASAACA4V Ia pUI IACuldT tIlAL uIls
doubtedly caused Inspector Thomas B.
Entwistle some sleepless nights in
volved the issuing Of q permit to Mrs.
Annie A. Cole to build a bay window
to her home, on the west side of
Thomas Circle, where Massachusetts,
avenue and M street come to a point.
This incident occurred In 1883, and
although q permit for similar work
had been issued before and never
challenged, yet this one went to the
courts and was hard fought by able
counsel, and although Mrs. Cole lost
the suit in the lower court, yet Con-
grsss came to her rescue, and In the
end she emerged victorious.
The original building is still stand
ing, Is Is also the famous bay window.
The former Is Of light brick (or
painted Light, while the latter Is of
red brick. both being joined together.
10 the original or light brick build