Evening star., 1940-01-21

remodeled the mansion and made
additions which added to its utility
and attractiveness. However, COL
Washington was not so taken with
the place that he felt obliged to keep
it in the face of good offer: so, in
1907, he sold it to Joel Barlow for
$4,000 mere bagatelle, when we
recall that the Warren G. Harding
home, at 2314 wyoming avenue,
where the Ohio Senator lived when
he became Chief Executive, sold, in
1921, for something like $65, 900. OF
course, there was slight difference
in time Of over 100 years, but the
difference, even at that, strikes one
as being a very wide one.
Had Place to Entertain.
Barlow was distinguished diplo-
mat and poet and was glad Of the
opportunity to purchase Kalorama,
where he could entertain, which his
means permitted him to do, and it
was while living there that he wrote
his famous poem "The Columbiad. Z"
Apparently, Barlow did not like the
name Rock Hill," for even after
taking possession of the estate, he
renamed it "Belair." But finding
that so many other places had this
name, he changed 1t to "Kalorama, +"
meaning fine view, by which this Sec
ton is still known. He also made
many improvements to the place
acting upon the advice of Latrobe,
the architect, and Robert Fulton,
the inventor.
Fulton was for quite while his
house guest, and some say it was
during this time that he tried out
the model of the Clermont on Rock
Greek, near by. As a matter Of fact,
there Is not the slightest real evi-
dence to prove this statement, al
though Il p undoubtedly true that
He an give demonstrations in Rock
Greek in 1909, before members Of
Congress, Of his inventions Of har-
pooning and torpedo attacks. Dur
ing Barlow's ownership, President
Jefferson was a frequent guest, as
was afterward President Madison.
Noah Webster, one of his school,
mates. also came to visit him here,
and in 1924. when Gen. Lafayette
visited Washington, he participated
in its hospitality.
In 1911 Barlow was sent as Min
lister to France in the hope of pre-
serving peace, our country then be-
ing apparently on the verge of war
with that country. and the premises
were leased to M. Serurier, the
French Minister. After nine months
of diplomacy he was invited by Ma
poleon, then absent from Paris on
his Russian campaign, to meet him
at Wilma, Poland, where the treaty
would be signed. Barlow set out
for wilma, but upon reaching this
place found the French army in
full retreat on that town from Mos
COW. Becoming involved in the
memorable retreat, he was overcome
by cold and privation and died in
Poland on December "a, 1912. His
body was never brought back to this
country, although his name ap-
peared on the tomb which stood un-
til 1892 where is now the intersec-
ton of Massachusetts, and Florida
avenues.
After the death of Mrs. Barlow the
estate went to her husbands own
nephew and adopted son, Tom Bar
low, who sold the property soon
afterward to Henry Baldwin, Mrs.
Barlow's brother, who Immediately
transferred 1t to Col. George Bonn
ford, first chief of ordnance, United
States Army. Col. Bomford was q
brother-in-law to Mrs. Joel Barlow,
having married her sister, and here
the Bomfords resided for nearly 80
years.
In 1846 the estate, which then in