Evening star., 1940-06-09
Recalls Fire
That Swept
Bell Home
Inventors Family
Escaped During
Blaze in 1887

Insurance on the house was s25,-
000 and the estimated total loss
was 100000
Vice President Morton occupied
the house until 1893, when it became
the home of Rep. Charles F. Spra-
que of Massachusetts,. In 1903 it was
leased to the Russian government.
and here the Russian Ambassador.
Count Cassini, made his home with
his charming and vivacious foster
daughter, Marguerite, on whom the
Gar had bestowed the title Of coun-
tess. and who will be recalled as a
close friend of Princess Alice"
Roosevelt, holding brilliant court in
the Embassy. 1t is understood that
the Countess Cassini Is now residing
in Washington.
MortOn's Return.
During the years 1907, 1908 and
1909, Elihu Root occupied 1900
Rhode Island avenue. Mr.. Root
served in the cabinets of Presidents
Mckinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
In 1911, former Vice President Nor
ton. then 81 years of age. returned
to Washington and occupied his old
home off Scott Circle where he lived
until his death in New York, on his
96th birthday, May 16. 1920.
Regarding the returning Of the
former governor of New York, and
Vice President to Washington, The
Star of December 3. 1911, said:
Despite it's boast that none of
its townspeople can ever be happy
elsewhere on American soil, New
York too, is contributing to Wash
ington's social splendor. Thus, Levi
P. Morton, despite his vast riches,
his official prestige and the great
local popularity which made him
governor of his State. now elects
to close his Fifth Avenue home and
return to the mansion which he
graced during the four years he pre-
sided over the Senate and over
social Washington:
This house. which Mr.. Morton
bought in 1889 for 100000 and
upon the enlargement of which he
spent half as much more, has since
his departure been continually in
the limelight, first, as the Russian
Embassy where the Countess Cassini
held her brilliant court, then as the
home of Elihu Root while he was
Secretary of State. and later as
the show house of that lavish host,
John Hays Hammond, the favorite
ehum of President Taft.
Eustis Residence.
After Vice President Morton's
death, Edith Morton Eustis CMrs.
William Corcoran Eustis) came into
possession of the estate and main
tanned residence there until 1928.
In 1929. another nationally known
figure, then Secretary of the Treas
ury Ogden Mills, took over the house
for two years, but in 1881 Mrs.
Eustis, then a widow. returned, SELL
ing the house in 1896 to H. Rozier
Dulaney. The National Democratic
Club, otherwise known as the
Donkey Club" occupied the house
in 1898.
After the fire of 1887, the Bell
house was restored by William G.
Morrison, builder, whose home was
nearby at 1888 Rhode Island avenue.
His nephew and neighbor, William
A. Mills, supplied this bit Of IN
formation. John Russell Pope IS
believed to be responsible for trans
forming the building into its pres
ent style of architecture.
The residence at the northeast
corner Of Rhode Island avenue and
Sixteenth street was built by Don
Cameron in 1880 at cost Of $40 900.
He gave for the land IS a foot, and
this was the highest price ever
paid for residential property up to
that time. Senator Cameron sold
this property in 1885, to D. P. Nor
gan Of New York for SOS, 1000. The
late Mrs. Dimock resided here.
On the northwest corner, oppo-
site, was the early home of Secre-
tary Of the Treasury William c.
Window, who built it at a cost of
$4,000. 1t was later occupied by
Vice President Fairbanks, James G.
Blaine, the Mum family and others.
1t is now the Peruvian Legation.
E. Kurtz johnson built the resi-
dence at 1900 Massachusetts avenue
and the house at the southwest side
Of the circle ct Sixteenth street,
was built by o. q. Staples.