Evening star., 1941-09-28

To the person who has known Wash
sngton and its environs for any con-
siderable time, and who is familiar with
Ns noted landmarks, many OF which
have been sacrificed in the past to
what some might consider progress, it
.s always painful news to learn that
another old building has been removed
enother historic structure that can never
be replaced.
Indeed, only in recent years we have
seen the old Brick Capitol torn down by
the wrecker and the material carted
sway: Jackson Hall and the old Globe
Guiding removed, Ford's Opera House
:azed and a host of other historic land
marks destroyed almost overnight, and
now-only in the last few days-The
Parthenon. in nearby Bladensburg, has
teen razed. and is therefore, corporally,
lust a thing of the paSt-to be seen only
in pictures and learned about only in
writings.
The six acres. more or less, Of this
tract of land, upon which stood for
many years the old frame mansion,
LoWndes' Hill and is located on the
south side of the Defense highway, about
a quarter Of a mile east of the Memorial
Cross. This tract, according to report,
now is TO be subdivided. with Edmonston
road continued through the property,
where a parking shop center probably
will be erected facing the highway,
together with motion picture house,
end the construction of an apartment
house back from the road on the top
Of the hill, is said to be contemplated.
Just when this old house was built
Is a doubtful question When the build
Ing was being removed among the relics
recovered by an antique dealer was an
old freback which did service as a back
lining for a fireplace, and this bore the
cate 1853" and what appear to be the
letters ID R N" An early account gives
these letters as R D M, and the date as
before given. and says that three back
plates in this house bore the same date
and letters.
That many of the American Colonial
homes were of durable construction was
shown when this pioneer residence was
being demolished, and it was found that
the original heavy, wide weatherboard-
ing was of cypress wood, the shingles OF
cedar and the beams all by inches,
of red oak. Indeed, it would cost lot OF
money to build house of such material
today.
This old place was of especial interest
in connection with the War OF 18l2-1815,
since it was from this residence, then
Robert Dicks, that Maj. Gen. Robert
Ross of the British Army directed the
movements of his troops during the
battle of Bladensburg, August "a, 1914.
The property was named the Par
thenon by James Webb Rogers, ma
tive of North Carolina. who bought
it on May 5, 1884 His son,
James Harris Rogers, who died only
a few years ago at his home Firwood,
in Hyattsville, within a mile of Parthe-
non, was the inventor of the Rogers
system of underground and subsea wire
less communicate a system used not
only as a more efficient means of COM
muniCation between the United States
and the Allies across the ocean at the
most critical period of the first World
War, but as a means of trench COM
munication in France and also between
the various naval wireless stations in the
United States.
Served in Navy
James Webb Rogers, who bought the
house on Lowndes Hill in 1884, which
the later named The Parthenon, was a
son of Dr. John Rogers, who was married
to Margaret Shepherd. DR.. John Rogers
was born in Ireland and studied at and
was graduated from Georgetown college
He became midshipman in the Navy