Evening star., 1941-08-03

worth, to the north of the home-per-
haps the largest subdivision in the Dis
trict-there was probably not a single
house. 1t seemed to be a desolate spot,
the soil being considerably mixed with
gravel. No one seemed to farm it, or
even take care of it, and in appearance
1t bore all the ideal characteristics of
a farm suitable for raising of hoop poles
and persimmons.
At very early period in Washington
history, Petworth belonged to John Tay-
loe, one of the city's wealthiest residents
and the builder Of the Octagon House,
still standing at the northeast corner of
Eighteenth street and New York avenue
1t was there that President Madison
made his residence for a short time
after the British burned Washington.
Tayloe was much interested in raising
race horses, and used Petworth, one of
his farms, for this purpose. AS early as
1803 1t is said, he received as much as
$500 for one of his winning horses,
which was large sum at that date.
Gen. Scott's Interest.
To Gen. Winfield Scott, no doubt, is
due the largest part of credit for estab-
fishing the Soldiers Home. and the
heroic statue of that great soldier, which
was by the celebrated artist Launt
Thompson, and which was erected by
the home at cost of $4,000 on the
most commanding point of the grounds
in 1874, is fitting tribute to a general
who never forgot the welfare of the
men who fought in the ranks.
1t is true that plans had been sug-
gested for the forming of Army or mill
tary aSylums in this country for disabled
soldiers, and as early as 1910, Capt.
Robert Anderson, later Maj. Gen. Ander-
son, of Fort Sumter fame, urged the
advantages Of such an institution But
the establishing of the military asylum
at Washington by act of Congress of
March 3, 1851, did not assume definite
shape until the transmission by Gen.
Scott in February, 184S, of a draft for
100000, part of the tribute of $500 900
pillage money levied on the city of Mexico
for the benefit of the Army. In letter
on this subject dated November, 1849,
Gen. Scott has this to say:
THE draft was payable to me, and, in
order to place the deposit beyond the
control of any individual functionary
whatever, I Endorsed 1t. The Bank OF
America will place within amount to the
credit of the Army asylum, subject to
the order of Congress-"
A balance of s18, ,79119 remaining from
the levy was subsequently appropriated
to found the asylum.
Originally the home grounds consisted
of 256 acres, purchased of George w.
Riggs, upon which stood his country
residence which soon afterward became
sumably after Gen. Robert Anderson. 1t
is Just west of the Scott Building and in
good condition. To the original pur-
chase up to 1869 were added about 16
acres, and in 1872 the adjoining estate
of Hardwood, containing 191 acres was
purchased from w. w. Corcoran. With
the small additions later made to the
grounds the total acreage was brought
up to more than 500 acres
The property originally purchased from
Mr.. Riggs, which includes that portion
to the north containing the main build
ings, had rs prior owners John Agg,
Leonard Storm and James Hoban, the
last named the architect of the White
House; Benjamin Ogle Tayloe, son of
John Tayloe, owner of Petworth, and
the Glebe of Rock Creek parish. The
lake property was purchased from Asa
Whitney, the prior owners being George
Taylor and Anthony Holmead. A prior
owner of the Harewood property, which
lies in the southern part of the grounds,
was the Rev. John Breckenridge.
This celebrated divine is worthy of
more than passing notice, for he was
the pioneer Presbyterian clergyman of
this city, having been called and or
dained pastor of the first Presbyterian
Church here in 1895, and later ordained
as the pastor of the second church of
that denomination here.
Paid in State Bonds.
Mr.. Corcoran purchased this property
in 1852 from the Breckenridge heirs, and
later sold it to the home for s225 900,
almost the entire amount being paid in
Virginia State bonds, which had been
for some years unproductive. Rev. Mr..
Breckenridge came into possession of
the land by having married Eleanor
White, daughter of James White, who
was a large property holder in this
vicinity.
The old Corcoran cottage is still stand
ing little to the southwest of the
dairy buildings. 1t was built about the
time Mr.. Corcoran purchased the prop.
erty and at the time he sold 1t. 1t was
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