Evening star., 1942-01-11

one for whom the property was being
purchased until the deed was recorded
in his own name as trustee, when he
Immediately transferred the title to the
President In the tract of land secured
there were 23la acres, and roomy stone
dwelling of no particular historic in
terest, though nearby was Rosedale, the
early home of Gen. Uriah Forrest.
At the death of Gen. Forrest, his es-
tate was left to his sons and two daugh-
tiers, the latter being the wife of DR..
Bowie of Georgetown and Mrs. Green.
The sons died without heirs, and the
property descended to the two daughters.
In 1863, Rosedale was subdivided, and
upon the 23l2 acres purchased by Mr..
Cleveland, there was erected two-story
stone house. To the east Of this was
another subdivision, consisting Of 16
acres, which belonged to Nine. Iturbide,
one of the daughters of Mrs Green, who
had married Count Iturbide, who was
then the Minister from Mexico. The
son by this marriage was adopted by
King Maximilian and in this way be-
came the heir to the throne of Mexico
before the republic was established.
Oak View
At the time President Cleveland pur-
chased Oak View, The Star printed an
interesting account of the place, from
which the following is taken:
Of In ,,1o lri,, IN Shia
vicinity is out over the Military road
from Georgetown to Tenleytown and by
the winding county roads through the
beautiful scenery of Rock Creek Valley
to BrightWood and the Fourteenth street
road in the return to the city. Any pleas
ant evening carriage after carriage may
be seen rolling along these roads. the
occupants enjoying the fresh, cool air
and the picturesque views which came
in sight at every turn. The beauty of
the scenery and the healthfulness of the
locality are not a recent discovery, as
any one can see who glances at the fine
old houses which may be seen along
the road, surrounded with fine lawns and
forest trees. In fact, as soon as WASH
ington was located these sights were
taken up by people, in some cases Of
wealth, who preferred residence in the
country TO one in the city.
1T is in this paradise of suburban
homes that the President has selected
his country residence. and the people
who drive out along the Tenleytown road
may see the two-story stone house with
its old-fashioned hip roof, nestled among
the old forest trees where the Woodley
lane intersects with the Tenleytown road.
The house is now occupied by Mr.. A.
r. Green, and 1t has come to him from
his grandfather, Uriah Forrest, who, in
1890, purchased a large tract of land
known as Pretty Prospect. This tract
extended down nearly to the city limits,
and has since been very much sub.
divided.
THE house occupied by Mrs. Green, az
well as the grounds, will need some i'm
provements before the President can
take possession. The house is already
roomy, there being a wide central hall
and rooms on each side with spacious
porches. It is understood that 1t Is the
intention to replace the present high
roof with mansard, and at one corner
build tower from which q view can
be had, it is said. as far down the river
as Mount Vernon. The elevation OF the
house is 1888 feet above the tide"
This letter is from a reader who recalls
the Terra Gotta wreck:
my Dear Mr.. Proctor:
IL read With interest all your articles
dealing tDith old-time Washington I
gre,D up pery near the locality D1,ere you
Hued as boy.
"The article in yesterdays Star, ne.
cember 2S, ,1941, ,Dds especially absorbing,
as my mother and sister Uere both in the
Terra Gotta ,Ureck. MY mothers name
iOGs not mentioned, but it tDds she and
not man that ,oas taken from under
the 1oheels OF the engine, for ,Dos night
there on the bank beside the track.
My sister Das badly injured and
eventually died from the effects Of her
injuries.
"Atter she iDas thro,Un from the car.
she iods In the last seat that tDds LETT.
she had the presence OF mind to tele.
phone me at our home in North Takoma,
and my husband and / pent to her aid.
When my mothers body ,oas taken from
under the engine he identified her and
stayed iDith her 1OhHe my sister and
were taken home, then I telephoned the
undertaken, Mr.. Speare. and my mother
ioas the only one killed that night that
did not 90 to the n,oroue.
II thought this might interest you.
~Very truly yours.
MINNIE PURMAN JENKINS"