Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-08-29
Famous Early Homes Near the White House
BY John Clagett Proctor.

Ihere are many cities throughout the
United States much older than the
Nations Capital to which the seat of
Government was not moved until 1890.
Indeed, the residence act, providing for
what soon atterward became the Dis
trict of Columbia, was not approved by
President Washington until July Is,
1870, and the corner stone of the ter
rltory selected was not laid until April
10, 1871, or 43 days after the approval
OF the amendatory act of March 3, 1891
Prior to this, to the east of Rock Greek
were only farms. forests and streams,
and only few houses of any impor-
lance, the Oldest of which was probably
David Burnes' cottage.
This modest building stood near the
mouth of Tiber Greek, about where it
emptied into the Potomac, the water
then being 10 feet deep within 90 rods
of the dwelling, which is said to have
been erected about 179 years ago. The
cottage remained standing until May
%, 1894, as we find by an item appear
ing in The Star of the following day
which says:
"Davy Burnes' cottage is no more. 1t
was torn down yesterday by order of
those engaged in laying out the Column
bia Athletic Clubs new grounds. In
spite of it's apparently dilapidated con-
dition, the structure required the most
forcible handling to demolish. Down
to the lowest brick in the foundation
strong and united efforts of the work
men were required to level it, 1t was
allowed to stand until the last moment,
in the hope that it would not interfere
with the various fields, but the neces-
sity for it's demolition became i'm
perative."
Historic Relic
Among the relics of the Columbia
Historical Society is the mantelpiece OF
David Burnes' humble home salvaged
from the dining room by the late James
F. Hood, and presented by him to the
society in 1915. ....-
David Burnes died on May 8, 1900,
and when the Wightt-Q Queen Brooks
tract of land was being cut up to form
Brookland his body and that of his
spot where Monroe street crosses Twelfth
street NE. In 1888, the three bodies
were reinterred in Rock Greek Cemetery
Here in the stiffness of the city of
the dead" as has been said, land over
Swallowed by two large cedars and hedged
in with japonica bushes, repose the
bodies of David Burnes, his wife and
orr nit h hn
ground and stones of regular and SYM
metrical shape cover the graves. These
stones are little more than 7 feet
in length and 81 in width and with a
thickness of nearly inches. A slightly
raised molding and scroll work hewn
in the inscriptions, the lettering be-
ing in the old style workmanship, and
notwithstanding the fact that the stones
have been exposed to the elements for
century, the wording is very clear
and not difficult to decipher."
1.-THE Cottage"
AS to the cottage 1t Is said that, "To
this little two-room cottage came diplo-
mats and congressman to pay court to
beautiful Marcia Burnes. Old David
Burnes received them all, and with an
instinct that is often given to simple
natures was soon able to distinguish be-
tween those who came on account of
the wealth and those who came for love
of the happy-hearted girl herself. Every
visiting foreigner of Importance was also
brought to David Burnes' home. And in
one of the little attic rooms old Tom
Moore once slept"
In addition to David Burnes' son John,
who died in 1892, there was daughter
born to Mr.. and Mrs. Burnes whose name
was Marcia, the same rs before referred
to, and she was as beautiful as any fairy
tale could make her. So attractive, in
deed, they say, that she won the heart
of John P Van Ness, member of Con-
gress from the State of New York, to
whom she was married on May 8, 1902.
1t was apparently very happy marriage.
but the humble cottage no longer suited
Gen. and Mr.. Van Ness and after resid-
ing elsewhere in the city for some years
they moved, in 1915, into their new
home located in what became known as
Mansion Square and close to Marcia
little cottage dwelling. This square is
situated between Seventeenth and
w. IL