Evening star., 1943-03-14

ter OF the Union Railroad Co, which
was incorporated by the Legislature OF
the District OF Columbia on January 10,
1872.
Metropolitan Railroad
From this 1t is quite apparent that the
Metropolitan, desiring to get to George
town by the nearest route and that, also,
In view OF the fact that it intended to
build its barn on P street just to the west
OF Rock Creek, 1t saw no reason why 1t
should go to the expense OF laying its
tracks all around circle which was then
only on the map, and 1t is quite likely
that no one ever opposed this course
The first big improvement in this inn
mediate neighborhood was that made by
Senator william M. Stewart, when he
erected In 1873, what became known as
Stewart's Castle, which stood for many
years on the northwest corner Of Con-
necticut avenue and Dupont Circle, Just
west Of the Letter home. A branch Of the
Riggs National Bank covers the site. Tho
castle was bought by Senator william A.
Clark in 1901 and soon removed there
after.
The Blaine Home
The home OF James G. Blaine, candi-
date for the presidency in 1884, and who
was defeated by Grover Cleveland, Is
still standing to the west of the circle.
The permit to build the house was is
sued on June 8, 1881, the estimated cost
being placed at $4,000. John Fraser
was the architect and Robert Davidson
q Co. the builders.
The 'Plumed Knight" as Blaine was
called, resided in this house but short
while when. in 1888, he leased it to Levi
z. Letter OF Chicago for five years at an
annual rental Of $11 900. During Blaines
residence here the house was the center
Of much social gayety. On January /,
1891, 1t was damaged by fire to the ex-
tent Of $4,000. Later on May Is, 1899,
George Westinghouse, jr Of Pittsburgh
bought the property and resided there
for some years.
During the World War it became the
home Of the Ofhcers' Club and in 1921
it was sold by Westinghouse to Henry B.
Spencer Of this city. At the time the
property was sold the consideration was
mentioned as being $4,000, and it was
then described as having a frontage OF
1915 feet on P street, 696 feet on Twen-
tieth street and 1855 feet on Massachu-
sets avenue. 1t was further stated:
The house Is constructed of brick and is
four stories in height and contains many
large rooms, including spacious recep-
tion hall on the main floor, fanked by
numerous living and dining rooms"
The Letter Mansion
After vacating the Blaine house. Mr..
Letter built the mansion at 1900 New
Hampshire avenue and here his daugh-
ter Mary resided when she married
George Nathaniel Curzon in st. Johns
Church, Sixteenth and H streets, April
%, 1895.
The Patterson house, at No. Is Dupont
circle. is, no doubt. the most important
residence in this neighborhood. particu-
larly so because 1t was occupied in 1927
as the temporary White House, during
the making of repairs to the Executive
Mansion. At the time it was taken over
by the President, The Star said:
THE old Patterson home is one OF the
finest OF the many mansions to be found
ington. Stately In architecture, OF
Italian influence, from the outside, it is
even more gorgeous inside. 1t contains
80 rooms, all of them large and comfort
able, and 10 baths An elevator runs
from basement to top floor.
The house has four floors and Is built
of white stone, and was designed by the
late Stanford White 1t is completely
detached. This feature is understood to
have had considerable influence in caus-
ing this house to be picked by the Presi-
dent for the temporary White House.
They wanted home that had plenty Of
light. There were other houses that
were considered, but were not selected
because they are not detached and be-
cause their construction did not permit
sufficient daylight to enter the rooms"
1t was during Mr.. Coolidge's residence
here that Col Charles Lindbergh and
his mother, Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh,
were the Presidents guests, following the
return Of Col. Lindbergh to this country
after his memorable fight across the At
lantic. 1t was from the balcony Of this
house that he waved a greeting to the
throng which gathered In front Of the
house to shout his praise.
Lindbergh as will be recalled, as boy.
spent much Of his time in Washington
while his father was serving In Congress
as Representative from Minnesota In
1907, when he first came to Washington.
the senior Lindbergh took up his resi-
dence at 1881 v street NV. For some
unknown reason this place did not seem
to suit his fancy and in the following
year he had moved to 1925 Willard
street.
The history Of the statue of Rear Ad-
miral Samuel Francis Dupont. which
formerly stood in the center OF Dupont
Circle. is, Of course, interesting.
Back in 1882, when it was decided to
erect statue of Rear Admiral Samuel
Francis Dupont In this circle-and which
was unveiled December 20. l884-Con-
gress thought that the name of this
reservation should be changed from Pa
cific to Dupont, the name of the man
whose statue was to grace the inclosure.
However. as we all know. this statue, by
the sculptor Laurnt Thompson, was re-.
placed In 1921 by the present memorial
fountain, the work Of Daniel Chester