Evening star., 1944-08-06
be opened.
BY John Clagett Proctor.

OumDartOn OakS, peSI kIlOWu 10 tHe
older generation of the District as the
Oaks, which is located at 3l01 r street
NV, is soon to have additional history
added to its glorious past, when the
property will be used as the headquar-
tiers for the Anglo american Russian
Chinese postwar talks to be opened here
shortly.
This large estate originally formed
part of a still larger tract of land of 705
acres known as the Rock of Dumbarton
or Dunbarton, the latter spelling being
used throughout by the Beall family,
starting with Ninian Beall, who was the
immigrant ancestor of the family that
settled on the plantation, later to be-
come Georgetown, and this pioneer an
cestor gave it the name, The Rock of
Dunbarton," the name being suggested
by landmark in Scotland, and by this
name it was patented to this early set
tier under the great seal of the Province
of Maryland, November 18, 1703.
William H. Dorsey, first judge of the
Orphans Court of Washington Co., D. G.,
having been appointed to that position by
President Jefferson, bought the estate in
1900 from Thomas Beall, descendant
of the patentee, and later built the orig
inal house, which has been modified and
added to since. But Judge Dorsey only
occupied this dwelling for four years,
afterward selling it to Robert Beverly of
Essex County, Va.
Beverly's wife, Jane, was the sister of
John Tayloe, who built the Octagon, at
Eighteenth street and New York avenue.
The Beverlys owned the place until
1922, when they turned it over to their
son James, who had married Jane Peter,
daughter of David Peter. James Bev-
erly soon gave up the place and retired
to Virginia, and sold the place to John
E. Calhoun, whose brother, John C. CAL
houn, is said to have occupied 1t upon
various occasions while holding public
Office, particularly that of Vice Presi-
dent.
Monterey Estate
Edward Magruder Linthicum bought
the estate in 1916 and named it Mon
terey, in memory of his son-in-law, who
was killed in the Battle of Monterey,
during the Mexican War.
Mr.. Magruder was prosperous hard
ware merchant in Georgetown, his estab-
lishment being at the northwest corner
of Wisconsin avenue and M street. He
was born in Montgomery County, Md,
July Is, 1897. with no other ad-
vantages of education than those furn-
iShed by country school of the times"
it is related "he embarked, when quite
a youth, in mercantile persuits In
Georgetown, under the auspices of his
uncle, Dr.. Ninian Magruder, prominent
citizen of the town. A career of
so years devoted to active business, and
distinguished for integrity, energy and
prudent sagacity, was crowned with
abundant success, and the last five years
of his life were spent in tranquil retire
ment. He died at his residence on
Georgetown Heights, October 30, 1869.
The place then being known as Aero
pholus, meaning grove on the hill"
A description of the house when it
was owned by Mr.. Linthicum, says that
it has been changed, but not improved in
appearance, by the addition of man.
sard roof and other alterations" 1t was
then large, two-story brick, with hall
from front to rear, wide enough for
a hay wagon to pass through" On
either side were great parlors beau
tifuly proportioned The east parlor
opened into bright, sunny dining room
which looked out upon a well-f1lled
greenhouse, with flower gardens on
the east, wooded lawn in front, grove
of forest trees on the west and gentle
sloping, well-sodded hills in the rear"
OF course, Mr. Linthicum will always
be best known for his liberality in max
ing it possible for the establishing of
the Linthicum Institute for free
school," as he said in his will for
the education and instruction of in
dgent white boys and youths of said
Georgetown in useful learning. and in
the spirit and practice of Christian
virtue"
After the death of Mrs Linthicum the
estate was bought by Col. Henry F.
-Clount, and more recently was owned
by Robert Woods Bliss, Ambassador to
the Argentine, who added Dumbarton
to the name. In 1910 Mr.. Bliss gave
the property to Harvard University, and
the trustees of the university. who have
been using the building as a research
library, have now made the place avail
able for the conference.
Gen. Lafayette's Visits
But of the many interesting things
that might be said of Dumbarton Oaks,
ing than Gen. Lafayette's visits here
in 1924, as the guest of the great CAL
houn, and who, after his return to
France sent over to the Carolina states
man number of rare saplings and
shrubs that today give an almost price
less historical value to the place. OF
the many magnificent oaks still stand
ing on the grounds, one in particular,
which was standing some years ago, and
may be still standing on an eminence
to the right of the conservatory, is re-
puted to have been Lafayette's favorite
spot on his visits to this estate
Under it he is said to have slipped
his wine and talked over the American
Revolution with his host and other dis
tinguished men. The old tree is related
to have been feet in diameter and
upward of 300 years old.
Montrose Park, purchased by the Gov
ernment in 1911, and which adjoins The
Oaks on the east is also notable place.