Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-11-26
The White House and the South Portico
BY John Clagett Proctor.

BY John Clagett Proctor.
President Roosevelt's decision to elm
mate the usual spectacular inaugura-
ton, and to take the oath of Office for
his fourth term on the south portico
Of the White House brings to mind the
many historic incidents which began
when its cornerstone was laid on Octo-
Der 10, 1872, and it was first occupied
by President John Adams. Since then
1t has been almost entirely destroyed by
fire and rebuilt, reconditioned many
times, and upon several occasions some
what intellectually modified. 1t has
been the scene of happiness and sad
ness-happiness and joy to the greatest
extreme, and sadness and grief to the
lowest depth.
James Hoban was the architect and
builder of this famous mansion. He
was born in Tullamore, near Cullan,
County Kilkenny Ireland, in 1853, his
father being Edward Hoban, and his
mother, Martha (Bayne) Hoban. His
career began in the city of Dublin where
he studied architecture, and shortly aft
er the close of the American Revolution
he came to America, landed at Philadel-
phia and soon afterward went to
Charleston, S. c., where he designed
and built the State House at Columbia,
which was destroyed when the city was
burned the night that Shermans army
entered the city, February IT, 1865.
1t was in the Palmetto State that Mr..
Hoban was fortunate enough to meet
President Washington, when he visited
Charleston in 1871. and was introduced
to Gen. Washington by Col. Henry
Laurens who recommended him to the
President, as did other representative
men.
Architects Plan Accepted
Early the following year when designs
we're requested for the public buildings,
Hoban journeyed to Philadelphia and
again saw Gen. Washington, whom he
evidently impressed with his talent. at
least the final result was that his plans
for the White House were approved,
and for his premium he chose gold
medal of the value of 10 guineas, the
rest in money. Soon afterward, on July
10, 1892, the commissioners contracted
with him for his services for the year
for 300 guineas, and accompanied by
them, he surveyed and laid out the
foundation for the building on that day.
President Washington, however, was not
present at the laying of the cornerstone.
In President Adams Day
When President Adams came to the
mansion, he found little there to make
him happy, since he stayed there only
from Saturday November /, 1900, to
March, 1901, when the White House
was turned over to his successor,
Thomas jefferson.
Mr.. Adams arrival in Washington is
chronicled by Mrs. William Thornton,
who says: Mama & I went to town
about noon to get some patterns of
cloth &c.-While we were in the Sill
versniths Shop-the President, with
his secretary, Mr.. Shaw, passed bye in
his chariot g. four, no retinue, only one
servant on horseback.-As we came
home We found that he went imme-
diately to the house intended for him,
which, tho not completed, has a suffl-
Gent number of rooms done to accom-
modate his family this winter"
Mrs. Abigail Adams, the Presidents
wife, tells mournful story to her sister
of her coming to the new Capital to be
the first mistress of the White House.
Her letter follows: Il arrived about l
o'clock at this place, known by the
name of the City, and the name is all
that you can call SO, as I expected to
find 1t new country, with houses
scattered over space of 10 miles, and
trees and stumps in plenty with castle
of house-so I found it. The Presi-
dents house is in beautiful situation,
in front of which is the Potomac with
q view of Alexandria. The country
around Is romantic, but wild and
wilderness at present. I have been to
Georgetown and felt as Mrs. Cranch
described when she was resident there
"It is the very dirtiest hole ever
saw for place of any trade or re-
spectability of inhabitants. 1t is only
one mile from me, but quagnire after
every rain Here we are obliged to send
daily for marketing. The Capitol is
nearly two miles from us. As to roads,
we shall make them by the frequent
passing before winter, but am deter
mined to be satisfied and content, to
say nothing of inconvenience"
However, things have changed greatly
since Mr.. Adams came here, and since
then many Presidents have found the
White House delightful place in which
to reside, and no doubt the changing
of locations this time in which to take
the oath of Office will pass of as just
another great historic event attached
to this noted building.
Incidentally, the southern exposure
of this house, set aside for the President,
was originally intended for the front,
but the northern exposure was later de-
veloped as such. In the early days,
when the Tiber Greek flowed just to
the south, the picture must have been
q delightful one. President Coolidge
delighted in taking in this view, though
In his day 1t had greatly changed, and
upon one occasion when he was stand-
ing nv one Of the south windows talk