Evening star., 1944-09-03

Red Top once the countr;
in Cleveland Park.
memorials raised for those who shall
make the supreme sacrifice in this
war shall be living monuments in
terms of service to mankind"
The need for this building, which was
recognized as far back as forty years
ago, has grown, as The Star once said,
with the passing of four decades. 1t
was because of demonstrated demand
that the House of Representatives Ap-
propriations Committee put into the
l944-5 budget an item Of 100000 to pay
half the cost of the stipulated land. A
volunteer committee Of Cleveland Park
residents has obtained cash and pledges
In an amount of approximately $l1 900,
leaving the sum still to be subscribed
at roughly $4,000 And no doubt this
on the structure.
Once Pretty Prospect
Cleveland Park has very interest
ing history. having originally formed
a part of Pretty Prospect" tract of
land which was acquired by George
Beall, son of Ninian Beall, in 1920 In
1870, 900 acres of this tract, lying to
the north of Georgetown, between Wis
consin avenue and Rock Greek, was
transferred to Uriah Forrest and Ben
jamin Stoddert. In 1894, Gen. Forrest
acquired Mr.. Stodderts interest through
a deed signed by George French, and
thus became the sole owner of the
estate, which he renamed Rosedale.
1t was during this year that the general
erected a frame house on the north
side Of Ordway street, short distance
east of Wisconsin avenue, which is still
standing
Many of the early Georgetown fam
llies were related through marriage and
tntermarriage, but it was not long after
Gen. Forrest became the sole owner of
Rosedale that he transferred $50 acres
of this tract to his brother-inlaw,
Philip Barton Key, uncle Of Francis
Scott Key. who named his estate Wood
ley. This relationship between Forrest
and the senior Key was due to the
fact that both married daughters of
George Platter, sixth Governor of Mary
land Col. Plater's wife was the sister
of Gen. James McCubbin Lingan and
one of his daughters Ann, was the
first wife of Maj. George Peter, son of
Robert Peter Another son. Thomas,
married Martha Parke Custis, grand
daughter of Martha Washington.
Gen. Forrest
Gen. Uriah Forrest, who was asso-
ciated with Stoddert in the purchase
of Pretty Prospect" later known as
"Rosedale,' served in the American
Revolution and in the United States
House of Representatives from the State
of Maryland, though at the time his
home was we'll within the boundaries of
the District of Columbia. But since the
District was then working under the
laws of Maryland, his election appears
regular
But not so with Philip Barton Key,
who built Woodley in 1906 and made it
his home from that time until his
death in 1875 When he was elected to
Congress in 1907, for political reasons
he gave his Maryland address as Rock
vile. The question of his eligibility
coming before the House of Represen-
tatives, his seating was held up for
year, and he was only seated then. on
March 18. 1908, by the narrow margin
of 81 to 50.
President Cleveland had the habit OF
doing many things right and when he
purchased his suburban home, in 1886,
he showed excellent judgment for
man about to be married and seeking
a home where his honeymoon would not
be interrupted by curious visitors and
Office seekers. He was not wealthy
man. Naturally he had laid by few
dollars for a rainy day, but he still
had to spend his money with care. and
for this reason he sought to purchase
a home through A. A. Wilson, whom he
had appointed United States marshal
for the District of Columbia and who,
most likely, was very close friend.
Mr.. Wilson proceeded with caution,
and did not divulge the name of the
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 we're 231a acres, and roomy
stone dwelling of no particular historic
interest. though nearby was Rosedale,
tho "a rlv h0y,oe of Zen TIrioh rorrest
Rosedale Estate
But Gen. Forrest, it seems, was none
too careful in some of his financial VEN
lures, and a few years after acquiring
Rosedale, went down in the real estate
slash Of 1877. In the District Of colum-