Evening star., 1944-04-02
BY John Clagett Proctor

by JOIlIl IldSeIt FTOCUOr
Few spots in Washington have
greater historic significance than the
square on Pennsylvania avenue between
Jackson place and Seventeenth street,
Immediately opposite the old State, War
and Navy Building, a structure, which
has in itself figured conspicuously in
practically all the great national events
since 1t was first occupied by the De-
partment of State in 1875, and by the
War and Navy Departments in 1879.
OF particular interest at the present
time, however, are the two large build
ings numbered 1851 and 1853, located
on what was for many years known as
Presidents Square, but which now
forms a part of Pennsylvania avenue.
No. 1851, which designates the Blair
house, is worthy of much notice, not
only because it was erected in part 1874
years ago, by Joseph Lowell, a Surgeon
General in the Army, 18l2-18l5, but
more especially because of its subse-
quent ownership, and because of the
events of great moment that have oc-
Cured within its four walls.
Surg Gen. Lowell, who erected this
building in part, about 1910, accord
ing to the history of the Medical So
ciety of the District of Columbia, was
born in Boston, Mass, December %,
1888, and received his M. D. degree from
Harvard University in 1911. He was
one of the founders and a counselor
of the local medical society, was it's vice
president in 1926, and a member of it's
examining board for a number of years.
After leaving the Army, he practiced his
profession in Washington until his
death, from pneumonia, on October II,
1886.
Purchased by Blair
After the death of Surg. Gen. Lowell,
the property, then fronting So feet
inches on Pennsylvania avenue with a
well of excellent water in the yard,
brick stable and carriage house adjoin-
ing the alley; flower and fruit garden
tastefully laid out and highly culti-
waited" was advertised for sale in the
Globe until March %, 1887, about which
time it was purchased by the editor of
that paper, Francis Preston Blair, for
$500.
And here this distinguished Ken
tuckian continued to reside for nearly
decade, when he leased the property
to the celebrated historian, George Ban
croft, and moved, permanently, him.
self, to his estate at Silver Spring In
the Avenue home, Bancroft resided
while he was Secretary of the Navy, q
position he, apparently did not seek,
since he preferred to be sent abroad as
envoy or in some other diplomatic po-
sition. Nevertheless, since it is said that
all things come to him who waits, SO
it was with Bancroft, for in 1846 he was
appointed Ambassador to England and
later Minister to Berlin. - -
When Bancroft vacated the Blair
House, the property was let to John Y
Mason, also when Secretary of the,
Navy, and after him came Senator
Thomas Ewing, whose daughter was
married there on May 1, 1850, to Will
liam T. Sherman, later to become
great general.
One would imagine that the marriage
- @Lo+
early date, would justify quite an an
nouncement, and yet the writer was
unable to find but very brief reference
regarding it in the National Intelli-
gencer, which said: I'm this city, on
the evening of the 1st of May, by the
Rev. James Ryder, president of George
town College, William T. Sherman.
United States Army, and Ellen Boyle
Ewing, eldest daughter of the Hon.
Thomas Ewing"
A Noteworthy Wedding
But in bygone days, a span Of "a years,
brought many changes in the way news
items were treated by the press, and
by October /, 1874, when Minnie Ewing
Sherman, daughter of the same William
T. Sherman, was married to 1t. Thomas
w. Fitch of the Engineer Corps, United
States Navy, quite good deal of space
was devoted to this event.
Sherman had then become full gen.
eral, and was living at 205 I street NV,
Ia a residence presented to him by ad-
mirerS, after it was vacated by Gen.
U. S. Grant when he became President
in 1869. Gen. Sherman added to his
mansion and later made it into two
residences which accounts for No. 207
al the extreme west end of the row A
contemporary account of this wedding
has this to say:
s'After many months of preparation,
the wedding OF Minnie Ewing Sherman,
daughter of the General of the Army. to
Ii. Thomas W. Fitch of the Engineer
Corps, United States Navy, took place
In st. Aloysius Church, Washington,
D. c., on Thursday. October /. His
Grace j. B. Purcell, the Most Rev.
Archbishop Of Cincinnati, officiated, as
sisted by Bishop Wood and Msgr. Eaton.
The occasion was the most brilliant
ever seen in the city of brilliances. Of
the 5000 invitations issued. 500 were
to- the church
The President with his cabinet, the
members of the diplomatic corps, Off
GERS of the Army and Navy, justices of
the Supreme Court, Senators and Rep
reSentativeS arrived shortly after 10
O'Clock. All entitled TO apear in uni
form were in full attire.
The names of the bridesmaids ara.