Evening star., 1947-07-13

Will 6OOu DC TepldCe0 Oy
- modern apartment house
is not at all surprising, since
the older generation Of that fam
lily has long since passed away and
1t has not been occupied by any
member Of the family for several
years at least.
This mansion, known as No. $500
New Hampshire avenue, was erected
in 1891. by Levi z. Letter, and here
his daughter Mary resided when she
married the Hon. George Nathaniel
Curzon in st. Johns Church, Six
teenth and H streets, April 20, 1895.
Prior to this, in 1883, Mr.. Letter
leased the home Of James G. Blaine,
rust to the west of the circle for
1000. for five years. The house
was begun in 1881, and later on was
sold to George Westinghouse, jr.,
Of Pittsburgh, who resided there
for some years. During World War
/ 1t became the home Of the Ofncers'
Club, and In 1871 it was sold by
Westinghouse to Henry 8. Spencer
of this city. At the time the prop
erty 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,
6s.6 feet on Twentieth street and
1855 feet on Massachusetts, avenue.
Stewart Castle.
The pioneer residence OF impor-
tsnce built on Dupont Circle was the
old Stewart Castle, erected in 1873
by Senator William M Stewart at
. cost OF about $225, 900. with fur
nishings costing 100000 more. On
December 30. 1879, it was severely
burned with a loss estimated at
so, 900. The last owner Of the
castle" which stood on the site
where is now the branch of the
Riggs National Bank, was Senator
William A. Clark of Montana, who
removed the building in 1901.
Today, the Patterson house at No.
Is Dupont Circle is, no doubt, the
most important residence in this
neighborhood, particularly so be-
cause 1t was occupied as the tenn
porary White House by President
Coolidge from March Z to June 13,
1897, during the making Of repairs
10 the Executive Mansion. On June
10. Col. Charles Lindbergh and his
mother were the Presidents guests
here following Lindbergh's epochal
hight to Paris on May II.
The Patterson mansion is the resi-
dence Of Mrs. Eleanor Patterson,
publisher of the Washington Times
Herald. 1t was built during 1901
and 1902, and the cost was estimated
ut $l64,0O0, during period when
prices were low.
Dupont Statue.
Here, in this reservation, referred
TO in 1880 as Pacific Circle, was
once the statue of Rear Admiral
samuel Francis Dupont, which was
dedicated In 1884 and removed In
1921. This notable naval officer, who
entered the Navy In 1918, as a boy
of II, died in the service in 1865.
His faithful labors for his country"
rs has been said, "his patience, dig
nifty and loyalty under trying cir
eumStancee, and his impartial
achievements In battle against the
enemy have made his name illus
trtous."
Besides the memorial fountain,
dedicated to his memory May II,
1871. . fort was named for himI
during the Civil War, and part of
the earthworks still denote the spot.
1t Is just about on the southeast
District Of Columbia Maryland line
where 1t is crossed by the Marlboro
road. *
Admiral du Pont was the third
son of Victor Marie du Pont de
Nemours, who was born In Paris,
France, October ], 1867. and died. In 1
Philadelphia, Pa. January 80. 1927.
He In turn was the son of Pierre
Samuel du Pont de Nemours, French
economist.
Early Landmarks.
Undoubtedly there are still living
here number of early residents who
can recall Dupont Circle when John
Hopkins brickyard was at Twentieth
and P streets, and which was op-
Grated as late as 1875, though Mr..
Hopkins, a Georgetown man, died
In 1858, the business probably being
carried on after that date by his
heirs.
Old Slash Run, still remembered
by many, touched, in its zigzag
course, within block of the circle.
This stream, sometimes also called
Shad Run, was still practically an
open stream up to the time of the
creation of the Board of Public
Works in 1871. Its source was some
what to the east of Sixteenth street
and Columbia road. From here it
douad so,,tb QUITTING n,1ite q ditch