Evening star., 1950-06-08
Old Stone House
Museum Plans
Meet Opposition
Businessmen Offer
To Give Structure
To u. S. is Moved

AAoAAANeNo eAAA ~ NNeS
clashed today at a hearing before
a Senate Public Works Subcom-
mittee over the proposal for the
Government to buy the Old Stone
House at 3o5l NJ street NV. rs
a museum.
Spokesman for a Ions list Of
historic and citizens groups in
dorSed the move TO preserve the
historic structure but representa-
tives of the owners Of the pre-
dwelling, as we'll as
business tenants. fought the plan
and warned of court battle.
The House passed the measure
last Monday after Speaker Ray
burn took the unusual step of TAX
ing the House floor TO make n
personal appeal for approval OF
the legislation.
The House bill. however. put q
limit of 100000 on the price 10
be paid for the property and such
figure was characterized at to-
days Senate hearings as con-
fiscatory" by Albert E. Aren't. at
torney for the owners.
Mr.. Aren't said the property
could be sold for a much higher
figure If the present threat ot
cond m n ion were removed.
Should Congress order the acqui-
sition of the place. Mr.. Aren't said
he could see "a couple of years Of
litigation and turmoil" resulting
from Government move to take
the property.
Building Move Suggested.
Mr.. Aren't said the owners would
be willing to give the old stone
house to the Government for use
as muSeum-provided that tho
building be moved to different
location. This would leave the
owners free to develop the Nj street
site for business use.
A similar view was taken by
William Carter. who with his
brothers engages in business en-
terprises in the building and on
an adjacent parking lot. Mr..
Carter said his interests have been
seeking for some years TO buy the
property and would be willing TO
pay far more" than 100000. He
said they would be willing to give
the building to the Government
entirely free of cost if the Govern
ment would move it away.
A third opposition witness was
H. B. Swartwout. who operates a
business nearby at 1854 Thomas
Jefferson street. He Joined With
Mr. Carter in arguing that traffic
on NJ street. was. too heavy and
dangerous TO consider the. Old
Stone House as a museum which
would attract thousands of chill
dren and other visitors.
Mr. Swartwout also told the
Senate group he thought it was
horrible that Senators have to
take time to consider such a little
house
Move Held Inappropriate.
The hearing was conducted by
Senator Holland, Democrat, OF
Florida. subcommittee chairman;
and Senators Chapman. Demo-
crat, OF Kentucky and Cain, Re-
publican. of Washington. Early
in the session. before opposition
witnesses were heard they agreed
informally that 1t would be in
appropriate to move a historic
building to different location.
Among the many witnesses
strongly urging the preservation
of the historic structure were
David E. Finley, director of the
National Gallery Of Art. and Maj.
Gen. o. S. Grant III, former
chairman of the Park and Plan
ming Commission, both Of whom
represented the National Council
for Historic Sites and Buildings.
which includes more than go ma
tional historic organizations.
Others favoring preservation OF
the building were Grosvenor
Chapman. for the American In
stitute of Architects; Mrs. John
Morrison Kerr. for the National
Society of the Daughters of the
Revolution; Mrs. David L. Wells
of the District Society Of the
OAR; Mrs. James Patton. Ma
tional Society of the Colonial
Danes of America: Mrs. Harold
Hinton and Mrs. Jean Freer. for
the Progressive Citizens of George
town; Brig. Gen. Karl S. Brad
ford. for the Georgetown Citi-
zens' Association. and several
spokesmen for the Interior De-
partment and the Park and Plan
ming Commission.