Evening star., 1950-05-07

the right to hold property separate
from that Of the husband.
Visited Low House
Three daughters of John Parke
CuStiS: Elizabeth Parke CuStiS
married Thomas Law, Martha
Parke Gusts married Thomas
Peter. and Eleanor Parke Gusts
married Lawrence Lewis. Identi-
fed with Thomas Law and his
bride is the old building at the
northeast corner Of Sixth and N
streets SW.. generally known as
the Thomas Law Richard Bland
Lee house. Besides being one OF
the oldest buildings in the city. 1t
lis also Of much interest because
it was to this mansion that
Thomas Law. the youngest son of
the Bishop Of Carlisle. took his
bride in the Spring Of 1895, she
being Elizabeth Parke CustiS,
and granddaughter OF Martha
Washington.
Thomas Law built q house on
the east side of the block where
the House Once Annex stands on
New Jersey avenue between B and
c streets Sc. Such notable per-
sons as Louis Philippe. Count Vol
ney. Niemcewitz, Richard Park
inson, and many others were en-
tertained there. Gen. and Mrs.
Washington were frequent guests.
AS to the George WASHINGTON
houses, which stood from 1899 TO
February. 1915, on the west side OF
North Capitol street between b
and c streets. probably they were
removed to make way for the
Capitol Plaza improvements. just
as the Old Brick Capitol was re-
moved in order to erect on its site
the United States Supreme Court
Building.
Materials Re- used
Few people have any idea that
as a matter Of fact these two old
buildings substantially exist to-
day-not as they originally stood,
for they were entirely taken down
to the ground-but what happened
was this:
Hugh j. Phillips, ST.. feeling that
the material Of these houses should
be preserved, for the sentiment at
tached to George Washington, II
for no other reason, purchased the
houses and had the material car
ried to the southwest corner OF
New Jersey avenue and c street
Sc. just across the street from
where the House ONCE annex now
stands, and there built with the
historic bricks the frames, the
doors. the trimming and even tho
marble mantels-sent to Gen.
Washington by Gen. Lafayette
two OF the three stories OF the
hotel now occupying that corner.
At the time the Government
ordered the Washington houses
removed he was keeping the Wy
comico Hotel on North Capitol
street opposite the two residences
ordered built by the first President
then stood. His hotel being also
in the line Of improvement, was
also ordered taken down. The idea
occurred to him to buy the ma
terial contained in these buildings
and build with it what is now the
George Washington Inn. On one
occasion Mr.. Phillips showed the
writer through his hostelry and
pointed out particularly the beau
tiful white marble mantlepieces
sent to this country as q gift TO
Washington by Gen. Lafayette.
Toward the top, in one. and at
either end. there is a bunch OF
grapes within double circle, and
at the top center. forming an arch.
portions Of early French armor are
artistically arranged together. The
other mantel is substantially the
same. except that the carving
within the circles represents oak
leaves and apples. and the CEN
ter piece, in addition to the ar
mortal treatment. matches the de-
sign within the circles.