Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-09-23
Meridian Hill Memories
Recalling the Old Farm Properties and Eury Mansions
of the Area Around Florida Avenue
By John Cloeett Proctor

wheat, ETC., and was obliged to pur-
chase grain for his stock.
He imported English bulls at
81 200 apiece. He had the finest pig
gerry in the country. but, alas, 1t did
not pay. Thousands Of carloads Of
manure were hauled upon the farm.
only to be washed away by the spring
rains.
Reverses caused Commodore Porter
to dispose Of this property. In 1929
the mansion and grounds were leased
by John Quincy Adams upon his re-
firing from the White House. BY
this time it may be assumed that the
property had substantially passed out
Of the hands of the commodore, for
there was surely no love between him
and Mr.. Adams, and no apparent rea-
son which would have warranted the
former in leasing it to him, especially
since the ex-PreSident had upon one
occasion, when Lafayette was visiting
this city in 1924, deliberately and
cruelty snubbed Porter, who. 1t seems,
had enlisted the aid Of the marquis
in his behalf to try to straighten out
a difference between the two men.
Lafayette had been granted an
interview with the President, with
permission to bring the COM
modore along, and the latter was
to make a personal explanation.
The time was set for IL o'clock, and.
true to promise, Mr.. Adams was
waiting for the French visitor and
the commodore: but when they
alighted at the door Of the Execu-
tive Mansion, the President, it is
said. stepped forward and shook
hands cordially with the marquis.
took his arm and left the commodore
standing under the front portico,
without taking any notice Of him
whatever. This gratuitous insult to
both Lafayette and Commodore Por-
ter was not explained, nor was the
matter referred to while the inter-
view lasted. 1t would seem as II the
President wished to teach the COM
modore q lesson in diplomacy, or
intimate to the Nations guest that
he must not NEEDLE with what did
not concern him.
Between Mr.. Adams and his sue
cessor. Andrew Jackson. there was
also an unfriendly feeling, because
the latter believed Adams had coun-
tenanced the story directed against
the name Of his wife. So. on the
morning OF the Sd Of March, 1929,
Adams left the White House and
walked out to the Porter mansion
and caused notices to be published
requesting that the usual call on the
retiring President be omitted.
Sow Porter Monsion Burn
There are probably only a few
persons living who ever saw the old
Porter mansion. DR.. Benjamin w.
Sunny. now deceased, told me that
he saw 1t burn down in 1863, while
he was attending Columbian Uni
versity (now George Washington
University. which was then on the
tract OF land to the east Of Meridian
Hill.
The meridian stone was allowed
to remain until about the time of
the opening of Sixteenth street ex-
tended, when it was removed to its
present place at the southwest corner
OF Fourteenth and r streets NV.
and where it is used as a carriage
step. This disposition of an old and
valued landmark by the then county
surveyor gave rise to angry express
sions Of condemnation by many Of
the citizens. The precise spot should
have been noted when the stone was
taken up, and then, after the street
was completed, the stone should have
been replanted below the surface.
1t would be very interesting to know
just what eventually became of the
old meridian stone after it ceased
to render service as carriage step.
1t would, indeed, serve a good pur-
pose If it could be recovered and be
placed near where it originally stood.
A bronze tablet in the park wall tells
of this historic stone.
When I moved into this subdivi-
sion in 1887, it had improved but
slightly from time first saw it.
The standpipe which had been erect
ed about 1878 was then standing,
and continued to remain in its posi-
ton for a number Of years after
ward. Wayland Seminary, o colored
theological institute, had been erected
in 1874, as had one or two modest
houses and a few more shacks. The
ground still showed corn burrows.
and, indeed, for several years after
ward the surface Of the earth plainly
indicated that it had been but re-
Gently used for farm purposes.