Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-24
FIRST LOOK
COnVentiOn-GOers
See Headquarters

will reveal a home of dignity
and beauty. comfort and con-
venience the elimination
of a dream come true.
Since 1916 over $4,000 home
economists have been contrib
uting to the headquarters
fund.- now many of them will
have a chance to see how their
money has been spent.
For a number of years the
association occupied quarters
in the Mills building on Penn
sylvania avenue. Space there
was needed for other purposes
and they moved to temporary
quarters in the Victor build
ing. 1t was then the idea of
permanent quarters began to
take definite shape. In 1916
headquarters launched a cam
paign to raise money for a
permanent building. State as
sociations and individual men,
bers. determined to reach the
goal set, eventually contributed
almost 100000 through
various Embarrassing projects.
The dream was in sight.
Historical Home
After a long search the old
mansion at the corner of
Twentieth and @ streets was
purchased. The house, built in
1887, was originally owned by
Col. and Mrs. Theodorus Bailey
Meyers of New York City.
Although the Colonel died be-
fore the house was finished.
his widow and widowed daugh-
ter, Mrs. Julian James, lived
there many years. The Myers
Mason Bailey family occupied
the house until 1915. 1t was
then sold to person interested
in it as an investment. For
a year it remained vacant
when an insurance company
bought it in 1916 and con-
verted it for Office use. The
AHEA bought the property in
1850 and moved into their
permanent home in 1851.
The land on which the
house is built was part of the
original City of Washington.
Records at the Surveyors Of
fee show that when the SUBJ
division was made in 1897. the
land was owned by James Mac
Cubbin Lingan. The earliest
record of ownership, dating
back to 1864, was that of
James Langworth. A legend
Of Indian lore was woven
around his land, known as
Widows Mite.
Mrs. James. daughter Of
Mrs. Meyers. was instrumental
in establishing the American
Costume Collection Of which
the dresses of Presidents
wives is best known to mil
lions of tourists who visit the
National Museum.
Period Of Restoration
The association now owned
a house but it was far from
habitable. And so began the
renovation. Office space
to accommodate the ever
growing headquarters staff,
space for meetings, space for
entertaining visiting home
economists not only from the
48 States but foreign delegates
as well.
A social furnishings COM
mittee was appointed headed
by Miss Marie Mount, Dean,
College Of Home Economics,
University of Maryland. AS
sisting Miss Mount were Kath-
crime Smith. Alva Tyler Engel,
Margaret Brew, Rua Van Horn,
Mildred Horton and Frances
Urban. This group worked with
a Georgetown decorator, to
budget money, select colors,
buy furnishings and create a
gracious home.
Everything couldn't be done
at once. But before one penny
was spent on window dress
ing. floors we're reinforced,
ceiling beams repaired, plaster
ing torn out and replaced
all the basic repair Jobs needed
to put the old mansion in
apple-pie condition.
AS money became available
through contributions, one by
one the rooms Of the lovely
Continued on Pg. d., Col. 1