Evening star., 1960-03-25
The
Rambler
StroIIs in
Fogey Bottom
By GEORGE KENNEDY

~~@@~@ NSOAA -
walk in the old gaShouse
district.
An immaculate marble
building, modern on classic
lines, stands in the block
where Pete Daley's goats
were wont to Craze when re-
leased from their pen behind
his saloon on the corner. 1t
is the home Office of the
Peoples Life Insurance Co.
The Potomac Plaza, a large
modern, cooperative apart
ment building stands on Vir-
ginia avenue just northwest
of the intersection with New
Hampshire. 1t is a frankly
modern, steel constructed
building. 1t stands on stills.
Near it at Twenty-fourth
and G streets a very inter-
eSting modern building, al
most all glass on one side, is
approaching completion.
1t is being built for the
American Association of
University Women.
And the news is that a
Roman real estate firm has
taken option on eight acres
along the river.
In his stroll the Rambler
stopped in a construction
office, a rather elaborate
temporary shack, and had
the good luck to meet Royce
Ward, the president of
Hegeman-Harris, one of the
largest construction COM
panies. His home Office is
in New York.
Hegeman Harris built
Rockefeller Center in New
York and many other sky
ScraperS in New York
This caller ventured that
Foggy Bottom was jumping.
"Jumping!" said Mr.. Ward,
a slender, keen but pleasant
sort Of a person. That's an
underStatement. This is the
liveliest place in America
outside of Cape Canaveral."
Asked why it took so long,
he said:
Things were held up until
it was determined just where
the inner loop freeway was
to go. AS you know various
plans for the development of
the property owned by the
Washington Gas Light Co. in
this area have been an
Iaounced since the war.
This Italian option is the
real thing. It's a very old
company and it has done
some spectacular construc-
ton in European cities.
"I have a call in for
Nicolas Salgo, their repre-
sentative in New York. Why
don't you talk to him when
I get through"
In a few minutes the
Rambler found himself talk
ing to Mr.. Salgo who told
him that the Roman real
estate firm he represents was
indeed an old one, having
been started in 1852 while
Rome was still ruled by the
Pope.
"And it still has the same
name it started with" said
Mr.. Salgo. ut is Societa
Generele Immobiliere di
Lavori, di Utilize Pubblica
ed Agricola.
"They have built a great
many buildings in Rome,
Milan and Turin. Recently
they built a large apartment
building in Paris.
"They are associated in
the construction Of the Hill
ton hotel in Rome which
will be known as the Cava-
lieri Hilton.
1.-THE first building they
will construct will be an
apartment building at Twen-
ty-fourth and H streets. The
architecture will be a mod
ern type that will show
continental influence"
The Rambler resumed his
stroll and at the northeast
corner of Twenty-fourth and
G streets met a man coming
out of a house perched sew
eral feet above the street.
It was an attractive little
house, a rectangular solid
surrounded by trees and the
little terrace on the south
side was thick with iris.
Asked If this house was to
go in the rebuilding Of Foggy
Bottom, he said:
II hope not. I was born
here. Sixteen Cavanaughs
were born here"
He was Thomas r. ]. Cava-
naugh, a man in his COS who
had fought in the 42nd or
Rainbow Division in 1918
under Mai. Gen. Douglas
Macarthur.
81 was a boy when they
built the gas plant here and
erected the tanks" he said.
"I remember how frightened