| Show e ishi on L LI Lii I q qI t tI ii R I Al ID l I II I II 9 i S 8 S J rt I 4 C tl K r o f V 1 1 I i Oe r I I di 7 l r tsi 1 2 p fy x xo o lai f G A 25 X t t ys x i fAe j I TO Th MERICAN f people p never ceased 1 I to admire the versatility It ot of George Geor e B W Washington AH AR a n warrior and as asa n a statesman he be won Tame fame In 10 tho the superlative degree decree de ree and amI jet yet It Is realized that bo ho ed the exceptional measure of ot ability In 10 the more modest pursuits of oC a n planter ft a country squire aquire However there thero Is one branch of DC the great mans a activities that has hns been largely overlooked bv b by students of oC the lie man sided WashIngton This con concerns concerns cerns hIs bis vory ery considerable undertakings S us 55 II an nn architect ct and builder operations of oC such fluch scope that they theT might almost l havo bao L for tor a 11 career for tor any ordinary r citizen r It la Is not Dot fought ought of ot course to convey conrey tho the Impression Impre lou that the nations first r lt president was WD professional nu flu arch archI archItect And builder ns na wo we Interpret the term today tOOny He lIe at no period of oC his hE life liCe devoted his entire time to this profession nor did be ho depend upon It as 09 n a means of oC livelihood Indeed George Gcorge was clearly clearl no on amateur rather rother that a n professional since none of oC his bin planning end and building bu I 1111 0 BO so far tar as ns la is known lenon was ovas done dono tot for n a monetary consideration On 00 the one ODD hand he employed his bis turn talent In his own private enterprises enterprIse or In those these of ot his biB relatives 8 friends friendsOn On 00 the th other hind hand his judgment In build lug Ing matters was ns given for tor the bene t of at Ms Ma country end In neither caso did ho bo expect or receive pay poy The Tho of oC history may get d many mony Inklings s of oC the role rolo George G r e Washington played ns lIS consulting architect to the tho newly newl established e government In the early earl days of oC the republic early i experience as ns n Jl surveyor an occupation ho lie followed during durin much of ot bis hb hi young manhood gave him splendid Judgment I as ns to the relative qualifications of oC sites for tOr either cither public or private buildings When the first Congress COn p 8 confronted by bytho bythe the tho conflicting claims of ot a n dozen doton different communities was WIlB wa sorel sorely puzzled to decide r upon a location for tor the national scat sent of ot otI I George G rge Washington ton was 1118 ap appealed appealed pealed to and end It was Ins largely of oC his bis expressed preferences that the tho pros pres ent site wee vas cho chosen cn en for tor tho capital city which now nOI bears beMs bis Wa name Tradition bus boa It that George Geore Wishing Washing Washington ton on the tho veranda of oC an ole clo J country house boue with the panorama of ot the present District of ot Columbia out before him blai h 1111 chose what Is Isnow isnow now nol known as os Capitol Hill as os the tue bite alto of ot tho the legislative e headquarters of ot the government IIo Ho played an even eTen more active acUe part port In locating the tho Presidential mansion for not only did ho he choose the site Alte of the thc White Hou Houe e but be lie personal Iv Iy conducted the negotiations ne for tor the pur purchase chuse chase of ot the needed laud land and ond Washing tons was aas never neer more tried than thou by b the tactics tactic of ot David Burns Burn Burna a n canny canDY Scot who Ibo owned the land lond se AI selected selected lect for tor the Presidents House HouBe cud and who placed a n very Tory high value on 00 his lila holdings The work of ot actually de lug the thc arlous various public buildings buildIng and lay Iny layIng log Ing ID out the tho and aud parks InrI of ot the new Federal City was left by lIy Washing Washington ton III In other hand bands but up to the time of ot his bis hi last Illness he exercised a general supervision of at nil all creative worl work and his bis architectural Ideas were Iere embodied In III Inmost Inmost most of oC the plans drawn n Notable an as n was IOS General work In connection with the rearing of oC our oar most conspicuous public buildings It ItIs ItIs itis Is perhaps scarcely as ns Interesting as ns portraying tho the tastes of ot the cItizen of ot America as us an Individual as n was the port part ho bo played In 10 tho the planning end and con construction construction of ot various arlous private residences lo 16 located I principally In 10 Virginia and In what In is now West Virginia For nil all such euch oper operations Washington seemingly lr had bad a predilection lection the natural outgrowth outgrow tb probably of or his hIli training as aa a surveyor sun or to which reference has hns been mado madu abo e There was wn the further circumstance however that every cery country gentleman of ot the tho Colo Cole nial period living ns as did Washington In lu tho comparative Isolation of ot i n big bl planta plantation plantation tion had hod needs have lIaTe dome for tor architectural Ingenuity end and tho the supervision sion sian of ot building construction Even ren with the manor house provided supplementary buildings of or brick stone or frame construction bad to be added from time to time and as a plantation headquarters became a small community In Itself there wes was the necessity for tor al nl almost almost most perpetual p 11 repairs r and alterations Thus whereas tho the mansion at Mount Vernon was n not the original conception of ot George Washington having been boon built by hr his half brother Lawrence some somo dozen tc 7 c i l I t b TI sz 4 s r c ni years before It came Into the tho possession lon lono of o George Georgo Washington through Inherit Inheritance ance the latter gave n e the Impress of oC his Individuality to the stately structure and nil all Its surroundings s b by bJ means of oC numer numerous ous alterations and Improvements both within and without the great t at house and Its subordinate structures Similarly the tho mansion nt at the nearby estate of oC Arling Arlington ton too although not erected until after death plainly evidences i iman many man of ot lila bis hi distinctive Ideas as os to archi architectural architectural arrangement ement The he presence of oC the tho Washington Influence In th the case of or this building In is readily r explainable since It was erected by b Washington Parko Cus Cue till adopted son flon of ot George Georgo Washington who had bad lived for nt at Vet Vor non had hod natural naturally adopted many of the thc Ideas of ot the thc Father of ot ills His Coun Country try Tho Colonial homes bomes for tor the design and nOlI construction of ot George Georgo Washington ton was most largely responsible are located loco tell tellIn In the tho picturesque Shenandoah The Tue whole territory of oC which Charles CharlesTown CharlesTown Town W V Va Is III the tho center cOnter Is of ot cope cape Interest for tor George Geor e Washington mado matlo the tho original surveys of oC nil all of oC this land landor for or 01 Lord Fairfax and nOll here bere on a com cOrn mantling site facing the Blue Moun talus he lie built mansion for tor his bis eldest brother Samuel George Georgo Geo o Washing Washington ton lan spent O years In the beautiful ben valley nile that was WT later Inter to become famous ns n a the tho scene of oC o ride tide All Il the while bo ho was 1811 extending his bis surveys and gradually hu lie became the largest landed proprietor In this part of ot th the Old Domin Dominion ion Then he Induced his brothers Sam Samuel Samuel uel nd John and Charles Charle to likewise invest In the which was wag then obtainable ut nt very ery low prices priceR George Georgo G methodical thorough thoroughness h ness was well evidenced by bj the tho leisurely euro cure with which be ho proceeded with tho the erection of oC the construction extending ocr oer a n period of oC three years from rein 1856 to 1855 Inclusive For all nil that this mansion was ns as so o carefully planned mid well vell built hullt It Is not today toda In lu as ns good gooda a n state of oC pre l a as most of oC the theother theother other house for tor or of oC which George Georgo Washington ton was responsible low liow I I II F a ag i S Sp p g tc fl AL I p s a o S SL L e 3 F 4 A over oer the decadence of oC this one onetime time sum IILO summer mer home of oC President Washington has ban been heen duo to neglect rather than to un uny Inherent defect detect In construction and n a movement Is now on foot toot to restore the building which bj by b the way woy wu waa the tho scene of ot the tho wedding of oC James and noel Doll Dolly Madison Two TIo miles from Harewood Is III Clay ClayS mount which thanks to Its excellent state of oC preservation Is now accounted George Washington s architectural masterpiece George Washington drew lIre the plans ians for tor this mansion lint hut did dill not supervise Its construction which was carried on by bya n a relative e The Ibe manor hon house e consists consist of ot a n central building of oC brick with two com wings and on In each side Bide n a arate building connected with the tue long Ion rectangular building by hy n a brick walled courtyard 20 ZO feat t et square squar The Tho con connected connected buildings which nrc nil all con constructed constructed constructed almost amoRt wholly of or yellow brick bno an nn aggregate length of oC 50 feet et On tho north front tron t of or this thia expansive re structure ture only a n steno stono entrance portico re the tue rather severe BeT ere outlines but a n 90 foot veranda two stories In height hel ht stands out conspicuously conspicuous on the south rout front George tons partiality for Cor n spacious hall ns as a n desirable architectural detail Is Indicated by tho the dimensions of ot o this apartment at It Is I parallel with the front rout of oC tho the house and 10 feet In length by hy 20 o feet cot In width The Tho oak of oC the wails vails Is a I feature the carved ed panels extending to the tho ceiling C which Is 15 finished In the name isamo wood Opening from the hail ball h II opposite the main entrance nrc the tho draw Ing room and library while an no arch under a n grace graceful graceful ful tul staircase serves seres as ns the entrance to a n passage that leads lends to tho the dining room and loel the tearoom or breakfast room adjoining Visitors YI to the house bouso are ore us as n a rule most deeply Impressed by the study stud which adjoins adjoin the library This apartment occupies occupIes occupies pies the full tull width of ot the building and ami consequently cODs has hJ windows on throe three e sides side At either cither end enl Is I n a large Inre open fireplace In many ninny of ot the rooms there may mn bo be ob obServed obServed Served Ideal examples of oC that white wood woo woodwork work worl which Is l one cue of oC the most attractive features of tho Ideal colonial house Distant about twelve mlle miles from Clay mount N Is I Audley another ono of ot the tho his historic torte homes of at the Washington ono one which has hns always been of or o more than ordinary Interests to architects and others ht aue of oC Us Its it novel noel floor plan The house bouse nt at la is not Imposing In exterior ip up nor Is It of ot the most familiar Colonial tyPo being but ono one story In height hel bt The Tile floor plan above referred to conforms to tho outlines of oC the letter n Ti An Immense drawing room and on nD almost equally spacious dining room oc occupy occupy cupy tho ho entire front of oC the house cor car corr r respondIng to ono one of ot the tho parallel lines of ot the H A long broad brond ball hall cor coo corresponding responding to the cross bar nr of or the H R connects theo rooms with the other section of oC the house bouse which Is devoted to sleeping apartments No mention of ot the r for tor which George Washington has baa stood sponsor would be bo In any sense complete without reference to Woodlawn WooI n it charming Colonial Colonist mansion located lorn tell In 10 Culpeper County Virginia about five miles mUes from Mount Vernon This manor house bouse which IB is today In 10 tho the most excellent state of ot preservation Is III generally accounted next ned to Mount fount Vernon the most significant of ot all the Washington homes J because of ot the tho fact that It r ut n Lt labor of ot lova on tho tha part of ot the tue distinguished architect builder Gen Con Washington built Wood Woodlawn Woodlawn lawn an OIl n ft 1 wedding gift girt for tor bis favorite ta lIy Custis his adopted daughter upon whom centered the most demonstrative affection of IC later Inter life liCe The Tho main building at Woodlawn Is of or pure para Colonial design end and Is III forty tort by b sixty feet teet In size There Is n a veranda at nt tho the main entrance a n spacious hell hall and all tile the other well known features of oC this style stylo habitation Including the wings con connected connected by bj corridors with tho main atrue structure structure ture these wings being little more than ono one story In height while the central por portion portion portion tion has hns a height of ot two stories Tho The whole structure IB is of oC brick George Washington gets ets credit for Cor Octagon louise nOIl e which III la located 10 a afew tow fun squares from the White House Douso at nt Washington ton and Is IR today ono one of ot tho the show showplaces places of oC tho capital city Tho nations Chief ChIc Magistrate laid oil oft the ground In this vicinity and prepared tho the original originaL inal plans for the mansion although It was left lett to another architect to carry carryout carryout out these th c plans plon Octagon House which wits temporarily used as ns the Presidential Mansion after the tho British soldiers soldier burned the White Dou House Doue c In ISM 1514 derives Its name from Its octagonal form torm Buildings of oC unusual outline seem to have bave been something of Qt a fad ad wIth Architect George Washington lie He built a n sixteen sided barn harn nt at Mount Vernon and the tho mill which he constructed on that estate was waa aD likewise man many sided Billed |
