Evening Star Newspaper, April 20, 1935, Page 24

EAL ESTATE, VIRGINIA AWAITS “GARDEN WEEK" 100 Mansions Open to Vis- itors-—0ld Alexandria Homes Hold Lure. BY HELEN FETTER COOK. This year, though Spring is late, Faster week finds more than 100 love- ly Virginia mansions with their gar- den latches down to all ‘who care to enter there in “garden week,” begin- ring next Monday. With Alexandria as the center, a group of eight of the most unusual of these homes nestle in the shadow of the National Capital. There's the in- viting cobbled courtyard garden of Gadsby’s Tavern. Rippon Lodge, fa- mous as the home for generations of Blackburns: Gunston Hall, with its gorgeous giant boxwoods. and Wood- lawn, famous both as the home of Nellie Custis, and also, much later, Senator Underwood of Alabama—all of these are widely known. Less familiar to the general public are two other gardened homes of beauty and historic distinction fea- tured this year in the Alexandria dis- trict. These are Wellington and Ordleigh. Both lie just off the Mount Vernon Highway. Two Famous Homes. Wellington's first claim to distinc- tion lies in the fact that it was the home of Tobias Lear, private secretary and tutor to the children in the fam- ily of George Washington, Ordleigh, . built on part of the A T RN A g Views of Wellington and Ord- leigh, two homes along the Potomac that were carved out of George Washington's holdings, are shown here. Both will be open next week for inspection in Virginia Gardens week. Upper left: View of Welling- ton, once the home of Tobias Lear, secretary to the First President, and now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Matheson. Upper right: Vista through the columns at Wellington. Below: A scene in B—6 R THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1935. —_— REAL ESTATE, e Abandoned Chicken Houses Dressed Up for Guest Studios Special Dispateh to The Star. NEW YORK, April 20.—Suburban home owners are discovering that many it could be used in Fall and Spring A small hot-water heating plant was | installed that could be attended from | the outside. This made it possible to HOUSING DRIVE TAKES MEN FROM RELIEF ROLL Colorado Administrator Reports Shortage of Trained Workers on His Rosters. The assistant project engineer of the Colorado emergency relief or- ganization has found cause to “com- plain” of & labor shortage the Federal Housing Administration was advised. S0 many skilled buflding trades- men formerly on relief rolls in the State have lately been employed on private contracts as a result of the better housing program, that there are not enough trained workers on the relief rolls at present “to build a chicken coop.” according to the relief official. He further states that because of the general employment of carpenters, the relief organization is finding difficulty in carrying out va- fous contemplated relief building projects. In this metropolitan center only white-collar workers and pick-and- shovel men remain on relief rosters. g 292218thSt.N.W. Corner Quarry Road 7 large, bright rooms (4 hed rooms) hrick construe. tion — detached. Hot-water heat, huilt-in garage. Light, dry basement, large porch. Splendid view over Rock Creek Valley. See this bar- gain. old outbulldings—sbandoned | start a fire early in the morning chicken houses and tool sheds—have | without disturbing the guests. unsuspected possibilities. Often, with | Even tiny outhouses, such as a tool - o | shed, can be made into a study or the gardens of Ordleigh, the home of Col. and Mrs. William Ord. Both places are situated on Mount Vernon Memorial Highway near OPEN SUNDAY, 10 to 6 same land, owned by Washington, and known as “The River Farm,” has a main entrance that adjoins that of Wellington. Yet there is as much difference in the gardens of these two homes so close together as there is in the houses themselves. Wellington does not look today as | it did 175 years ago when it was built. | The present owners have glorified the part that contains the original build- | ing. making the entire first floor of the structure into an exquisite music room paneled in wood painted a soft green-gray. A feature is the huge window (5 by 8 feet in size) framing a river view. ‘The original front door of Tobias Lear's home is kept, though it is an incidental entrance to a wide porch above the Potomac River and soft green hills that gently subside into it. The old door has a quaint lock of Collingwood Inn. —Underwood & Underwood Photos. adjuncts is “bandstands.” Leading in military lines to these ‘“gazebos” are | twin rows of pink and white dogwood | which probably will be in bloom next week. | Balanced Patches of Color. Shrubs and flowers that give bal- comparatively little labor and expense, { ‘thry can be made into recreation | places, studios, or even guest houses. A farm near New York had, when | | the tamily acquired it for a Summer | | home, an ugly chicken house and an | |old barn which seemed anything but | | assets to the property. Both of these, | however, were renovated—the former | |into a delightful little guest house | £ | and the latter into a recreation place { anced patches of color—shading from | white to deep red—In these gardens | are Japonica, barberry hedges with | little bright red ' berries twinkling | through the lacy exuberance of the branches in soft green; cowslips in shades of red; reddish peonies’ stems pushing rapidly upward to develop into | waxy white, pink ‘and red blooms; ' dld Interiors Being : idapted To New Needs by Architects If basement walls painted have been previously white- washed, the lime should be softened with a solution of one part of muri-| g % for both children and adults. In the Removing Whitewash. {emaller structure wall board was about to be ¢alled upon to line the interior, after it had been thoroughly cleaned and | alred and the outside made present- able by two coats of white paint. Ad- | ditional windows were put in and a new flooring. Part of the rear wall studio that affords a great deal of privacy. A writer salvaged a small building of this sort on his property, covered the interior rough studding with wall board and finished it up with several good coats of paint. The final coat of both wall and ceiling was a smooth blue-green that was | easy on the eyes. . — = - = In Lyon Village atic acid and five parts of water. TOLEDO GUARANTY CORPORATION 1026 Woodward Building National 2626 The Intown Suburb was taken up by an “in-a-door” bed and the rest of the walled-off space Geveloped into a tiny wash room. As the house was fairly well insulated, | Afterward this should be brushed down with a stiff wire brush and followed up by a washing with clean water. brass. Malcolm Matheson Is Owner. Aside from this door, there is h!tlel to remind one of Mr. Lear's humble | white and scarlet azeleas, and flaming | Special Dispatch to The Star. ““B‘JLI’J,’E%J"&“;“{# striped tulips:| NEW YORK, April 20.—Architects modern garden clumps of jonquils and | and home owners are cleverly adapt- | card players. When the space is not being devoted to bridge it provides |a comfortable lounging or study alcove. dwelling in the much more pretentious mansion that houses Mr. Malcolm Matheson, present owner, his wife and family. As a matter of fact, recently added wing that houses a the | !iris outline hilly spots overlooking the | | river. Also unpatterned and a gor- | geous splash of color last week was & | | riot of chalky pink phlox, spreading | | over rocky bits that mark the place huge entertainment room for any-| where previously stood buildings when ing old interiors to new needs in sec- tions of New York City which are | | again becoming fashionable after a |long period of obscurity. In their adventures in renovizing are to be thing from formal balls to ping-pong | Col. Ord's land belonged to the fore- | so,3q the solution to some of the looks older than the part containing the walls of the house built before 1760. This new wing is colonnaded in the traditional Southern fashion and it lies nearest the lovely gardens which are the object of “garden pilgrims” next week. An unobtrusive pool just beyond this new wing invites the guest to wander farther alohg walks where old brick gleams warmly among the largest-belled hyacinths of Virginia in soft old blues and unusual purples, and giant jonquils which look large enough to trumpet carols through. ‘There are many gay variations in reds of the humble cowslip, usually familiar only in yellow. There are rose gardens and cleverly planted miniature firs and hedges. But right now it is the wav- ing gold of the jonquils that carry the visitor beyond where the sloping ter- races are walled to steeper paths that wind down to tennis courts and swim- ing_pool. The entire feeling of the gardens of Wellington is old-fashioned and artfully casual. Modern Note at Ordleigh. On the contrary, over at Ordleigh s definitely modern note is struck {man of President Washington's prop- | erty. The old frame house in which | the farm director of the First Presi- dent’s property lived was too much of a firetrap for Col. Ord to feel it wise | to incorporate it in the home he was | to build. So it was razed. Fine and modern though his gar- dens are, perhaps the dominant beauty of “Ordleigh” lies, as the colonel him- self suggested. in the giant holly tree that sentinels the house above the river. “It is & mass of red berries with the glossy leaves hardly showing at i’ChHsl.mu time,” said the colonel. 'STATE MORTGAGE | MEASURES PENDING | Head of National Association of | Real Estate Boards Issues Warning. Calling attention to the present | annoying problems that bother house- holders all over the country. | There is, for instance, the matter | of stodgy staircases. covered with the k'slngcrbresd" s0 popuiar in bygone |days. It has been discovered that | the old-fashioned rail of an open { stairway can be concealed with com- | paratively little trouble by the aid | of wallboard. In this way the parapet effect, so much favored by con- | temporary designers, is Housekeepers are particularly inter- ested in this discovery because it greatly simplifies the problem of staircase maintenance. It has also been learned that a long room, with an old-time bay | window at the end, | more attractive by turning one end {into a bridge nook. When a new floor is to be laid this section is sometimes raised half a foot and a railing or bookshelves placed along the front to separate it from the rest of the room. Built-in settees along two or more sides provide seats for achieved. | can be made | The lack of adequate closet space in the old houses is now being reme- | died by installing new ones, which, when the room is repainted, look as if they had always been there. In some rooms two closets are being built in adjacent corners. The alcove | thus formed supplies an attractive | space for the head of a bed or a | dressing table. | Another feature of old houses that is causing much discussion is the fireplace. Ornate mantel shelves with | i Dark and s are being removed. ooking brick is being paint- ed in light tints. In some cases un- lovely fireplaces are being completely concealed by & simply built casing of wallboard that is easily installed and then painted in a light buff or gray. In many houses charming addi- tions to the fireplace are being made by building bookshelves into the re- cessed walls on each side of the chimney. makes an excellent chest for storing | tennis racquets and other sport para- phernalia, is built in the space next to the chimney place or utilized as a window seat in & bay window. ‘Through the judicious use of paint many economies can often be effected. For example, painting eliminates the need for new floorin Often a low seat, which I’ sometimes | MR. JaAmMEs H, HOLMES And | MR. L. B. SMITH formerly associated with L. E. BREUNINGER & SONS, Inc.. wish to announce to their many friends and clients that they have been appointed sales representatives of Greenmich Forest 4823 LELAND ST. Open Daily First Time t H o 228 Virginia Ave. A beantifully proportioned Cape Cod all-brick home—with slate roof. This home is 38 feet wide with an 8-foot porch, situated on a beautifully Iandscaped lot, 75 feet wide with 9 large shade trees. It has large living room with fireplace, dining room. two master bed rooms, kitchen and tiled bath with shower on first floor. A very large paneled room on seeond floor, with plumbing and heating provided for the addi- tional bed rooms and bath if desired. In it are incorporated all the essentials of & modern home, including electric refrigeration, automatic gas water heater, one-piece porcelain sink and drain, ample closets, garage and screens for all openings including porch. Price, $8,500 Live in Lyon Village and eniny evers eanvenience of the eifx nlus (he exhilarating enviranments of the apen country, just 8 minutes to the Treasury. Drive oter Key Bridoe. turm right an {0 Lee Highway fo Lyon Village Ofee, ihen left on Va. Ave. 1 square to property. Walnut Lyon Village, el Prise 879750000 One of the best values we have offered this Spring. All-brick construction Siate reof Rock weol insulatien LYON, Inc. 'LOOK FOR THE HOME THAT INSURES in the Igdscupmg of the gardens. | Many of the same flowers are planted | i £ there but the emphasis at Ordleigh | Yestment opportunities, and to long i8 on line and massed color effect,|term trends now strongly favorable rather than the plants. |to real estate investment, Walter 8. Col. William Ord, who built Ord- | gchmidt, Cincinnati, president of the search of capital for the best in- Jeigh in 1927, had no ancient house to use as a nucleus, as had Mr. Matheson. He built a large, orna- mental, spacious-roomed house. As a result, though the house shows defl- nite Georgian influence, especially in the staircase, there is a refreshing “difference” in the furnishings that mives it the distinction of & real home and does not suggest an interior deco- rated masteroiece. Col. Ord is proud of his gardens. Flights of brick steps, first found in piquant semi-circular effects, later slanting in long oblongs down to a lower level, set the formal, modern note for the gardens. Two little houses where one may rest and ad- mire the view, which Col. Ord says are called “gazebos,” point off either side of the garden with a tweedledee and tweedledum effect that somehow misses being comic and instead em- phasizes dignity. However, Col. Ord says his own private name for these Sherwood Forest An Exclusive Summer Colony (10-minute ride from U. S. Naval Academy) Catering only to discriminating people, Loca! people will do well to investigate the claims of this marvelously successful development— Whose management for 28 years has never ceased in its diligence in maintaining the high standards of the place and its operation. Ask for Rental Rates on Attractively Furnished Bungalows ' Also Rates oa Fow Bemaining Waterfront Lots 8sd Buassiews Avallabie for Purehsse REPRESENTED BY §. C. Weedon Co. or Ask Mr. Foster Travel Serviee—Mayflower Hotel. | National Association of Real Estate | Boards, makes this comment: “At this juncture, bills dealing with | the mortgage are before legislatures in & great many States. Among the proposals are extension of redemption periods, moratoria on interest pay- ments, elimination of deficiency judgments. “I earnestly believe that here we may well sound a note of caution. Mortgage money is reappearing and those States which make the mortgage unattractive, or unduly impair the ob- ligation of contract, will find them- selves without adequate funds for financing. “Every indication points to a steady improvement in new construction during 1935, and to pronounced ac- tivity probably by 1935. Building re- vival will be hampered in those com- munities which get the reputation for being ‘unsafe’ for mortgage invest- | ment.” 3611 QUESEDA ST., Chevy Chase, D, C. The Low.ent Priced Brick 39’8 50 Home Near the Circle, at Attractive living room, open fireplace, screened side porch, dining room, kitchen with large well-lighted pantry, three bedrooms, tiled bath with shower, maid’s room, garage. Large shade trees. Close to Parochial and Public Schools OPEN TODAY AND SUNDAY EDW. H. JONES & CO., Inc. §520 Conn. Ave. Cleve. 2300 Five large rooms Large screened sleeping porch Modern tile bath with shower Wood-burning fi Modern electric kitchen Metal weather-stripped Entirely screened Full basement with laundry trays Autematic gas water heater Extra lavatory @ Built-in garage o Lot 50x120 Directions: Out Wisconsin Ave. to Leland St., lefi to property. Presented by CYRUS KEISER, JR. 5211 Wisconsin Ave. All Bedecked for Easter LOSSOMS sre out, flowers are bloom- ing—the whole countryside is gaily garbed for Easter in Wesley Heights. Resale and new homes are being offered at prices that constitute heretefere unob- tainable valu This condition esnnot housing shortage that more acute. Inspect Today the Following Examples— 4409 Klingle St. N.W. Cozy 5-room bungalow. Ideal for newlyweds or small ily. $9,000. 4413 Klingle 8t. N.W. Very attractive 6-room home. Extra large rooms. House surrounded by lovely ‘rnundl. Priced for quick sale at $10,760. I | I | in view of the ily is becoming WoobwARD & LoTHROP N33, TheEasterStore g Y. Custom-Made Porch and Terrace Awnings Especially when your awning problem is dif- ferent—for an open terrace or an unusually shaped porch—will you appreciate the value of custom-made awnings. i Our expert awning designers will study your roblems and suggest the best type of awn- ng to suit your individual needs. Place your order now, we will hang the awn- ing when you desire. You will not be charged until the awnings are hung. Telephone Dlstrict 5300 to secure an estimate Convenient Terms May Be Arranged Mawuracruring Divistox Orrice, Stvewts FLook.