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Knock knock. Who’s there? Owners of some of D.C.’s finest houses. Knock knock. Who’s there? Owners of some of D.C.’s finest houses.
(about 4 hours later)
In 2011, historian and author James M. Goode was visiting the Egyptian consulate, hoping to get permission to photograph the ambassador’s residence — a stunning Massachusetts Avenue NW mansion — for a book on the Washington area’s finest houses. In 2011, historian and author James M. Goode was visiting the Egyptian Embassy, hoping to get permission to photograph the ambassador’s residence — a stunning Massachusetts Avenue NW mansion — for a book on the Washington area’s finest houses.
“I was in the cultural secretary’s office when he got a note from an aide that there was a revolution in Cairo,” James said.“I was in the cultural secretary’s office when he got a note from an aide that there was a revolution in Cairo,” James said.
James was politely ushered out.James was politely ushered out.
Such are the complications when you set out to catalogue the most interesting houses in and around the District.Such are the complications when you set out to catalogue the most interesting houses in and around the District.
The book is called “Capital Houses: Historic Residences of Washington, D.C., and Its Environs” (Acanthus Press). It’s a sumptuous survey that will have you drooling over the many stunning color images by photographer and co-author Bruce M. White.The book is called “Capital Houses: Historic Residences of Washington, D.C., and Its Environs” (Acanthus Press). It’s a sumptuous survey that will have you drooling over the many stunning color images by photographer and co-author Bruce M. White.
Every James Goode book becomes a classic. He’s written about outdoor sculpture, fine apartment buildings and vanished architectural masterpieces. James started researching this book eight years ago, consulting architecture tomes, scouring newspaper clippings, and driving around the city in search of hidden gems. Every James Goode book becomes a classic. He’s written about outdoor sculpture, fine apartment buildings and vanished architectural masterpieces. James started researching this book eight years ago, consulting architecture tomes, scouring newspaper clippings and driving around the city in search of hidden gems.
[Author Carves History Out of Sculptures][Author Carves History Out of Sculptures]
“My first two photographers quit because they thought the book would take too long,” James said.“My first two photographers quit because they thought the book would take too long,” James said.
Some of the usual suspects are represented — including the White House, Mount Vernon and the District’s Octagon House — but the real jewels are the houses you haven’t heard of, including many that are still private residences.Some of the usual suspects are represented — including the White House, Mount Vernon and the District’s Octagon House — but the real jewels are the houses you haven’t heard of, including many that are still private residences.
They include Mounsey House, a very cool art deco confection, in the District’s Palisades neighborhood, designed by William D. Nixon, an art teacher at Dunbar High and self-taught architect. The Fealy House, in Anacostia’s Hillcrest neighborhood, is another fetching art deco house. It’s made of precast concrete panels decorated with interesting splashes of color.They include Mounsey House, a very cool art deco confection, in the District’s Palisades neighborhood, designed by William D. Nixon, an art teacher at Dunbar High and self-taught architect. The Fealy House, in Anacostia’s Hillcrest neighborhood, is another fetching art deco house. It’s made of precast concrete panels decorated with interesting splashes of color.
Those homes are rather small compared with Marwood in Potomac, Md. Built in 1930, the Beaux-Arts Marwood boasts 10 bedrooms on the second and third floors, plus six servants’ bedrooms on the basement level. Sports mogul Ted Leonsis lives there now. (On the second or third floor, presumably, not in the basement.)Those homes are rather small compared with Marwood in Potomac, Md. Built in 1930, the Beaux-Arts Marwood boasts 10 bedrooms on the second and third floors, plus six servants’ bedrooms on the basement level. Sports mogul Ted Leonsis lives there now. (On the second or third floor, presumably, not in the basement.)
James describes the architecture of each house and the histories of the people who built them. He also shares details about the folks who have called them home over the years. The fifth owner of Evermay in Georgetown was Peter Belin, who, after touring Europe in 1937 with his Yale roommate, decided to return to the United States on an airship. They were on the Hindenburg when it exploded in New Jersey.James describes the architecture of each house and the histories of the people who built them. He also shares details about the folks who have called them home over the years. The fifth owner of Evermay in Georgetown was Peter Belin, who, after touring Europe in 1937 with his Yale roommate, decided to return to the United States on an airship. They were on the Hindenburg when it exploded in New Jersey.
“He and his roommate jumped off, 30 feet above the ground, and landed in a sand pile and lived,” James said.“He and his roommate jumped off, 30 feet above the ground, and landed in a sand pile and lived,” James said.
Alice Pike Barney, daughter of a wealthy Cincinnati whiskey distiller, built an Arts and Crafts-style house on Sheridan Circle NW as a studio for her painting. She also produced her own plays there.Alice Pike Barney, daughter of a wealthy Cincinnati whiskey distiller, built an Arts and Crafts-style house on Sheridan Circle NW as a studio for her painting. She also produced her own plays there.
“She had one 21-year-old actor in one of her plays who she fell in love with,” James said. “She referred to him as her ‘Greek god.’ They were married shortly later.”“She had one 21-year-old actor in one of her plays who she fell in love with,” James said. “She referred to him as her ‘Greek god.’ They were married shortly later.”
Alice was 52.Alice was 52.
The 56 houses in the book are arranged by architectural style, from Georgian to modern. Greek Revival was once a familiar style in Washington. Hundreds of Greek Revival houses were built between 1830 and 1850 in what was then the city’s most fashionable quarter: F, G and H streets NW between Seventh and 15th.The 56 houses in the book are arranged by architectural style, from Georgian to modern. Greek Revival was once a familiar style in Washington. Hundreds of Greek Revival houses were built between 1830 and 1850 in what was then the city’s most fashionable quarter: F, G and H streets NW between Seventh and 15th.
“Then, after the Civil War, the city was expanding so rapidly that businesses moved into that area and tore the Greek Revival houses down, for office buildings primarily and some apartment houses,” James said. His book includes four examples of Greek Revival, including Foggy Bottom’s Steedman-Ray House, the official residence of the president of George Washington University.“Then, after the Civil War, the city was expanding so rapidly that businesses moved into that area and tore the Greek Revival houses down, for office buildings primarily and some apartment houses,” James said. His book includes four examples of Greek Revival, including Foggy Bottom’s Steedman-Ray House, the official residence of the president of George Washington University.
If there’s a classic Washington house style, James says, it’s Beaux-Arts, the classically inspired French import. When Alexander “Boss” Shepherd created our modern city in the 1870s — paving streets, putting in lighting, sidewalks and sewers — Washington became a more desirable place to live, especially among the nouveau riche. Mining magnates, factory owners and the like knew they’d never be accepted in the entrenched society circles of New York or Newport, R.I., so they built second houses here.If there’s a classic Washington house style, James says, it’s Beaux-Arts, the classically inspired French import. When Alexander “Boss” Shepherd created our modern city in the 1870s — paving streets, putting in lighting, sidewalks and sewers — Washington became a more desirable place to live, especially among the nouveau riche. Mining magnates, factory owners and the like knew they’d never be accepted in the entrenched society circles of New York or Newport, R.I., so they built second houses here.
“There were over 150 Beaux-Arts mansions built between 1890 and 1930,” James said.“There were over 150 Beaux-Arts mansions built between 1890 and 1930,” James said.
“The majority of those are still around because they were saved as embassies.”“The majority of those are still around because they were saved as embassies.”
Or as diplomatic residences. Three months after James was shown out of the Egyptian Embassy, he was invited back and told that he and Bruce could visit the ambassador’s residence, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece with a gently curving façade and a sitting room slathered in some of the city’s finest plaster work.Or as diplomatic residences. Three months after James was shown out of the Egyptian Embassy, he was invited back and told that he and Bruce could visit the ambassador’s residence, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece with a gently curving façade and a sitting room slathered in some of the city’s finest plaster work.
You and I may never be invited to any of these houses — let alone live in one — but we can flip through the pages of “Capital Houses” and dream.You and I may never be invited to any of these houses — let alone live in one — but we can flip through the pages of “Capital Houses” and dream.
Twitter: @johnkellyTwitter: @johnkelly
For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.