Friendship House (Washington, D.C.)
Encyclopedia
Friendship House is a Georgian
townhouse
, located at 619 D Street, (630 South Carolina Avenue), Southeast, Washington, D.C., in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
The first owner of the home was William Mayne Duncanson, whose house guests included George Washington
.
In August 1814, it served as a hospital after the Battle of Bladensburg
.
In 1815, it was purchased from bankruptcy, by Francis Scott Key
.
In July 1838, it was purchased by Major Augustus A. Nicholson.
On June 2, 1856, it was purchased by John M. Clayton
. He added a ballroom with decoration by Constantino Brumidi
.
On April 20, 1858, it was purchased by Louis François de Pourtalès
; there are rumors of his winecellar.
In 1871, it was purchased by journalist Mrs. Emily Edson Briggs; she named it "Maple Square."
The Friendship House Association, founded in 1904, purchased the house in 1936, and operated a settlement house, and community center there.
As the Capitol Hill neighborhood gentrified, most of the people served were in other parts of Washington, D.C.
It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on January 18, 1973.
The property was sold in 2010, to a private developer.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
townhouse
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
, located at 619 D Street, (630 South Carolina Avenue), Southeast, Washington, D.C., in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
History
It was designed by William Lovering in 1795.The first owner of the home was William Mayne Duncanson, whose house guests included George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
In August 1814, it served as a hospital after the Battle of Bladensburg
Battle of Bladensburg
The Battle of Bladensburg took place during the War of 1812. The defeat of the American forces there allowed the British to capture and burn the public buildings of Washington, D.C...
.
In 1815, it was purchased from bankruptcy, by Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
.
In July 1838, it was purchased by Major Augustus A. Nicholson.
On June 2, 1856, it was purchased by John M. Clayton
John M. Clayton
John Middleton Clayton was an American lawyer and politician from Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as U.S. Senator from Delaware and U.S. Secretary of State....
. He added a ballroom with decoration by Constantino Brumidi
Constantino Brumidi
Constantino Brumidi was an Greek/Italian-American historical painter, best known and honored for his fresco work in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.-Parentage and early life:...
.
On April 20, 1858, it was purchased by Louis François de Pourtalès
Louis François de Pourtalès
Louis François de Pourtalès was an American naturalist, born at Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He was a pupil of Louis Agassiz, whom he accompanied in 1840 on glacial expeditions in the Alps and in 1847 to the United States, where in 1848 he entered the government Coast Survey...
; there are rumors of his winecellar.
In 1871, it was purchased by journalist Mrs. Emily Edson Briggs; she named it "Maple Square."
The Friendship House Association, founded in 1904, purchased the house in 1936, and operated a settlement house, and community center there.
As the Capitol Hill neighborhood gentrified, most of the people served were in other parts of Washington, D.C.
It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on January 18, 1973.
The property was sold in 2010, to a private developer.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia
- Friendship HouseFriendship HouseFriendship House is a missionary movement founded in the early 1930s by Catholic social justice activist Catherine de Hueck Doherty, one of the leading proponents of interracial justice in pre-Martin Luther King, Jr...