cover story

a tale of two homes

By David Roffman

October 15th 2008

Photo: of Halcyon House provided by Tutt, Taylor & Rankin, Sotheby’s International Realty

Georgetown has always been of manageable size, a microcosm of urban living with nothing too big and nothing dehumanized, which partly explains its unique and enduring charm. Its history reflects its individual and sociable character.

The preservation of Georgetown has been a do-it-yourself project, carried out mainly by residents who thought it was not only a nice place to visit but also a nice place in which to live. Georgetown has received no Federal funds and no large private grants, as has Williamsburg, but then Georgetown has never wished to be a total reconstruction of the past, or a museum. It wishes to continue being what it has always been – a place pleasing to the eye and spirit; a place which treasures and intends to preserve the physical manifestations of its historic past, and a place where it is both agreeable and stimulating to live and in many cases, to work.

But Georgetown has gone through many changes in the last few years, including converting an abandoned school house into a centerpiece for a multi-million dollar condominium complex on Prospect Street. And no one objects to the obvious improvement underway. A block further up, at 35th and Prospect, the historic Worthington House has just completed a four year rehab that has brought the home where Senator Claiborne Pell and his wife lived for more than 40 years back to its original glory. A few years ago, Katherine Graham’s home was sold, as was Evangeline Bruce’s home. And, in 2007, another Georgetown mansion, the Bowie-Sevier house was bought by media entrepreneur Robert Albritton.
And so, the grand, historic homes do undergo changes, in appearance, and in residents.

Today, Georgetown’s two most historic estates are on the market at the same time. Both are considered Georgetown treasures. One is Halcyon House, 3400 Prospect Avenue, N.W., which was built by first Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert in 1783. One of the most interesting and unique features of the house is the very rare combination of two distinctive architectural styles – Federal on the south side, circa 1787, and built by Benjamin Stoddert and the Georgian/Palladian facade on the Prospect Street (north), circa 1900, built by Albert Adsit Clemens. Moreover, there are very few important and historically significant mansions in the District that actually have a Potomac River view.

This historically significant property, which is on the market for $30 million, comprises 30,500 square feet of dwelling space, and it underwent an extensive 17 year restoration under the watchful eye of John Dreyfus, who is a masterful sculptor with his studio beneath the back lawn. His sculptures are found outside and inside the home. Mr.
Dreyfus, by the way, is one of Georgetown’s outstanding civic leaders, instrumental in the upkeep of our Francis Scott Key Park next to Key Bridge, host of many parties for community organizations like the recent CAG Black and White gala.

The property is pristine to say the least. In addition to the historic mansion, this home also includes five rental apartments and a separate townhouse. Given its grand entertaining spaces and architectural splendor, this extraordinary property is well suited for either a private owner or for philanthropic institutional use, or a combination of the two. It is indeed a true masterpiece!

The mansion is as fabulous as the myth of the bird from which its name is derived. The classic belief about the halcyon bird was that, floating on the sea in its nest, it bred at the time of the winter solstice, magically causing the water to be especially calm at that time. Hence, halcyon quietude, “Halcyon Days,” and Halcyon House, a name aptly selected by Secretary Stoddert.

It is interesting to note that Georgetown University bought Halcyon House in 1961 with plans to turn it into a dormitory for women students in the School of Foreign Service. They planned on constructing apartments for 60 women. It never came to pass, and the five or so apartments were rented out (one apartment rented out in 1966 was to the Roffman boys, both of whom have been associated with this newspaper in one capacity or another over the years). Georgetown was the second university to own the house. It was willed to Harvard at one time, and in 1943 the university sold it to Frederick Sterling, former Ambassador to Sweden. He installed electricity. Halcyon House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty is presently showing the historic home. Judy Lewis, an associate broker with TT&RSIR said, “Halcyon House is one of the most important private properties in Georgetown if not the entire city.” Judy Lewis can be reached at 202-256-0522 (cell) and Hugh Oates at 202-257-5640 (cell).

For more information about Halcyon House visit www.Sothebysrealty.com.

The other grand estate for sale is Evermay at 1623 28th Street, N.W., which was built as a “country estate” in 1792. Evermay is one of the last remaining private estate homes and gardens in Washington, DC. The estate stands proudly on the heights of Georgetown, on what was originally part of the “Rock of Dumbarton” land tract. Evermay was the creation of Samuel Davidson, noted 18th century Maryland and Georgetown businessman and international maritime merchant, as well as one of nineteen important proprietors of the new City of Washington.

Apparently Mr. Davidson did not encourage “drop in” visitors, for he posted a sign at the entrance requesting the curious sightseer to “avoid Evermay as they would a den of devils, or rattlesnakes.”

In 1919, Francis H. Duehey bought Evermay with all intentions of demolishing the house and building a hotel or apartment building. Thanks to early Georgetown civic leaders, a building height of 40 feet was obtained for the community. Duehey sold the estate to F. Lammot Belin in 1923. This lifetime diplomat embarked upon an ambitious restoration and rehabilitation project between new assignments in Istanbul and London.

In 1931 he and his wife Frances returned to Washington to complete the restoration of the house and creation of the magnificent gardens.
Ambassador Belin was a founding Trustee and Vice President of the National Gallery of Art, representing it as a founder of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Leading the renaissance of Georgetown, F. Lammot Belin removed Evermay’s Victorian elements in 1924 and restored the house to its Federal-style simplicity. The Belins and their neighbors, Robert and Mildred Bliss at Dumbarton Oaks, reclaimed the historic community and led the Colonial Revival movement locally, which was fueled by the restoration of Williamsburg in the late 1920s. A “sun porch” was added to the east wing ground floor, and the service wing expanded. The grounds were redesigned, and new terracing and walls added. The sensitive restoration is noted for its outstanding attention to detail.
With the newly terraced gardens, the Evermay Estate and Gardens began its long association with Georgetown garden clubs, which continue today.

F. Lammot Belin’s son, Peter Belin continued the privately owned estate’s tradition. He maintained the property and was a leader of the Georgetown community for years, having served as the Citizens Association president for three terms in the 1960s. His son Harry Belin grew up on the estate and has fond memories of growing up on the estate (see our sidebar).

From the “Lotus Flower” fountain by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles that greets you as you enter the north façade of the residence, to the majestic terraced gardens with panoramic views of the Washington Monument and capital building, Evermay is breathtaking, inside and outside.

The original gardens and orchards were planned by Nicholas King, in consultation with Theodore Holt, a renowned horticulturist of the 1800s. In the 1920’s, the gardens were redesigned under the guidance of F. Lammot Belin by the renowned landscape architect Charles W. Leavitt of New York. The sumptuous gardens with 32 species of trees, rare shrubbery and flowers consist principally of three terraced levels and six distinctive fountains with seating areas.

“Evermay’s distinguished provenance and rich history is all the more significant because of the rarity of the offering,” says Susie Maguire
and Jeanne Livingston, listing agents for Long & Foster. “Evermay is one of the Greatest Estates of all time,” says Kathleen Coumou, Christie’s Great Estates Vice President for the Northeast Region. The estate is going for a record asking price of $49 million. Jeanne Livingston can be reached at 202-321-2600 and Susie Maguire at 202-841-2006.

If the estate goes for the asking price, it would shatter the record for the most expensive home sale in DC. In 2007, another Georgetown mansion, the Bowie-Sevier house, broke the previous record by $10 million when media entrepreneur Robert Albritton bought if from local developer Herb Miller for $24 million.

Growing up at Evermay

In preparing for our story on the estates of Georgetown that are now for sale, Harry Belin was kind enough to reflect on his years spent living and growing-up at Evermay. Understandably this is a hard time for Harry and the whole Belin family, but we are optimistic about the future of Evermay and grateful for this special sneak-peek into the pastimes at this remarkable home.

Favorite childhood memories:
- Cross country skiing on the property; thru the chicken wire fence to Oak Hill Cemetery before my grandfather built the “Great Wall of China” or leaving Evermay to ski up R Street to Montrose Park –  all this when we had real winters 40 years ago, and the C&O Canal and the Potomac froze over thick enough to practice ice hockey.

- Shooting raccoon and fox from a second story window of the estate home with a 22 rifle – these critters would come up from Rock Creek Park to eat my grandfather’s vegetables, and he paid me 25 cents a carcass.

Favorite rooms and holiday traditions:
- Christmas with 20 foot trees in the “Orangerie” which today is called Beverly’s Ballroom in memory of my sister who died at an early age. This room is especially bright in the winter and when we lived in the home as a family it was full of plants ranging from Gardenias and Ponderosa Limes, to Hibiscus and Jasmine all in bloom in February and March of each year.

Favorite thing about living in Georgetown:

- The boxwood maze and playground in Montrose Park where all my friends from the neighborhood would gather for a wild and rollicking game of 1950’s era Cowboys and Indians or a game of football at the Graham’s and Ellison’s just across the street from the park.