Evening star. [volume], September 25, 1937, Page C-6, Image 28

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
TOTTEN’S DESIGNS
STILL LURE TURKS
Choice of Embassy Con
firms Appreciation of
Decades Ago.
BY EDMUND G. MONK.
ITTp on the heights of Mount Pleas
ant. a kindly artist gazes down through
the mullioned windows of his study
upon the ever-expanding architec
tural glory of Washington.
He is Maj. George Oakley Totten,
Jr., internationally known architect,
whose creations in stone, steel and
wood through three decades have
added garnishment of beauty and
dignity to the structural splendor of
the Nation’s Capital.
A firm believer in the carrying out
of modernistic themes in most Amer
ican cities, Maj. Totten tenaciously
defends the classic motif as that most
suited to Washington.
Although his career is closely knit
W'ith Washington. Maj. Totten-ex
ponent at times of modernism in ar
chitecture—was once offered the post
of private architect to Sultan Abdul
Hamid of the old Ottoman empire.
And so, Maj. Totten, who cottons
to both classic and modernistic stylism
in architecture; who prefers a modi
fied Italian renaissance theme in most
of the great structures he has de
signed, and who the "last of the
medieval kings,” as he calls Abdul
Hamid, wanted for his imperial archi
tect, found several years ago that the
attraction his work held for the Turk
ish eye had followed him to Wash
ington.
Path Led to Constantinople.
In 1908 Maj. Totten stopped in Con
stantinople for a short visit. He hac
represented the United States at the
International Congress of Architect:
man capital for a brief eye feast ol
the Byzantine and Constantinian city
on the Bosporus.
But the visit lengthened into months
Prime Minister Issez Pasha and Maj
Totten became friends. The Ameri
can drew the plans for a pretentious
dwelling for that dignitary. The edi
fice excited wide favorable comment in
Constantinople.
Sultan Abdul Hamid then sent
emissaries to Maj. Totten, asking him
to stay in Constantinople and design a
number of structures for the imperia:
Turkish government.
Maj. Totten relates that one of the
buildings he was besought to plan was
what the Turks envisaged as the ne
plus ultra in commercial structures
An outstanding feature was to be a
great courtyard laid out as a depot
for camel trains wending their way
from the fastnesses and outposts ol
the Empire!
Refusal Brings Better Offer.
When the young architect decided
to demur, the Sultan put on the "heat,’
to employ modern slang, and sent his
prime minister with a most glowing
offer. With princely remuneration in
cluded. the Sultan sent the message:
“Will you be private architect tc
the Sultan of Turkey?”
This proved too much of a tempta
tion for the American and he accepted
He stipulated, however, that he mus1
first go to London, where he hac
previously arranged to meet friends
This was agreed to, and Totten tool
ship for England.
History then began to register t
series of changes. A major result was
the overthrow of Sultan Abdul Hamid’s
government, thus writing finis before
it began to what promised to be e
glamorous chapter in the career ol
a young American.
And so, the political demise of old
Turkey had a direct effect on the
architectural history of Washington
as Maj. Totten came back to his home
land later to draw the plans for
numerous imposing edifices on upper
Sixteenth street, on Massachusetts
avenue and at other sites in the city
of Washington.
The architectural bond, apparently
an innate kinship in the aesthetic
feelings of Turks and the Washington
architect, was not severed, however.
It was reborn in the arches and beams
of a stately mansion overlooking Rock
Creek Park at the east end of the Q
Street Bridge, which Mr. Totten was
commissioned to design for the wife
of an American millionaire, Mrs. Ed
ward H. Everett.
Maj. Totten drew the plans for the
Everett mansion some years after he
returned. Its cost, in a less costly age,
was said to be $500,000.
For years it was occupied by Mrs.
Everett, becoming one of the show
places of the Capital. And then, va
cant for a period, the mansion served
to link the American architect and
the admiration of the Turks for his
work.
The Turkish diplomatic mission to
the United States, under then Am
bassador Ahmet Muhtar, began to
search for larger quarters to house the
Embassy. And, as if by magnetic lure.
they settled upon the Everett mansion
as their selection.
Of modified Italian Renaissance
type, the Everett mansion is built of
Bowling Green stone and sheen-llke
marble. Situated at the east end of
the Q Street Bridge, at the confluence
of Q and Twenty-third streets, it oc
cupies a commanding sight above the
beautiful gorge of Rock Creek Valley.
The cost figure of $500,000 did not
figure in expensive interior appurte
nances, such as hardware, lighting
and other fixtures. The ground floor
is so laid out as to provide commo
dious space for the offices of the
Turkish Embassy. Also on the first
floor are a group of well-appointed
reception rooms and a billiard room,
where relaxing diplomats and their
guests foregather.
Teakwood Floors.
A grand staircase sweeps from the
first floor to the upper chambers. Hall
way up a music gallery beckons in
vitingly. Surmounting the sweeping
balustraded stairway is a grand hal
room. Here the floors are of costlj
Chinese teakwood.
On this floor all of the hardware
such as doorknobs, hinges and othei
metal furnishings, are gold plated.
Reception rooms, salons and a bal'
room are located on this almost gran
diloquent second floor. Opening off
this floor is a tiled and latticed rool
garden.
Maj. Totten, who first came tc
Washington many years ago as chiel
designer in the office of the supervis
ing architect of the Treasury, ha:
drawn the plans for the former French
Embassy, the Polish and the Span
ish Embassies here and the Legation
of Czechoslovakia.
STABILITY OF WEALTH
IN REALTY IS CITED
Banker Urges Purchases Before
Peak Is Reached in.
“3 or 4 Years.”
Speaking before the recent annual
meeting of the National Association of
Mutual Savings Banks, institutions
that normally have placed over half
their investment total in real estate
mortgages, Charles G. Edwards, presi
dent of the Central Savings Bank, New
York, and an authority on real estate,
recently emphasized to the conferees
that real estate is one of the most
stable forms of wealth, that now is the
time to acquire it. Mr. Edwards, a
past president of the National Associ
ation of Real Estate Boards, said:
“The wise investor will realize tha
in another year it may be too late
The time to buy real estate is when
activity is low and foreclosures neg
ligible. In three or four years prices
for real estate again may be at the
peak. If market activities increase
owners of real estate will become mori
and more satisfied with the return
their holdings bring, and with few il
any vacancies, and a demand fo:
space at higher rentals, these holdings
will command much higher prices
than today. Over the entire period ol
their existence, real estate mortgages
consistently have provided higher in
come, thereby increasing the average
yield from all of the banks’ invest
ments, and have remained the sound
est investment banks could make."
— ■ - •-—-.
FIRE HAZARD CITED
Property Loss on Farms Estimated
at $100,000,000 in 1936.
The need of adequate inspection
and safeguards against iarm fire and
explosion in rural schools was em
phasized by Secretary of Agriculture
Henry A. Wallace today in urging
observance of National Fire Prevention
Week, which begins October 3.
Last year about 3,500 people lost
their lives in farm fires. The property
loss was approximately $100,000,000.
This does not Include the fire loss in
the non-farming rural communities—
villages, towns and cities of less than
2.500 population—which is estimated
at $125,000,000.
Remove Loose Putty.
When preparing to repaint a win
dow sash, all loose putty should be
first removed. The priming coat
should then be applied, followed by
the reputtying process, last comes
the application of the finish coats.
PETWORTH I
BARGAIN
j $7,950
636 Farragut Street N.W.
Six lovely rooms and bath.
Colonial front porch, double
j rear porches, gas heat, electric
i refrigerator, garage, paved street
j and alley; close to all conven
iences. Open all dav Sunday.
GOSS REALTY GO.
1405 Eye St. Natl. 1353
NEW TYPES OF HOMES I
In Our Brookland Subdivision
I "i-1
OP——m— rnniif I n maun m nit mu man run. iin.M^a
DETACHED—ALL-BRICK
j Prices Very Little More Than Row Houses
4012 14th Street N.E.
Drive Ovt Michigan Ave. to 14th St • 3 Blocks Right to Homes
CHARLES M. WALUNGSFORD
Builder and Owner
1010 Vermont Ave. N.W. National 2990
ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING FINE HOME BUYS WE
HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF OFFERING IN YEARS
I -_
4344 FOREST LANE
IN WASHINGTON'S GARDEN SPOT . . . WESLEY HEIGHTS
amazingly1" low Really a dream home. Right in the forest section of this
price of exclusive community, and bounded in rear by lovely
#OQ C00 wooded section of Government Park. The two huge rear
screened porches overlooking this area and the garden
constitute an unusual and delightful feature. A center
]j jq g A hall type, 6 bedrooms, 4’/2 baths, big recreation rocm,
_ 2 servants' rooms, butler's pantry, 2-car, built-in qarGqe.
| House insulated and in excellent shape. Chormmg gar
i Lone ond left tc house. dens arvf many additional features.
1 BOSS Cr PHELPS
1417 K ST. 1907—REALTORS—1937 KA. 9300
I ■■ " ■. =!
fen - •••
f 1
AIR CONDITIONED COLONIAL HOME
THIS HOME FEA- With the natural beauties of tcvely Westmoreland Hi Q «
TURES CAREFREE os its setting. Behind the authentic coloonial Imes of tr s 'vs
COMFORT WITH architecturaliy attractive residence lie evidences of the t ns t
MODERN GAS APPLI- in modern building. Sturdy construction with the best bu- d
ANCES. ,ng materials market has to offer. Three bedrooms ond two
I baths on the second t'oor, with screened sleeping porch and
TO REACH• Out sun deck. Living room with cozy fireplace; luxurious dining
Massachusetts Avenue ., . r ,
to Westmoreland Cir- room* SpOdOUS kitcncr.
•• cle. left on Wetherill
street rifht AtteTr>W- LOUGHBOROUGH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Cartel DRcad and1 the 925 15th St. N.W. National 6370
property at 11 Carvel Built ^ Warren Browning.
|
_ r\
"11.. 1 ■ -- .1
I CjKzwwvva J4crml
* **AMONG THE TREES''
The Seclusion of the Country
The Convenience of the City
*9,650
If you’re & nature-lover you'll revel In the beauty of Greenwood. Here,
with a background of oak. pine, hickory and dogwood trees, we have |
built homes of the most modern design without disturbing the natural j
setting. Six large rooms and efficient gas-equipped kitchen, oak floors,
! luxurious tile bath, garage, screened porch, slate roof, rock wool Insu
lation, screens, weatherstripping, furred walls . . . and an extra large
wooded lot. These homes are extraordinary values. Carefree Comfort
With Modern Gas Appliances.
Exhibit Home—526 Ashford Road
Silver Spring, Md.
-TO REACH: -
Drive out .Colesvllle Pike to Mrs. K's Toll House Tavern, turn
right on Dale Drive to Ashford Road and Greenwood Homes.
| Owners Schuyler, Inc. Builders |!
Waple £r James, Inc.
8433 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring Office Shep 5200
FIRST SHOWING I
$8,950 w
920 Sligo Avenue
Silver Spring, Md.
Presenting o group of four new all-brick homes, containing three
real bed rooms, bath, some with 2 baths, living room, dining room,
modern kitchen, furred walls, fully insulated, slate roof, copper down
spouts and screens, large landscaped lots, attached garoges.
Carefree Comfort with Modern Ca* Appliance* ,
Open Daily and Sunday
Tn Reach: Out Georgia Avenue to first street iSlico
Avenue/, past viaduct, right one block to home.
D. S. BIRON, Owner-Builder
MEt. 5112
^Jllliiiiiillllililiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiliiiiilillliiiiliiiiiilliiliilliliiliiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiliililiiiilllllliillillir
1 Millwork, Lumber, Structural Steel, Hardware §
| Where Are We Located?
That is an inquiry that V. A veritable Barber & |
| comes to us over the Ross community with all I
§ phone many times a day our departments grouped |
| —from old patrons who conveniently — expanded §
| want that old-time brand f a c i I i t i e s; augmented |
= of service for which Bar- stocks—but the same old |
| ber & Ross have been fa- FRIENDLY CO-OPERAT- |
| mous for so many years ING spirit. !
i and still going strong. _ . , , , 1
= 333 Truly headquarters for =
Well, here we are—at Millwork, Lumber, Struc- i
1 5th and V Sts. N. E. Just *ur?' S.teeJ' ,Rou9h °And I
= Finished Hardware, Au- =
| motor out Rhode Island tomatic Refrigerators and l
| N.E. to 5th, turn right to Gas and Electric Ranges. |
H Handy to reach—out R. I. Ave. and 5th St. N.E.—right I
= to V St.—plenty of parking space whenever you come. |
llllllltllllllllllllllltllllllllllllflllllltltlltllllllllllllllllllllllfllllllllfllllllltlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllKllliillftl
107 WEST BRADLEY LANE
CHEVY CHASE. MD.
$22,500
Focing beautiful grounds of the Chevy Chose Club. Impos
ing center-holi brick, in new-house condition.. Built few
yeors ogo by outstanding builder... Wide lot—200 feet deep,
nicely landscaped, fine shade trees. Spacious entrance hail,
large living room, den, first-floor lavatory; big bright din
ing room, pontry ond kitchen. .5 bedrooms, 2 baths on
second floor; 2 spacious bedrooms and complete bath on third
floor; 2-car built-in garage. This is really a beautiful
home, in very choice location.
OPEN Sl'NDAT 10 TO 6
BOSS & PHELPS
HIT K ST. REALTORS NA. 0300
150 EXETER ROAD
Battery Park, Md.
Corner Wilson Lane
A residence that offers most of the "Ideals" of home
buyers and yet remains within the "lower bracket"
in price. An ideal corner lot, 150' front; transpor
tation at the corner, school nearby. Ideal center-hall
arrangement with 25-foot living room, bedroom and
bath on first floor, two twin-bed bedrooms and bath
on second. Ideal gas heat; furred walls, slate
roof; porch, garage. Excellent condition; tastefully
decorated.
OPEN 1 to 7 P.M. TODAY, 12 to 7 SUNDAY
Moderate Terms $10,950 F. H. A. Financed
Drive out Wisconsin Ave. to Bank of Bethesda, bear left on Old George
town Rd. to Wilson Lane, turn left to Exeter Rd. (watch for our sign).
(Shannon &luch5|
Excl. Agts.
1505 H St. N.W, NA. 2345
j 3525 DAVIS ST. N.W.
f Near Washington Cathedral
and Naval Observatory
This four-bed-room, two-bath
home offers a most unusual
value in this exclusive sec
tion at
*13,500
4 Oil heat, attractively land
\ scaped yard. All home con
I veniences. Hiijh elevation.
Convenient to downtown, bus
and street cars, stores, schools
and churches.
Open 2 to 6 Saturday
10 to 6 Sunday
Drive out Mass. Ave. to Ohs.
Circle, turn left at traffic light,
then one block to Daihs Street
on right.
C. H. HILLEGEIST CO.
1621 K St. N.W. Natl. 8500
The
Proper
Environment
I
is most important in choos
ing a place to make your
home. All we ask is that you
compare ours with similar
sections and see for yourself
why Woodside Forest has be
come so popular.
' ,
.779-781 Dale Drive
IVoodside Forest
• Paneled den • 1st floor lavatory
• 2-car built-in garage • Maid's quarters in basement
-• Lot 80 ft. frontage • Paneled recreation room
Carefree Comfort With Modern Gas Appliances
TO REACH: Out 16th St. or Georgia Ave. to traffic light in Stiver Spring.
Right on Colesville Pike to Mrs. K s Toll House Tavern, left on Dale Drive to home.
jjj Owner FULTON R. GRUVER Builder |
Waple Gr James, Inc.
| 8433 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring Office SHepherd 5200
Embassy Designed by Major Totten
l—fs-;—rr—vammamm
The Turkish Embassy, Twenty-third, and Q streets, designed by Maj. George Oakley Totten,
jr., piominent architect, and erected a number of years ago for Mrs. Edward H. Everett. Three dec
cues ago, Maj. Totten ivas named private architect of Sultan Abdul-Hamid of Turkey, who ad
mired his ivork. Recently Maj. Totten discovered his ivork still appeals to the Turks, as evi
denced when they took over the Everett mansion.