Not the most prepossessing of buildings.
Posted on 02/03/2006 11:22:32 AM PST by crossroads
At Christian Heurich's mansion, near Dupont Circle, it looks as if the German-born brewer just stepped away -- back in 1894. Little has changed inside, from the plush patterned carpets to the pale painted ceilings. But now the "Brewmaster's Castle," the site of many a wedding and other happy event, is facing a serious threat from the modern world. Unless supporters of the Victorian-era museum raise $250,000 by Feb. 15, the property, at 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW, will face foreclosure and might be sold, according to Friends of the Castle, a group trying to save the facility. The sale of the mansion would mean the loss of one of the last intact examples of late Victorian decor in the country and a showcase for a piece of D.C. history often overshadowed by the federal story. "This is the last grand splash of high Victoriana," said docent Mary Anne Hoffman as she led a visitor through the 31-room house. Heurich made his way to Washington in 1872, where he started a brewing company, one of the few industries in the District beyond the government. Heurich, as he prospered, had an understandable phobia -- his first two beer breweries burned to the ground -- so he decided to fireproof his new family home and outfit it with the latest technology. The house has 15 fireplaces, with elaborate mantelpieces reaching to the ceiling, in which no fire has ever been lighted. Built from 1892 to 1894 of reinforced steel and poured concrete, the mansion was considered a "smart house," with central heating, indoor plumbing, a burglar alarm and speaker tubes for summoning far-flung servants. The lot, the home and its furnishings cost $71,840, said Gary Heurich, Heurich's grandson and a Friends of the Castle member.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I'll offer $75,000 for the whole thing. Problem solved.
While I'm all in favor of preserving historic buildings, it appears to me that this one can't pay its way. The current owners borrowed to buy it, and now can't make the payments. What is the lender supposed to do, say, "OK. Never mind. We'll just forgive the loan..."?
It's not going to be torn down if it's sold, apparently. It will become something...maybe even something profitable that will allow it to continue to be open to the public, perhaps as a restaurant, a luxury hotel, or whatever.
If it's important enough to enough people, they'll raise the money they need. If it's not, then it will be foreclosed on and sold. I see no alternative to this.
Not the most prepossessing of buildings.
I'd like to buy it. I'd also like to have the batmobile and a batcave constructed under it. I wish I had the money. It is a neat house, complete with backyard and carriage house neatly buried among the lawyer buildings next to Connecticut Avenue.
Reminded me of a darker version of MIT's Chi Phi fraternity house in Boston's Back Bay. That is another gem of a house. They sure don't make them like they used to.
I wonder who got the original $5.5 million in 2003.
Why can't 2000 people who contact 5 or more(100,000)
only come up with $17,000. If the locals don't want to contribute, what's it to the rest of us.
Neat building though.
"Neat building though."
It is. I think it would make a great, small luxury hotel and restaurant. That seems like a good use.
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