Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2002.19.01 |
Title |
Chevy Chase for Homes |
Object Name |
pamphlet |
Date |
1916 |
Creator |
Thos J. Fisher and Co |
Description |
1916 Sales Brochure by Thos. J. Fisher & Co. Incorporated, 738 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. "Chevy Chase for Homes" is the title of a sales brochure published in 1916 by the Thos. J. Fisher Co. agents for the Chevy Chase Land Co. " 'Mid pleasures and palaces, though we may roam, be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." Copyrighted 1916 by Thos. Fisher & Co. Incorporated W. F. Roberts Co. Washington D.C. Photo of Office of the Chevy Chase Properties, Chevy Chase Circle Photo of the Famous Connecticut Avenue Bridge, The Gateway to Chevy Chase "Foreword: The Science of Living has materially changed and progressed during the past twenty years. In no way does this change manifest itself more than in the tendency of mankind to get away from the crowded sections of the city and make his home in the suburbs, where light and air can be had on four sides. In many cities, those people who are anxious to live in the suburbs find the problem of selecting a desirable location so difficult as to nearly dishearten them. In Washington that condition does not obtain. Chevy Chase stands pre-eminent. It is "The Best Suburb of the National Capital". INTRODUCTION IN THE ordinary real estate development too frequently everything is sacrificed for quick financial returns, but this has not been done in Chevy Chase. Back of the development, so far as it has progressed today, is a big, comprehensive plan, and the men who formulated that plan believed that the best results could be obtained only where things were done right— where the improvements installed were of the built-to-use kind— where natural beauty was aided, not destroyed. Instead of developing one small tract without regard to the surroundings, the owners acquired more than two thousand acres of land and have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in street improvements and the installation of every municipal convenience. The fixed purpose of The Chevy Chase Land Company was to provide for the National Capital a home suburb, a community where every residence would bear a touch of the individuality of the owner, where each home would possess an added value by virtue of the beauty and charm of the surrounding homes. It is the intent of this booklet to convey to its readers, largely by actual photographs, some idea of how this purpose has been carried out. A BRIEF HISTORY AS A RESIDENTIAL CITY Washington stands paramount in America. Its broad paved streets, flanked by many thousands of shade trees, are admittedly the most beautiful of any modern city. Scores of miles of highway stretch out in all directions, many leading to points of historical fame. Twenty-five years ago the Washington of today existed only in the minds of those broad-visioned enough to see that as the Nation grew, so must its Capital City. Among these were the men who formed The Chevy Chase Land Company. The first step, naturally, was the acquisition of the land. On both sides of the line where Connecticut Avenue was to run hundreds of acres of ordinary farm lands were bought. It was the original intention to carry that thoroughfare in a straight line through the District of Columbia and Maryland to the point where it would intersect with the Rockville turnpike. This plan was subsequently changed however, the direction of the Avenue at the District Line being diverted from northwesterly to due north. As a result a section of Maryland, which had before that time been largely isolated was given a direct entry into Washington. This great boulevard, extending from Calvert Street to the boundary of the District, was then dedicated to the District of Columbia, while that portion across the Line was dedicated to the State of Maryland. The Avenue was then graded and improved for its entire distance, the Calvert Street and the Klingle Valley bridges constructed, and other improvements put in. And this without a single dollar of cost to the City, State or National governments. While it was a business proposition on the part of the Land Company to secure access to its own properties, none the less it performed a work of great public benefit. Lands, which before the opening of Connecticut Avenue were assessed in some cases as low as $75.00 per acre, are today assessed at many thousands of dollars per acre, resulting in a tremendous increase in revenue to the District of Columbia. It then became necessary to solve the transportation problem. At an initial cost of about one and one-half millions of dollars the Chevy Chase Railway was constructed. For years it operated at a net loss of from twelve to forty thousand dollars per annum, without considering loss of interest on the amount invested. In addition, the charter provided that the Railway Company should bear half the expense of maintenance of the two bridges it crossed. The Chevy Chase Land Company, therefore, not only bore the entire initial cost of these structures, but relieved the District of one-half of the cost of upkeep. In order to secure the benefits of free transfers, for which it had been striving for years, the Company finally sold its line to the Capital Traction Company, which, by students of urban and suburban transportation, is ranked as a model. As the Chevy Chase section has grown, that company has steadily increased the service to meet the new traffic requirements, and as a matter of good business management it must stand ready to further extend the service as conditions demand. There have been five distinct Chevy Chase subdivisions opened in the following order: Section II, lying on both sides of Connecticut Avenue between the District Line and Bradley Lane; Section III, lying east of Connecticut Avenue and north of Bradley Lane; Chevy Chase, D. C., located immediately south of the Circle and east of Connecticut Avenue; Section IV, across Connecticut Avenue from Section III, and between the grounds of the Chevy Chase and the Columbia Country Clubs; and Chevy Chase Heights, on the west side of the Avenue, about one-half mile south of the Circle. Section II, Section III and Chevy Chase, D. C., are practically sold out, only a small proportion of the area still belonging to the Land Company. Section IV and Chevy Chase Heights, however, offer locations in either the State of Maryland or the District of Columbia to suit the purchaser. Shortly after the formation of the Land Company the Chevy Chase Club was organized, purchasing nearly 200 acres of ground between Connecticut Avenue and the Rockville Road, now known as Wisconsin Avenue. The original Clubhouse, the old mansion house of the Bradley family and from which Chevy Chase took its name, was replaced in 1911 by one of the most attractive club buildings in the country. In 1909 the Columbia Country Club acquired about 150 acres a short distance beyond the holdings of the Chevy Chase Club and erected a thoroughly modern Clubhouse. These are the leading country clubs of Washington, and in many respects of the United States. Their commodious houses and broad, well kept grounds have furnished a relaxation place for Presidents, lawmakers and diplomats. The National Capital is no exception to the rule in every city of America, that the best suburban section is always surrounding or adjacent to the leading suburban clubs. CHEVY CHASE was designed and has been maintained to meet the requirements of discriminating people —but that does not necessarily mean, in our opinion, people of great wealth. Scores of those of moderate means make their homes there. The only restrictions imposed are those which experience has proven are necessary in any residential section to maintain or increase values and protect property holders against the encroachment of undesirable elements. The "New Washington," published by the Washington Chamber of Commerce in 1913, said, "Chevy Chase has grown to be one of the most artistic residence sections of the country" And since that was written notable progress has been made. We make the statement advisedly that you will not find in any Washington suburb property comparable in class, location and improvements, with that offered in Chevy Chase—and the prices are surprisingly low when these advantages are considered. We feel confident that Chevy Chase will appeal to the home builder who appreciates the amount of thought, time and money expended in creating and maintaining such a suburb—one that for more than a quarter of a century has kept its position as "The Best Suburb of the National Capital/' page 5 - Fisher sales office on Chevy Chase Circle, Photo #1056, 2008.182.05 page 6 - Connecticut Avenue Bridge, #1110, 2008.233.04 page 8 - ? page 10 - ?, photo # 1111, 2008.377.07 page 12 - 8 Newlands Street, #945, 2008.301.01 page 14 - 8 Oxford Street, #53, 2008.311.26 page 16 - 3707 & 3711 Morrison Street, DC, #1058, 2008.246.01 page 18 - ?, #1112, 2008.377.05 page 19 - ?, #1113, 2008.377.04 page 21 - Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church page 23 - All Saints Church, #946, 2008.183.03 page 24 - Chevy Chase Club, #947, 2008.191.05 page 26 - ?, #1114, 2008.377.01 page 27 - 3748 Huntington, #1115, 2008.240.01 page 29 - Columbia Chevy Chase, ? page 31 - 7310 Brookeville, #1116, 2008.171.12 page 32 - 1 East Melrose, #1117, 2008.293.26 page 34 - ?, #948, 2008.377.06 page 35 - 9 West Lenox, ? page 36 - 3815 Jenifer Street, #1118, 2008.241.02 page 38 - ?, #1119. 2008.377.03 page 39 - Laurel Parkway, ? page 40 - 20 West Irving, #1120, 2008.226.06 page 41 - ?, #949, 2008.377.02 page 42 - ?, #950, 2008.297.01 page 43 - 3903 Rosemary, #1121, 2008.321.04 page 44 - Property Map, #1057, 2008.256.03 |