Evermay
is one of
Georgetown's largest, oldest, and most impressive properties, and
it has yet another distinction: the extensive documentation of both house and grounds
makes it an historian’s dream.
The builder of Evermay was Samuel Davidson, a commissioner of Georgetown and the
owner of large amounts of land in Georgetown and in the area that became the site
for the nation's capital. His most notable holding in Washington was a large tract
that included Lafayette Square and the northern part of the White House grounds,
which he conveyed to the government when land for the capital was being assembled.
In 1792-1794 he bought property in the northeast part of
Georgetown in several transactions from Thomas Beall,
part of a 795- acre tract called the "Rock of Dumbarton", patented to Bealls
grandfather, Ninian, in 1703. Dumbarton Oaks, Dumbarton House, Tudor Place, and
other large estates on the Heights were also carved out of this tract. The last
deed to Davidson already referred to his property as Evermay.
At the corner of 28th and Q Streets was placed a large stone, indicating the beginning
of the survey tract lines for Evermay. This is the beginning of the initial parcel
identified as "Thistlebrae" and purchased in 1792 from Thomas Beall of George. The
stone reads, Beginning of Evermay 1792. The original of this stone
is now in the Ballroom at Evermay. It is believed that this stone was given to Samuel Davidson by his
friend "J. Shaw", a stonecarver who's business was located on the banks of Rock Creek.
Between 1792 and 1794, Davidson operated a brickyard on the grounds of the future
Lafayette Park. Bricks from this industry were sold for many of the new buildings
of the City, including 4,000 bricks to Colin Williamson, Master Mason of the President’s
House. Over 100,000 bricks were sold to Leonard Harbaugh
who was building the new Federal Bridge, intended as the grand gateway from Georgetown
across Rock Creek into the Federal City. More than 100,000 bricks were never sold,
and we believe were stockpiled for use at Evermay when construction of the home
began in 1801.
By the end of 1801, Samuel Davidson recorded that
he had spent $2,302.82 on his Evermay project. That includes the cost of the land
and the legal fee for recording it, $665.67, not forgetting his only expenditures
for Thistlebrae, $4.92 spent on a spade and manure; or the $21.15 score at John
Trevor’s for the dozen dinners "and club" lost in his bet with Thomas Beall of George.
It also includes such items as taxes, stockpiling lumber over half a dozen years,
fencing, a 25¢ garden line, and court costs associated with prosecuting trespassers.