Quality Hill
a.k.a. The John Thomson Mason House;Worthington House
3425 Prospect St., NW., Washington, DCThe Joint Committee on Landmarks has designated "Quality Hill" (the John Thomson Mason House) a Category II Landmark of importance which contributes significantly to the cultural heritage and visual beauty of the District of Columbia. "Quality Hill" is one of the finest of the few surviving large, free-standing late Georgian townhouses of Georgetown. It was built around 1797-98 and was first occupied by John Thomson Mason. From its first to its present owner, Quality Hill has been occupied by individuals prominent in local and national affairs.
In August of 1798, John Threlkeld and his wife conveyed Lots 41 and 42 in Peter, Beatty, Threlkeld, and Deakins Addition in Georgetown to John Thomson Mason, attorney at law. The sum for the two lots would indicate that the land was not vacant at the time of Mason's purchase so it is probable that his house was already standing when he took title to the house in the late summer of 1798. As it was assessed after 1800 as a "new house," it is not likely that it was built much earlier than 1797-98.
John Thomson Mason, the nephew of George Mason of Gunston Hall, was born on March 15, 1765, at Chappawamsic, Stafford County, Virginia. He was educated at William and Mary and admitted to the bar of Maryland. During his tenancy of the Georgetown House, he became active in public affairs in Georgetown as well as on a national scale. When Mason sold the house in 1807, the new owners John and Elizabeth Teakle were already living in it as tenants.
The Teakles were of a distinguished Virginia family and lived in the house until 1810 when it was sold to Dr. Charles Worthington who was well established in his profession and in the affairs of the community when he moved to the house on Prospect Street. Dr. Worthington was a Federalist, and during the War of 1812, he brought wounded British soldiers to the Pros spect Street house and gave them the opportunity to recover. He lived in the house for more than a quarter of a century and it is said that he was the first to call it "Quality Hill"--a name that the house has retained. On June 20, 1856, Catherine Worthington Pearson conveyed the house and land to James Kearney. Members of this family resided in this house from 1856 until 1915.
In 1915, the house came into the possession of Albert Adsit Clemons, an eccentric individual who lived nearby at Halcyon House. Among other peculiarities, he was a compulsive collector of miscellaneous articles, ranging from genuine art objects to the residue of demolished buildings. He never lived in "Quality Hill" but used it as a storage space for his miscellaneous collections which outgrew the proportions of Halcyon House.
Lady Norma Bowler Lewis became the owner of the house in 1942. She was the wife of the scholar and journalist, Sir Willmott Lewis. The Lewis' undertook a major restoration of the house which included the installation of electricity, heat, and plumbing, as well as structural repairs which included shoring up walls, sheathing, and tiling the roof. Where ever possible, the original features of the house were maintained; all the cornices and floors are original as are all of the mantelpieces except one. What was once Dr. Worthington's "medicine room" was converted to a bathroom; what was once the Kearney stable became a pantry. The arch in the center hall came from the Francis Scott Key house. The black and white tile floor came from an old building on Capitol Hill. Lady Lewis retained the house until 1961 when she sold it to Senator and Mrs. Claiborne Pell.
Local significance of the building:
In August of 1798, John Threlkeld and his wife conveyed Lots 41 and 42 in Peter, Beatty, Threlkeld, and Deakins Addition in Georgetown to John Thomson Mason, attorney at law. The sum for the two lots would indicate that the land was not vacant at the time of Mason's purchase so it is probable that his house was already standing when he took title to the house in the late summer of 1798. As it was assessed after 1800 as a "new house," it is not likely that it was built much earlier than 1797-98.
John Thomson Mason, the nephew of George Mason of Gunston Hall, was born on March 15, 1765, at Chappawamsic, Stafford County, Virginia. He was educated at William and Mary and admitted to the bar of Maryland. During his tenancy of the Georgetown House, he became active in public affairs in Georgetown as well as on a national scale. When Mason sold the house in 1807, the new owners John and Elizabeth Teakle were already living in it as tenants.
The Teakles were of a distinguished Virginia family and lived in the house until 1810 when it was sold to Dr. Charles Worthington who was well established in his profession and in the affairs of the community when he moved to the house on Prospect Street. Dr. Worthington was a Federalist, and during the War of 1812, he brought wounded British soldiers to the Pros spect Street house and gave them the opportunity to recover. He lived in the house for more than a quarter of a century and it is said that he was the first to call it "Quality Hill"--a name that the house has retained. On June 20, 1856, Catherine Worthington Pearson conveyed the house and land to James Kearney. Members of this family resided in this house from 1856 until 1915.
In 1915, the house came into the possession of Albert Adsit Clemons, an eccentric individual who lived nearby at Halcyon House. Among other peculiarities, he was a compulsive collector of miscellaneous articles, ranging from genuine art objects to the residue of demolished buildings. He never lived in "Quality Hill" but used it as a storage space for his miscellaneous collections which outgrew the proportions of Halcyon House.
Lady Norma Bowler Lewis became the owner of the house in 1942. She was the wife of the scholar and journalist, Sir Willmott Lewis. The Lewis' undertook a major restoration of the house which included the installation of electricity, heat, and plumbing, as well as structural repairs which included shoring up walls, sheathing, and tiling the roof. Where ever possible, the original features of the house were maintained; all the cornices and floors are original as are all of the mantelpieces except one. What was once Dr. Worthington's "medicine room" was converted to a bathroom; what was once the Kearney stable became a pantry. The arch in the center hall came from the Francis Scott Key house. The black and white tile floor came from an old building on Capitol Hill. Lady Lewis retained the house until 1961 when she sold it to Senator and Mrs. Claiborne Pell.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The District was the site of the first U.S. public school for black students: The M Street School (later known as Dunbar High School) was founded in 1870 and was the first public school in the United States for black students. The school became known for its high academic standards and produced many notable alumni, including civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune.