House and Garden 
Vol. XII NOVEMBER, 1907 No. 5 
AMERICAN COUNTRY CLUBS 
VI. THE CHEVY CHASE, WASHINGTON. D. C. 
By DAY ALLEN WILLEY 
O NE of the most truly unique country club 
houses in the United States is the home of 
the Chevy Chase Club. To horsemen, golf¬ 
ers and others fond of the sports of the gentleman, 
Chevy Chase is a familiar name even to one who has 
not enjoyed the hospitality here dispensed, for an 
adjunct of the country club is the Chevy Chase Hunt, 
noted throughout America for its fine stable and its 
packs of fox hounds. On its golf course have prac¬ 
ticed some of the most noted wielders of the driver 
and brassie. 
The location of this club is |ust near enough to 
Washington to make it easily accessible yet it can 
be called in the very heart of the country, surrounded 
as it is by a charming rural landscape. But six 
miles from Washington, the club house is ]ust 
beyond the line bounding the District of Columbia 
and is in the State of Maryland. The village of 
Chevy Chase is a mere hamlet, but fortunately free 
from the objectionable features that sometimes make 
even the rural town disagreeable to the lovers of 
country life and country sport. 
If we treat the home of the Chevy Chase Club 
merely from the architectural standpoint the result 
would be somewhat disappointing. The building 
was not designed for its present purposes or even 
for a hotel. It was erected to be the home of a 
country gentleman of the Colonial days and it is a 
fact that the main structure has remained almost 
unchanged since it was completed over a century 
ago. But the house was not built with the idea of 
terming it a hall or mansion. Contrasted with some 
of the stately piles still extant in Virginia—homes 
like Brandon and Castle Hill and Shirley, it would 
seem insignificant in appearance although Chevy 
Chase is associated with history almost as interesting 
as the history of any of these. It must be said that 
the building proper is of frame with the extended 
hip roof so popular in the country’s early days. It 
has a generous wing extending from one side of the 
main structure. Practically all of the original 
manor-house, for such it was, has been preserved, 
the alterations consisting chiefly of additions such as 
porches made since the present owners took pos¬ 
session. 
The rambling old building with its peaked win¬ 
dows, set as it is in a frame of natural growth consist¬ 
ing of old boxwood and other shrubbery, also a grove 
of cedar trees, presents a very picturesque view to 
the visitor as he approaches the entrance. The 
ground floor is of course devoted principally to the 
social features of the organization. One of the 
largest apartments on this floor has been decorated 
and furnished for the sole use of the lady members, 
including a tea-room which is extensively patronized 
both winter and summer. The wing to which we 
have referred has been divided into the general 
dining-room and a grill-room, and it is so large that the 
kitchen has also been located in it. In the north 
portion is a hall which is at times used for dinners 
when a large party may be entertained by one of the 
members. It is also suitable for informal dances and 
is used for other social functions. The porches, 
which have been added to the west and south fronts, 
considerably increase the capacity of the club house 
as they are enclosed in glass and may be used for 
dinner parties. They are especially attractive in 
winter, forming ideal sun parlors. 
The second floor is given up chiefly to the athletic 
features of the club. Here is provided a locket- 
room containing enough lockers for the male mem¬ 
bers. Adjoining it is a bath-room amply equipped 
with showers and tub baths. On another part of 
the same floor, but entirely apart from the men’s 
department and reached by a separate staircase, are 
a locker and dressing-room also bath-rooms for the 
ladies who may desire to engage in some of the pas¬ 
times provided by the club. It provides no sleeping 
Copyright, 1901, by The John C. Winston Co. 
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