Baptist Alley

[Linda Anderson]

Hi, Linda,

Thank you for all the wonderful information on the Seward Home! I found the latter part of your post about Senator Cameron particularly interesting.

You're welcome, Paige. There were a number of snarky articles about Cameron's "Little Scheme" as the Philadelphia Enquirer called it.

The Nov. 6, 1895 Boston Journal stated that had the amendment passed the House, “…it would have come about that the sunlight would have streamed into the southern windows of Don Cameron’s house and the prevailing winds on the Potomac River in hot weather would have come up to them unvexed and unimpeded by the walls of the old Blaine mansion and that there was a possibility that a permanent Government park would have been established to improve his [Cameron’s] property to the extent of at least $25,000.”

The Cameron and Seward houses were separated only by a narrow alley. Cameron leased his house and moved out the following year.