James Alexander Lyon |
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| In 1917, Mrs. Irene Smith purchased Glenview and in 1923 married James Alexander Lyon, a prominent Washington DC cardiac surgeon. The intended use of the property was as a summer home. It was common at that time for wealthy families to purchase second homes for entertaining. The Lyon family undertook a major expansion and stylistic transformation of the Mansion, and implemented significant changes to the property's landscape. The existing house was redesigned in a neo-classical style popular at the time as a result of high-profile restorations such as Williamsburg, VA. A west wing which included a conservatory was added and the east wing was reclad to match the new construction. A large wing was also added to the north side of the house with servants' quarters located on the second floor and a covered "arcade" entrance with French doors and fanlights. Inside the Mansion, the entire first-floor space of the 1836-38 Bowie house was combined into a grand entry hall with a large staircase and a palladian window above the landing. Several doors from the Bowie house appear to have been reinstalled in the renovated house and the marble mantelpiece appears to date from that period. On the property, the Lyons' added a formal garden, a pond, deer enclosure, wooden gazebo, a curved stone wall with a decorative iron gate for the drive and a full-size Cottage playhouse for their daughter. Behind the playhouse, a bowling green was added. A large number of outbuildings were also constructed on the property, including a garage, a dairy, several barns and a gatekeeper's residence. A large two and one-half story building was erected on the site of the present Mansion's parking lot. |
