Chapter 2
Fire!

John Adams, the second president, moved into the White House in November 1800. His wife, Abigail, was supposed to join him two weeks later. But she could barely find the house! The new roads leading into the city weren’t marked. It was still a wilderness. They made a wrong turn and got lost. In fact, the woods surrounding the new capital were so thick, Abigail’s carriage couldn’t get through! The coachman had to chop off branches from the trees as they rode along.

Abigail finally got to the White House, but she didn’t live there for long. Her husband, John Adams, was not elected for a second term. He and Abigail had to move out just a few months after they moved in.

Abigail didn’t mind leaving. The White House was bitterly cold inside. Why? There were plenty of trees for firewood—but no one around to chop it! Very few people lived there. It was hard to find workers. And the Adamses didn’t believe in using slaves.

Life was hard for Abigail. She and her husband had only brought a few servants with them. She had to hang her own washing up to dry on clotheslines in the huge East Room in the White House!

The next president was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson had secretly wanted to design the White House. Now he was finally living in it and making changes he wanted. Right away, he hired workmen to finish the rooms inside. He also added two wings to the house—one on the east side and one on the west. These long, low wings had rooms for all the practical work that needed to be done. There was a laundry, a dairy, a smokehouse for preparing meat, a stable, and more.

Jefferson also changed the landscape. He planted trees and drew up plans for flower and vegetable gardens. He built a stone wall around the grounds, but it didn’t keep people out. For several years, there was an open market right in front of the White House. People even held horse races in the front yard!

After eight years as president, Jefferson left the White House, in 1809. By then, the city of Washington was beginning to grow. More houses were built. The long diagonal streets had names—they were named for states. Pennsylvania Avenue ran right past the President’s House.

The next president, James Madison, and his wife, Dolley, were famous for giving parties. At one huge party, Dolley Madison served a fancy new dessert that few Americans had eaten—strawberry ice cream! Sometimes, she even served ice cream wrapped in hot pastry. She also took charge of decorating the White House. The First Lady, as the wife of the president came to be called, added drapes, mirrors, nice furniture, and elegant lighting fixtures.

But her furnishings did not last long. In 1812, America and England were at war again. Two years later, the British marched into Washington, DC. They came to take over the capital city and burn the White House!

Dolley Madison knew the British soldiers were coming. Word had arrived that a hundred soldiers were marching toward the house. The president was away with the troops. What should she do?

Dolley Madison knew she had to leave. But first she had the servants take down the huge portrait of George Washington that hung on the wall. She and the servants tried to save other precious things as well. Then they all fled to safety. Just in time!

When the British soldiers arrived, they found a delicious meal waiting for them. It was the dinner the servants had cooked for the president! The soldiers sat down, ate the meal, and drank all the special wine.

Then they set the White House on fire!

The house burned for hours, well into the night, until a hard rain began to fall. People stood and watched the blaze in shock. The President’s House was so grand and so new! It was only fourteen years old.

When the fire was over, the entire inside of the White House had been destroyed. Most of the walls were weakened, too. A few walls were standing, but almost the whole building had to be rebuilt, from the ground up.

It took three years to restore the White House. Many of the burned and scorched stones—especially the beautifully carved pieces—were reused. To cover up the black scorch marks, the house was painted white. From then on, the nickname “White House” was used more and more. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt made it the official name.