From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The L. Ron Hubbard House, also known as the
Original Founding Church of Scientology, is a historic house museum and former
Scientology church located at
1812 19th Street, NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington,
D.C., United
States.[2] The
home served as the residence of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
from 1955 until 1959[3],
during which time he incorporated the Founding Church of
Scientology and performed the first Scientology wedding.[2][4][5]
The building is a contributing property to the
Dupont Circle Historic District, a neighborhood listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.[1]
History
The row of buildings located at 1810-1820 19th Street, NW was
designed by local architectural firm Wood, Donn, & Deming in 1904.[6]
Notable owners of the home during the early 20th century included
United States Senators James K. Jones[7] and
Claude A.
Swanson.[8]
Hubbard purchased the home in 1955, the same year he organized
the Founding Church which met at 1826 R Street, NW from July 21,
1955 until 1959.[2][9]
The building later served as the home of the Academy of
Scientology, previously located at 1845 R Street, NW and known as
The Academy of Religious Arts and Sciences. In January 1963, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a raid against the
Academy's 19th Street location, seizing more than 100 e-meters
(electronic devices used by Scientologists) and 200 pieces of
literature. The raid resulted in a lawsuit filed by the FDA against the Founding
Church. In 1971, the Church and FDA reached a settlement which
included a ruling that all e-meters bear a prominent warning
label.[10] The
seized items were returned to the Founding Church in October
1973.[11]
Additional Scientology organizations once located at the L. Ron
Hubbard House include the National Academy of American Psychology
(NAAP).[12]
After the Founding Church sold the property in the mid-1970s, it
was once again used for residential purposes. An organization
called the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard repurchased the home in
2004.[2]
Architecture
Entrance to the L. Ron Hubbard House
The three-story L. Ron Hubbard House is an example of Mediterranean Revival Style architecture, a
design frequently used by Waddy Butler Wood and his associates.
The building's exterior consists of cream-colored brick, accented
with stone and wood trimming. Decorative features include a
two-story bay window, red-tiled roof, and Flemish gable.[6]
Current
usage
The museum opened in 2007 following a year-long renovation to
restore the building to its 1957 appearance. It contains a
recreation of the Hubbard Communications Office and various
literature describing Hubbard's early life. A tour of the museum is
available by appointment only.[2][13]
The 2009 property value of the L. Ron Hubbard House
is $1,817,440, a $782,020 decrease from the 2008 value of
$2,599,460. Since October 27, 2003, ownership of the building has
been registered to Heritage Properties International.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a
b
"National Register Information
System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2008-04-15. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ a
b
c
d
e
Banville, Jule (2007-09-11). "The L. Ron Hubbard House:
Get There Before Travolta". Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/09/11/the-l-ron-hubbard-house-get-there-before-travolta/. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
- ^ Malko, George (1970),
Scientology, Delacorte Press,
pp. 66
- ^ Nigosian, Soloman A. (2007), World
Religions: A Historical Approach, Macmillan,
pp. 492, ISBN
0312442378
- ^ Larson, Bob (2004), Larson's Book of
World Religions and Alternative Spirituality, Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., pp. 431, ISBN
084236417X
- ^ a
b
Null, Druscilla J. (1983-07-07). "Architectural Data Form". Historic American
Buildings Survey. National Park Service. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.dc0390. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
- ^ "Buys House in
Washington". Washington
Post. (1906-07-19). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/254078402.html?dids=254078402:254078402&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1906&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1877-1954)&edition=&startpage=14&desc=BUYS+HOUSE+IN+WASHINGTON. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
- ^ United States Congress (1912),
Official Congressional Directory, United States
Government Printing Office, pp. 385
- ^ "News In Brief".
Washington Post. (1995-10-28). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19435487.html?dids=19435487:19435487&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+28%2C+1995&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=C.06&desc=NEWS+IN+BRIEF. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
- ^
United States of America v. Founding Church of
Scientology, 333 F 1-63 (D.C.
1971).
- ^ MacKaye, William R. (1973-10-24). "Church Gets Back Books,
E-Meters". Washington Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/136522342.html?dids=136522342:136522342&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Oct+24%2C+1973&author=By+William+R.+MacKaye+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post%2C+Times+Herald++(1959-1973)&edition=&startpage=C1&desc=Church+Gets+Back+Books%2C+E-Meters. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
- ^ White, Alex Sandri (1969), The Seeker's
Guide to Groups and Societies, Aurea Publications,
pp. 36
- ^ Landers, Chris (2008-04-24). "Serious Business: Anonymous
takes on Scientology (and doesn't afraid of anything)". Orlando
Weekly. http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=12304. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
- ^ "DC Citizen Atlas Real
Property Reports". Government of the District of Columbia. http://citizenatlas.dc.gov/atlasapps/propertyhometab.aspx?QString=. Retrieved
2009-04-03.
External
links
Coordinates: 38°54′52″N 77°02′36″W / 38.914581°N
77.043352°W / 38.914581;
-77.043352
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