shortly after the war, a fire badly damaged the mansion, and the home ultimately was razed. at that time, washington was experiencing postwar growth and some prosperity, so in 1867 the old porter estate's land was subdivided into smaller lots. in 1887, former senator john brooks henderson and his wife mary foote henderson, a wealthy couple from missouri, resettled in d.c. and purchased a large number of these real estate lots. on the west side of newly extended 16th street, the hendersons then built an elaborate stone home, designed to resemble a castle, which became known as henderson castle.