National Republican., 1876-01-01
THE CENTRAL GuARD-HousE.
The Old Building to be vacated-Ths New

Tho old Central Guard-h house, which has been
landmark in the neighborhood Of the market for
years is doomed to be either demolished or de-
voted to other purposes than that for which was
built, and which has given 1t peculiar interest
to the rising generation ever since 1t was built
The District government, about three months
ago, leased the building No. 4l4 Tenth street
northwest, to be used as a station-house for the
Fifth precinct, and the old station Will soon De
vacated. The guard-house, standing sentinel
Shining in the sunlight or rising like spectre in
the night mist has passed through many yicissi-
tudes The building was completed Just before
could be found. The Metropolitan force had
hardly entered the building after their organiZa-
tary' Since then the building has shown first the
signs of middle life and then Of old age.
The white paint on the tower began to assume
merous in and around il every year. The graf
ings grew rusty; the rats began to gnaw through
the ceiling; in fact, the building was falling into
premature decay. The building still retained its
proud bearing, and looked very grand when the
magistrate ascended its steps oyery morning. A
blow came. The Board of Public Works raised
the street and the building never was itself again
from that day. Instead OF series Of steps to the
main entrance one had to descend over a little
gully on few planSs From that M time S dSxn t the
like an infirm old man. Its walls grew damp; its
halls grew chilly and cold; the rats held high
iodgers' rooms. MANY a wretched outcast has
been confined in its walls; desOlated hearted
roues hardened criminals have occupied It's cells.
The silence Of the prison has been broken Dy
many a bitter curse and its floors have caught
the tears flowing from many broken and peni-
tent hearts. But 1t Will soon all be past, and the
building will live only in memory.
Besides other advantages over the old guard
house, the new station is more centrally located.
The building is a substantial brick three stories
and half in height, with a commodious cellar.
Though originally built for dwelling, the build
ing is very conveniently arranged for its use as
rear a building for prison and drill-room, which
is separate from the main building, being con-
nected only BY passage,ways on two floors The
first floor Of the main building is taken up with
the office, hallway and q room to be used as a
private office. The hall is on the left or south
side Of the building and the hrst room after enter
ing is the ofce the private room is in the Of
this and communicates with it. At the end of the
hall is the passage leading into the building.
running through the whole building. to be used
as general sitting-room for the on1cers, and
small room, at the end Of the hall, for the lieu
tenant Above these, on the third foor, are two
apartments, communicating with folding doors,
fitted up as dormitories for the officers, and q
small room, directly over the lieutenants, for the
seryeants In the half-story above are three
rooms which may be used as store-rooms.
A space of about hve feet between the two
buildings allows a free circulation Tne rear
building is two stories in height; the depth is
about nifty feet, and the width the same that Of
the main building. The cells are on the first
floor, and are eight in number; five brick cells in
a row occupy the greater portion of the north
side-a large wooden cell has been built at the
end of the row. The other side of the prison.
room contains only two cells, built both Of wood.
The wooden cells will be used for dodgers, female
prisoners and, probably, drunken cases. The
brick cells are built on a plan similar to those
which Architect Plowman has erected in the
Sixth and Second precincts. Each cell is a regu-
lar box, with brick walls, floor and vaulted CELL
ing of its own. The iron grated doors are set in
iron lambs, and the bench in the cell is Of iron,
built into the wall. A small portion of the upper
story is taken up with bathrooms and closets;
the remainder is open and furnishes large hall
with high ceiling, to be used drill-room for the
precinct. The building throughout will shortly
be put in perfect order for the reception of the Of
ficers. The arrangements for heating and light
ing are complete. The prison house, when COM
pleted, will be unusually secure. The building
will probably be occupied within few days, as
little remains so be done, except the furnishing.