Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-18

The New Convent Of the Visitation.
PINE IMPROVEMENT AT THE WEST END.
The new Convent ION Connecticut avenue,
above l. street) OF the Sisters of the Vista
ton, who for many years have been located
at the northwest corner of 10th and G. streets,
is just now receiving the finishing touches
of the workmen, and the sisters will move in
next week, in order 10 be prepared for the
opening of the school on Monday week, Sep
TENDER Sd. The building is an imposing
structure, built on a portion of the square
bounded by Connecticut avenue and 10th, l.
and DeSsles streets, the latter street sepa-
ratiLg the grounds from the northern half OF
the square, which the sisters some time since
sold, and upon which fine residences have
been erected by Senator Sargent and others.
Tie extreme length of the new convent is PIP
height, besides the basement and sub
basement 80 by IL feet
THE CHAPEL
is a fine hal, with ceiling ~ feet high finely
frtsCCed, are the walls. There is gallery
for the pupils, the lower portion being re-
served for the public the aged and infirm of
The neighboIhood-who may be unable 10
attend more distant churches. Mass will be
said in this chapel every morning at I
O'Clock. AT the east end Of the chapel is the
altar, and TO the south of IL there Is the
grating through which the sisters may wit
ness TIE services unseen by the outs Ide audi
eDce. The gallery is walnut grained. In the
center OF the ceiling is painted the insignia
Of the order, 1.-THE Sacred Heart of Jesus"
and over the altar there are windows of
stained glass.
in this building there is in the basement
the laundry in tie first story the convent
and academical library and three parIOrs
where The sisters, standing behind the bars,
rS C6iVe the VISITS OF their friends am Gng the
SecularS. On the chapel floor there are con-
north OF the center wing are the rooms for
he SCaGemN ard the students. one 81 by I6
tee aTd Al other 81 by Il feet. On the lower
sfD-. ere Igne class rooms, five school
r. a 'u' ch r. ON and study room, leach
20 by % feet with dressing room, kitchen
and dirir room. and above are the music
rooms, the COTmitOry and
THE GRAND MUSIC HALL,
Il fine room of 45N12 feet, with a he ght OF y
fC,i ia the clear. The ceilings are tastelully
neScCed. AT one end is a large double plat
form, large enough for the class on one pOr
ton and the entire scholarship ON the DINER
This Lall Will, besides, accommodate go
AT THE CONVENT END
OF the hU!ldlf q, the basement contains
kitchen, refectOry. pantries. wo0leu aud
line u y ar,iIObs 6. sc. Above are the work
rooms, the business rooms. noviceship
rooms, iufirmary, he assembly room, aud
the sisters cEOir. ii by - fest in size, and 70
cells. These latter are in reality ftir-sizcd
rooms for single person, so arranged as to
he well-Ge hted.
"MOpERN IMPROVEMENT"
on all the fiOOrsand IN each division OF the
bulidn : are water closets, and steam pipes
run into every room. I'm the sub cellar i the
low-pressure heating apparatus one a either
end, which, being self feeding. and with less
than ten hounds of steam, heats The build
ing. and, ing automatic in the supply of
waller, does not require the services of an
enSineGT-a laborer being able to do ali the
required WORK. In the sub cellar there are
bunkers for the coal, space for storage, L. C.
This will be concerted and completely
drained. as well as the grounds. Throughout
the building the partitions are of heavy
brick work, and the floors are counter-ce iled
and deadened. In every part of The edifice
there are evidences of great care having been
take n as 10 ventilation, revolving trausOms
being on most OF the doors. The corridors
are all nine feet In width. and there are stair
ways at convenient points, as also three
dOoTways to the street, besides those in the
rear, thus giving every facility for egress in
case of necessity. Hot and cold water is to
be found everywhere, and speaking tubes
are al The necessary points.
There are in all 113 rooms in the building.
On The rear part of the building there are
three porches extending the whole length OF
the structure.
THE ARCHITECTURE
is the modern style; the building is of brick
from the Washington Brick Machine com
paDy, with cut Joints interspersed with
courses of black brick, and ornamental
work with ONO sandstone trimmings. The
escutcheOn of the convent appears in stone
over the central door.
THE BUILDERS.
Messrs. Cluss and Daniel are the archi-
tects, and MesSrs. Entwisle and Barron the
constructors ard carpenters; ThOs Entwisle.
tr., the bricklayer; John Rabbett, plasterer;
R1Umid1, frescO painter: Geo. Kirk, painter:
ellis q GeOghegan, steam heating apara-
tus; Jas Lockhead, plumbing and gas tit
ting, and HuddleStOn, slater. j. J. Shea Will
do the parking, and il is contemplated 10
have All open parterre of flowers along the
Cor nectiCut avenue front.
Around the entire grounds 500 feet-is a
massive brick wall II incht thick and feet
Ia height. The building was commenced in
1872 and The foundation laid, but in conse-
4uence OF the financial panic work was sus =
IeEded. About 20 months since the work
was resumed, and IL has steadily progressed
up 10 his time. There have been altogether
used about TWO million brIck-half a mi lion
in the wall-and the building proper has
cost about $4,000, besides SlS 90 for the
wall and the cost OF the ground. 1t is pro.
posed 10 commence moving the furniture
On Monday next.