National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-20
AN AQUATIC PALACE.
THE poroMAcs, NEW BoAT-HoUsE.
The Enterprise Of the Georgetown Oarsmen-A Big
Bost.House and Club Free Of Debt
House. Warming Next
Month.

The erection of the beautiful new boat
house by the Potomac Boat Club is an evidence OF
the 1ourshing condition OF boating in this District
The three boat clubs have as elegant and spacious
accommodations any similar organizations IN
this country and they a credit TO the CITY, IN
replacing the old shell which served as boat
house for so many years. and from which brawny
crews have gone forth and come back with victory,
THE PoToNACs
have erected house which is not only the largest
in the District but in the country. The dimensions
of the new house, which is now rapidly nearing
completion is sixty by ninety feet In order
to give more accurate idea of the size it may be
stated that the boat house of the Columbia Club
is forty by fifty feet and that of the AnalOStan
Club fifty by eighty feet. 1t occupies nearly the
same site as the old house, but the front of the
house is about eight feet further back. As seen
from the opposite shore the new boat house pre-
sents an elegant and graceful appearance 1t rises
two stories high, with high French roof, and at
the north end there is graceful tower tfty-eight
feet high capped with final eight feet high. The
outside is finished with rustic weather boards
painted in two shades of olive, with the window
frames and sides picked out in red. The roof is
broken with
GABLES AND PEAKS
surmounted by the tower, and the light and
graceful architecture gives to the structure ap
pearance. that is at once pleasing and striking.
The interior has been arranged with the view of
the convenience of the oarsmen as well as their
guests, and all the appointments are in keeping
with those of first-class boat-house. The entire
lower floor is to be used for the storing of boats.
Two large sliding doors open out upon the float,
while canal fifty-eght feet long has been con-
structed at side, where the large boats can be
run in and thus avoid the labor of carrying them.
1t will be so arranged that the boats will be hauled
out of the canal by pulleys and slung upon the
rests along the side. This feature is admirable
part of
THE INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS.
The ceiling and walls of this room are to be kali
somined in colors From the lower floor four stair
cases communicate with the upper story. In each
corner of the north end two staircases for the
use of the members, which lead directly up to the
locker rooms. At the opposite end staircase leads
up to the balcony and tower, while from the centre
of the room platform staircase, with an Eastlake
railing leads up TO a square hall. On the left is
the entrance to the ladies parlor which opens out
upon the balcony by large French windows.
This room will be very handsomely fitted up. On
the right is the club room which is thirty-one by
fifty feet, and is intended to be used ballroom
This also opens out upon the platform and has
elegant chandeliers, and upon one side raised
platform for piano and all the accessories of
FIRsT-CLASs BALLROOM
The ceilings and walls of these rooms are to be
handsomely frescoed. In the rear are the locker
rooms, which are in the shape of an L, extending
across the entire rear portion of the building.
They contain one hundred lockers, shower baths
&c. The balcony runs along the entire front of
the house. and is 60 by 20 feet. The front is hand
somely finished with arched brackets A staircase
leads up from the balcony to the tower-roOm,
which is I6 by I6, and is furnished with large
windows so that from its elevation it will afford
an unobstructed view of the river both ways. This
room will be capable of holding thirty or forty
people. There is q space about sixteen feet in
height between the ceiling of the balcony and the
roof which is also furnished with windows. \
passage connects the room in the third story,
as it might be called, with this room, and at
the farther end there is cute little hanging bal
cony The facilities for
SEEING RACES
on the river are all that could be desired When
completed the boat-houSe will not only be the
largest in the country but the most convenient 1t
was expected to have the house in readiness for its
occupants ON the LIST of May but the work has
taken longer than it was expected. But Lieuten-
ant BOggs, who has watched the driving of every
nail and superintendent the entire work says that
it will be completed by the 18th of June The house
will then be formally opened. The boats are scat
tered around in different places while the house
is being built, but large number of the members
go out every evening on the river as usual. On |
the LIST of July 1869, this hOurishing organization
was started, and the coming month of July will be
its twelfth anniversary, on which occasion the club
will have its regatta and a good time generally /
The club will then not only have very fine boat |
house. but will be free from debt. The entire ex- |
pense incurred in rebuilding was covered by sub /
befOrn no XVaS