Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-01
A MODEL SCEzoOL BUILDING.
The Jefferson Rises from its Ashes
Betser Planned and More COmmO.
diOGs Than Before The Fire.

The new Jefferson school building has been
completed. and is now occupied by twenty-four
schools, the original number and all i'm full and
successful operation. THIS building, although
II does not present quite so bold and heavy an
exterior as the burned building, is so much i'm
proved as to accommodations, that both teach
ers and pupils regard the disaster which swept
the old structure away in the light of blessing
THE CHANGE OF PLAN.
The main features in the change of plan are
The lowering of the main building one story: the
erection Of two wings on the south side: fire
prOOfing the halls. corridors and stairways: con-
structOn of separate brick ventilatno fiues tor
each school room running to the top of the
building, and many other changes all of which
are generally commended. and make it the
largest and In many respects the best school
building in this District The room lost in the
reduction In the height of the old building is
more than compensated for in the erection of
the TWO new wings. two stories in height con-
tanning two school rooms in each wing besides
large rooms for fuel. etc. in the basement
These wings connect with the floors of the main
building By ample corridors, and are so planned
tnat every school has sufficient light heat and
ventilation All the school rooms are of a uni
form slZe-21 by 81 feet-with ceilings IA feet
high. Every school room has cloak and hat
room connected Herewith
THE LARGE HALL FOR EXHIBITIONS
II on the third story, taking up with it's corr1-
dors, stair-ways. stage and green-rooms the en-
tire story. The height from floor to ceiling is 20
Ieet, and it Is model for comfort. with its new
furniture. its heating, ventilatiny. lighting and
acoustic properties, and Will seat 500 people
easily
The main corridors are 16 feet wide high and
well heated. lighted and ventilated The stair
ways and halls NAV be REGARDED as nearly fire.
proof, being hemmed around with heavy and
substantial brick walls from basement to ton
aud with non carriages and supports for the
Stairs, Which are Of alternate light and dark
coiored slate This building is the largest of
the Kind in the District. having a seating cana
city for 40 pupils.
THE STARS IDEA.
The idea of not constructing any of the school
rooms above the second story was suggested to
inspector EDtwisle (wh0 designed the plans
throushout) By an editorial in THE EVENING
STAR soon after the old buiding was burned.
After the act of Congress designating Messrs
Clark, architect of the Capitol and INSPECTOR
Entwisle as the proper persons to make the
plans and supervise the construction, the latter
showed Mr. Clark the article, and it was agreed
that the suggestion should be carried ont in its
plan and construction, which has been most sue
ceSsfuIly done.
DETAILS OF THE WORK
The plans, sections elevations and sundrv do
TAILS were original with Mr.. Entwisle and were
carried out under his supervision. Mr.. John r
braay being the craftsman selected by Mr. Clark.
After competitive bidding for the work tho
contract was awarded to Messrs W. B. Downing
q Bro, VINO took possession of the ruins nr;I
18th last aud have completed the now hnidir..
III time Tor the schools TO occupy it the current
season The two southern extensions have An q
large easements 10 feet in the clear. areas and
coal shutes- The surface of the basement
nails, fuel rooms, rear areas and other
small rooms are concerted with four
Inches thick Of the best roundtop cement
sharp river sand, fine clean gravel, well rammeS
and travelled on top to an even surface. The
Interior walls are constructed with hard pnrnt
brick, basement walls OF the wings of the same
laid In cement, with all head and cross Joints
filled solid. The outside face OF the walls above
the grade line, and in the areas are faced nm
with hard burned red bricks OF uniform color.
and clean struck Joints; a course of slate has
been laid on foundation walls to prevent absorb
ton OF moisture The face Of the walls above
grade is broken by pilasters projecting nine
inches on the main building and a line OF den
tais at top are neatly corDeled out with square
brick only
THE CENTER BUILDING
Is also broken by these piIasters tho derta,
Course ND to the starting point of corniee. and
the flank walls Of center building shoviuy
above the Roof Of the wings and vent stacks and
faced up with hard made dark and red brick
matching the color to the front walls. and are
laid with neat. clean tucked Joints in white
mortar Neat and appropriate brick cornices
are formed with red square brick
and constructed In the most workman
Ike manner, laid with tucked Joints In
HOMEWORK mortar. tinted with metallic brown
The sornices extend around the four sides of
the central building and around the
wings, and are cleaned down and pencled
In the neatest manner. The ye.itilatino
shafts are finished up smooth on the insitles.
dead arches are turned over all Hntels spa ,n.n1
oil brick openings The halls NJ the .s,,s. see
ond and third stories are fire proos.,l 80; e9rr-
!nch orlck Arches are turned BET 49, .aas.
Tho skewba are OF nodded a
keying Courses are wetised