Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-03

aiueihidl anu mayor OF the capital city. with
marked acceptability. In the meantime he
erected an elegant and spacious mansion in
close proximity to the Old weatber-beaten
homestead, which. up to the death of Me- Van
Ness September. 1922 continued to be an ap-
IIec;aied center OF Washington society. The
mansion is still standing.
THE FIRST ORPHAN ASYLUM.
The war Of 1912, combined with other agen-
cies, consigned to the benevolent Of Washingtona
iul share of its inevitable orphanage Special ap-
peaS. on this behalf were made to Mrs Van Ness,
ana after consultation with a few of her lady
friends call was made, through the press. for
public meeting of the Ladies of Washington
, and neighborhoOd." to be held in the hall of the
House of Representatives. october 10, 1915. at
which meeting was instituted 1.-The Washington
City Orphan Asylum, and the following officers
were elected. viz: Mrs President Madison. first
directress; Mrs. Gen. John p Van Ness, second
dirrctress; Mrs. s. n. Smith, secretary; Mrs.
Josiah Caldwell, treasurer; and the following
lady managers, namely: Mrs. McGOWan, Mrs.
Ramsey Mrs. Rev. Obadiah Brown, Mrs
Rodser Weightman. Mrs. Chalmers Mrs. JOS
eph Mecblin, Mrs. DR.. Blake, Mrs. Brecken-
ridge. and Mrs. Diggs. OF "Green HILL" The or
ganiZation of the institution having been
effected under such encouraging auspices, a
small frame house. fronting on 10th street near
ID street northwest. was rented and the care of
orphans, under the first organized effort was
begun in Washington. with Mrs President Madi-
son its first directress Subsequently Gen. John
Il. Van Ness and wife donated to it large and
eligible lot on III, between 9th and 10th streets
northwest. and about the same time Congress
donated. in fee, number of desirable CITY lots,
estimated by the commissioner to be worth ten
thousand dollars With these grand donations
the institution and its cooperative patrons
were enabled to build the welLknOwn II street
asylum. alter plans furnished by Architect Bull
finch This stood for 80 years, and becom-
ing too Limited In its accommodations the
trustees, encouraged to this proceeding
by the generous donation of Mr. w. w. Cor
cOran OF that large and eligible site of the
present home. at the corner of 18th and streets
northwest, built thereon the spacious and i'm
posing buildings which constitute the present
home.
AN EMBRYO CITY-INHABITANTS WITHOUT HOMES.
To go back to the early history ofthe metropo-
lis: Copies OF the plans of the city were
exhibited not only in the principal cities of the
states, but also in the more important capitals
of Europe, accompanied with notices of sales of
city lots, as furnishing rare opportunities for
safe and remuneratiye investments: assIlran ces
were also given of the immediate prosecution
OF the public works. which, with the demands
OF private enterprise, would necessitate the
employment Of artiZanS. mechanics and labOrerS
10 an unprecedented degree. Such notices
brought TO this locality tide of humanity
beyond the then existing accommodations. To
mitigate the case wooden habtatiOns were
erected At first all such structures were for
hidden but the city being yet In embryo. to build
II required wOrkmen, and they must have
shelter. facts which had been overlooked by the
authors of the building regulatiOns-but the
frame buildings were limited in dimensions to
39l square feet On the plan, and TO 12 feet from
Sill TO cave. Many of these remained for years.
and provoked the taunts of strangers.
DEPENDENT UPON GEORGETOWN.
Returning from this depression it may be said
IN mo- fboo
increase Of population would have occasiOned
some anxiety but for the proximity OF George
town, which. many years before had. by it's kind
offices. helped Gen. Braddock, whom prosecuting
his western campaign against the french; SO at
this crisis it supplemented the demands of its
newborn neighbOr. and for many years after the
installation OF the departments in Washington
IT'S CITIZENS were dependent upon Georgetown
for the most Oftheir marketing, ladies' shopping,
hotel and boarding house accommodations.
church privileges. schools &c. In recognition
OF these facts the authorities constructed along
the south side OF Pennsylvania avenue. from 18th
street to the NJ street bridge over Rock Creek,
a wide fia@stOne pavement, which was not SUI
perseded blythe legal sidewalk for many years.
OLD TINES AND NEW TINES.
To show the vast superiority of modern facil-
tiles over those known to the builders of the
old Capitol we note that when the sandstone
monolithcolunns of the east portico were moved
from the wharf to the building it required
five hundred men to q single column; while
the marble columns of the Capitol extern
sion were moved from the depot to the building
by two cOlOred men and one old horse with the
use of modern facilities.
During the first decade private enterprise had
erected many substantial dwellings, and bust
ness houses, but in such widely separated local
tiles as TO make no show and to provoke the
deprecative appeliatiOn of 1.-THE City of Mag
n;ticent Distances
THE PRESIDENTS HOUSE AND GROUNDS
The ground first allotted to the Presidents
Mansion was limited to the area between 49,
and 1914 streets, from east to west and
Pennsylvania avenue and f street from north
to south. 1t was enclosed by substantial
wall of rubble masonry. of many angles, so as
to make the lot of pOlygOn form. The south
eastern portion Of the lot was devoted to the
cultivation of choice fruits, berries vegetables
&c. The remainder, except where walks liter
vened was covered with lawn grass, with
groups of forest trees retained. FOryears there
were no permanent gates provided at the north
or main entrance, but on the east 'front.' at the
intersection with Pennsylvania avenue there
was beautiful triple arch Doric gateway, con-
structed of dressed sandstone.
THANKS TO PRESIDENT WASHINGTON FOR LAFAY-
ETTE PARK.
The largest square north Of the mansion was
by Major LEnfant planned to be divided by 10Th
street, and the two squares thus formed he had
divided into building lots. President Washing
ton insisted upon its being set off for grand
park. which led to the retirement Of the Major
and to sharp and prolonged controversy with
Samuel Davidson, the proprietor. This cOntrO-
versy. however. secured for the city one of its
chief ornanents-Lafayett park. For many
years this noble square remained unimprOVed
and out of harmony with the adopted grades
A part of the southwest portion of the square
had been used for place of family sculpture
and when graded the bones and dust Of the I'M
conscious tenants were exhumed. reincased and
reinterred in HOmead's burial ground and
from present appearances. are destined to be
again disturbed. In one of the chambers of this
family abiding place" there was found suit of
ladys hair fresh and beautiful as if just plucked
from living subject TWAS the opinion of those
who saw it that it had evidently grown in length
since the interment.
The "White lot" long remained dreary
waste over portions of which the tides ebbed
and flowed. stranger would have supposed
that 1t had been reserved for a general dump
ing ground. where most of the surplus earth
and other debris of the city could be deposited
The Improvement OF Lafayette park, White lot,
and the mall, which were cOnspicuOusy repu-
siye botches upon the proud escutcheOn of the
metropolitan city, and transforming them into
gems OF marvellous beauty, are illustrations of
the magic power of art and science when assO-
ciated with adequate means.
THE FIRST CHURCHES.
st. Patrlck's, a frame building Father Coffey
Dastor on tho -enuara hnnpdad hv 9th opd 10th