The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-17
THE HOME.
AZ DAYTON, ohio-A DsIoriptiOn of the
(. Buildit q and Grounds.

AZ DAYTON, Ohto-A DeacfIpuon OF nv
Buildit @ and .0rOVndS.
Co1opOadeat of ne IattEltomoR,
DAYTON, o., Sept. l2.-My summer Va
cation being about ended, before l again
assume the plodding cares Of business, l
want to give you description Of the Sol
diers' Home, near this city. / visited the
institution in the company OF two bright
youny ladies and well known Ohio phy.
sician. The central branch OF the National
Home was established about the year 1857.
The grounds contains about one. section,
and are located about two miles from THIS
city, and overlooking it. We drove all
over the groundsand discovered that IKE
in Washir gton City, the avenues
we're named after the different states; we
enjoyed drive on our own avenue, west
Virginia.
liest spots in the United States, Of which
every true American should feel proud,
and vet 30 few people, particularly in our
own State, know anything about its WORK
ings. a..
homo all the time. II their lives were
put together what history they would
make. All are dressed in the regulation
blue uniform. They are housed in thirty
three barracks Everything about them
is comfortable, well ventilated and clean.
The barracks are built OF brick. The
library, which was the generous gilt Of
Mrs. Mary Lowell Putnam, OF Boston, con:
tains IL, 600 volumes, thirty magazines and
$50 newspapers. Mrs. Putnam lost ner
son, a young and gallant officer, and TINS
library was given in commentator Oh
On the anniversary Of Washiuston's
birthday, Memorial day, her sons death,
Thanksgiving and Christmas she adds 70
this fine collection. As we stro!led
through the library noticed an oil paint.
ling Of her son and pictures oil different
battle genes. An old soldier showed sew
eral old saddles In one end Of the library,
among them General Hellack's and the
one which the late General Grant rode
from Fort Henry to Appomattox. II was
hung upon stand, and was very PLAIN
saddle. Il was neatly draped in mourn
ling and attracted visitors in great mum
hers, The other saddles were handsome
and finely decorated. The register con-
tanned the names Of visitors IRON all parts
Of the United States, and all have some
kind words OF praise for the home. had
nv little say upon the register, and 80
we'll pleased was one OF the old soldiers
standing near by he grssped our hands
Saying, "You are evidently all Amer-
Memorial Hall is located on Pennsyl-
yania avenue. It is q gem OF an opera
house, much finer in every way than our
own. The scenery ia superb. and all the
appointments elegant. 1t has q seating
capacity Of 1901 Last year ten dfamauc
companies played in the house-tree plays
is: naid plsys, eleven. During the sum-
mer the leading theatrical companies gave
performances in this theatre. :.
The floral decoration Of the grounos II
simply unsurpassed anywhere. There are
2OO,OO0 plants. never saw such q COZ
lection OF beautiful lowers. On an i'm
mense mound was q correct likeness o
Washington worked in different huec
flowers, and the word WELCOME in let
tiers i've feet long. A large force OF ole
soldiers was constantly at work trimming
cutting and arranging the plants. VIVA
attracted my attention most was an eEor
NOUS cactus and . banana plant.
The church is a very handsome struc
| ture. It Is built OF white stone and ii
situated next to the opera house. The
windows are Of stained glass, with severa
handsome memorials. Both Catholic anG
Protestant services are held. Like al
other buildings on the ground 1t ID oper
all the time 10 visitors. :.
The Hospital was erected in 1858. II
can accommodate about 400 patients
There is seldom any vacant bed. The
dispensary and operating room, OF course
are connected with the building. There
are certain barracks set apart for the
blind, when they can be seen at work
making bead ornaments which are sold
upon the grounds. -
The three beautiful lakes always have
an admiring crowd surrounding them all
the time, watching the fish and ducks.
For small sum OF money one can hire q
pleasure boat. In the middle OF the lake
Ia anchored the miniature ship Garfield.
A portion OF the grounds is devoted to q
deer park, which Is now filled with deers,
monkeys, sur 'rrels and all sorts and kinds
of animals. In coming from Deer Park
towards the opera house one notices Q
large stand pipe. 1t is forty.eight feet
h and eighteen feet in diameter, and
contains about 100000 gallons Of water
The material used in It's construction
weighs about eighty-fve tons. A fire
could not make much Roadway. There IL
very fine carriage upon the grounds FOL
the soldiers use, the gift Of some generous
ladies Of Cleveland, Ohio. The system
which governs mess hall is simply won
delful. We were allowed to see the sol
diers 20 20 supper. A few minutes before
six they gathered in large groups outside
of the doors, seven in number. At the
tap OF the bell 2,240 soldiers rush in the
dining rooms, l,l20 downstairs and 1,l2C
upstairs. Every man knows his own place,
and every man is waited on at once. II
REQUIRES some 100 walters to attend them.
They are well cared for in every way.
Overlooking the cemetery is Q magnif'
cent soldiers monument. 1t is forty
eight feet in height, surmounted by q
statute OF private soldier ct rest. The
extreme light Is fifty five feet. On the
four corners are represented, life size, the
four branches Of the service-intantry,
cavalry, artillery and navy. Tie statutes
are OF pure white marble, and carved in
the highest art. They came from Italy. The
entire cost was about $4,000. The shaft
ia formerly one Of the columns OF the old
United States Bank, Of Philadelphia.
/ SD. II.