Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-09

THE GROUND PURCHASED.
So what was known as the Middleton estate,
adjoining the Soldiers Home grounds, and
containing sixty-five acres. was purchased for
$4,000. subsequently the wisdom of this
choice was questioned and there was talk of
selling the land and buying a new site nearer
the city. but in the end it was decided to adj
here to the first choice ard preparations were
made to begin the first building. Ground was
soon afterward broken for the foundation of
the new building. and on May "a. 1888,
THE CORNER STONE WAS LAID
with appropriate ceremonies. great con-
course OF people witnessed this event. Pres-
dent Cleveland and the members of his cabinet
occupied seats on the platform, where the pres
ence OF Cardinal Gibbons. surrounded by the
archbishops and bishops of the church and a
distinguished company of the laity demon
strated the interest which the Catholic church
had IN this enterprise. A procession of eight
divisions, composed of Catholic societies of
this city, Baltimore and Richmond, the men,
bers of the different Catholic churches of this
city and the students from neighboring Cath
otto institutions of learning, marshalled by Gen.
W. s. Rosecrans, was ready to be formed, but
owing to the rain that part of the program was
abandoned. A large covered platform erected
upon the foundations sheltered the dignitaries
from the beating rain. The program was con-
slderably shortened on account of the weather.
The ceremony of blessing the corner stone and
the building was postponed to a subsequent
occasion. One of the impressive features
OF tine ceremony was the music which was rem
dered by grand choir composed of the lead
ing musicians of the city accompanied by the
Marine band. ChOristers from the Catholic in
stitrtions also rendered effective music An
eloquent discourse was pronounced by Bishop
SpaldiEg and at the close an interesting incl
dent occurred Ill the presentation to Miss Cald-
well OF a gold medal. the special gift of the
pope. The exercises were concluded with the
benediction by Cardinal Gibbons, and then the
clergy and invited guests were entertained at a
collation. given in a temporary building in the
grounds.
THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING.
During the year and half that has elapsed
since the corner stone was laid the work of
building has been pushed forward with vigor
and the structure is not only completed, but
the corps OF professors are ready to begin their
labors and the students are ready to receive in
structiOn. To the great energy of Bishop
keane. the rector of the new university, this
result is mainly due. The new building occu-
pies commanding position in the western
part of the grounds, overlooking the lawn and
groves of the Soldiers Home park The
size Is perhaps what imprcsses one
at first In whatever direction it is ap-
preached the massive walls can be seen
standing out boldly in the landscape or else
partially concealed by the heavy masses of
trees with which this picturesque por-
ton of the country abcunds. The
central portion of the building
which is finished plainly with gable, is five
stories high. while the rest of the building is
four stories high. The material used is George
town blue gneiss rock, which is laid in broken
range rock face work. The great extent of the
building. the material used and the severely
plain style of architecture combine to produce
a striking effect of massiveness and solidity
The style of architecture is what is known as
Romanesque and there is but little
The blue stone work is re-
lieved by trimmings of Ohio stone about the
doors and windows. There is little carving
introduced here and there, but the design is
essentially plain and the carved work
relieves rather than enriches. At the main
entrance, which Is the center of the front there