The Washington times., 1894-12-29
BLAlNE'S OLD HOME
TO Be A, THEATER
Lafayette Square Opera House
To Occupy the Site.
LEASE OF NINETY-NINE YEARS
BY Syndicate Composed Largely of
Washington Capitalists.
Building to Be Modern in All It's Appoint
ments, with Wine Garden at the Top and
Luxurious Baths in the Bassment-steam
Heat, Electric Lighting, and Classic Or
namentations-Fire-p proof Precautions.

Mrs. James G. Blaine yesterday evening
complete ed the removal of her personal prop
erty from her late home ON Lafayette Square.
and the historic old manson-home of states
men, militia y headquarters, scene of stirring
events-is TO be torn down and the ground
occupied by a structure where the mimicry
of tragedy is to be substituted for the the
realty.
The famous old red brick dwelling ahan-
doneI, which is located at No. II Madison
place, about which SO many memories cluster
and where so many stirring scenes tragic
and pathetic have been enacted, has been
leased by syndicate and is soon TO make
way TO a monster modern theater that will
probably cost SSO0.0OO.
TO mention the building lately occupied by
M.s. !. NJ is 10 recall the mournful event
that robbed the coun IS ~ u ia and serv-
ices of President Lincoln, for it was there
that an aitemDt was made to assassinate Sec
retary Seward simultaneously with the mur-
der of the President. Earlier the shooting Of
Philip Barton Key by Gen. Sickles marked
the building with the seal OF disaster, and
the subsequent ira ;edies that developed
there are traced by the superstitious to the
haunting
EFFECT OF THE FIRST HORROR.
Secretary Blaine died in the mansion. Pre-
ter Blaine, found in it bis last earthly home,
and Mrs. Coppinger, the Secretary's daugh-
Ter, yielded up er life there.
A wealthy syndicate. composed principally
of Washington citizens, and in which Mr. u.
H. Ia.nter, of No. 100 Fourteenth street
northwest, is interested, has leased the prop
erty for a period OF nine y-nine years, the pa
pers having been signed on the 23d day OF the
present II onth.
1t IS the purpose of the company TO erect
upon the site where the dwelling now stands
a magn ticent theater. TO q known as the La
faystte Square Opera House. and which will
be when completed. ii the present plans are
carried out, the finest structure of the kind
in the Tn ted States.
The rental which the syndicate obligates
itself to Pay is for the first th.rty-nine years,
s. 900 annually, and Tor the remainder of the
term $4,000 p'r year.
The work of demolition will be commenced
on Monday next. the work OF excavation
wall follow at once n turn, the contracts for
material will be let. and the work OF con-
bic, the building to be ready for occupancy
by the
BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SEASON.
Architect Wood and Contractor Connor
with both of whom interviews were had last
evening, gave Tar TIMES elaborate de.
scription of the elegant structure in contem-
pation, from which it was learned that the
architecture is TO be strictly and purely clas.
sic. The exterior is to be OF the Ionic order
the ornamentalion TO be chaste and truthful
giving the building the effect OF extreme dig-
niiied simplicity, comb. ned with absolute cor
rectness OF detail. The interior Will be lin.
ished 10 Spanish renaissance style. and the
color Will tie confined TO imperial greens
and rich veliows and gold.
Combined with the rich electro-plated meta
work which will constitute the finish OF the
boxes and gallery rails, and in connection
with the large classic columns in the foyer
/ the wainscoting la scagliola, representing tht
costly Alps green marble. will present won
! derfuIly rich effect
| The interior lobby will have mosaic fool
and the walls and ceilings will be finished
ENTIRELY IN RICH MARBLES.
| The building will be 67.6 by 145.4 in di
mensions. four stories in height, ana 76 fee
| from the level OF the sidewalk to the caves
| II will have a stone and brick front, fiat roof
! new chate. and will be lighted by electrcit,
and heated by steam. An interior attraction
will 5e a mezzamine story, devoted entirel,
! to boxes thar viii extend entirely arounl
! the circle, and have parlor corridors ada
| cent. Th story will be separate from th'
others and secure against intrusion.
Another innovation will be roof gardeI
with wine rooms attached. which will b,
reached by elevators, and decidedly ad
vantaceous feature will he that the stage
building W II &c distinct from the m-in struc
tnre. The stage building will be constructed
of brick the main building OF SIX Teton steel
and both will be strictly iire-proof, with all o
/ the modern contrivanees and appliances TO
| com ort aud safety.
There will be sittings provided for .S0t
! persons. and not one from which actors can
not be seem One thousand seats will b,
without obstruction from even a column.
The basement will be provided with uxuri
Gus taths, lounging and smoking-rooms
these to occupy almost the whole of tn
! space under the entire building.
The cost of construction is estimated TO b.
! 9250.000. Paul D. Connor. of No. 1439
street. is named as both owner and builder
but he represents the syndicate. Wood
Lowell. of Chicago, are the designated archi
tects.
Building Inspector Brady approved III
plans yesterday, after making such sug
eestions as were necessary to make them con
form strictly to the building regulations.