The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-09-22
CHANGES At ANNAPOLIS
HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE TO BE
PRESERVED.
The Institution has Outgrown Its
Present Quarters and Great I'M
provements are to he Made.

In the improvements at the naval
academy at Annapolis, says the New
York Times. provision has been made
for the wholesale demolition of the
buildings of the institution to save the
historic and inspiring ones This SEN
timent will save the country old Fort
Severn and the colonial residence of
Maryland's governors Indeed the ma
val academy stands on sacred ground
in American history. At Windmill
Point, where the Severn turns into
the harbor of Annapolis, the brig
Peggy Stewart was run aground on
October 10, IVA, and burned by its
owner on account of the hated tax on
tea.
Old Fort Severn, now the academy
gymnasium, is splendid relic of the
war of 1872 1t was manned by United
States artillerymen at that date to re-
pei the attack of the British fleet,
which was expected to make its as
sault on Washington by way of An
napolis. The fort was model of
strength, and few years since when
the improvements were made that
turned it into a gymnasium, the con-
crete taken out of its walls almost de-
fled disintegration
The colonial residence of Mary
lands governors is now the library
building. 1t will be changed into
under flag of truce on the British fri
the naval academy. 1t was erected by
Edmund Jennings. from whom it
was purchased by Governor Robert
Eden, who was executive of Maryland
was the last royal governor of the col
onies to leave the provinces. He left
the city of Annapolis June %, 1776,
under flag of truce, on the British fri
gate Fowey. The building was used
as a governors residence until about
1867. 1t was then turned over to the
government, which had acquired
considerable addition in Annapolis to
the academy. 1t had, when the naval
academy required it, handsome court
and garden, the latter extending to
the harbor, and on each end of the
house were ample wings that gave it
grace and extent. \ description of it
says
From the portico looking to the
garden, a fine prospect regales the
vision. The building consists of two
stories and presents an extensive
front; there are on the lower floor a
large room on each side of the hall as
YOU enter. and several smaller ones:
the saloon, on the same floor. is near
" the length of the house. On each
side of the house are commodious kit
chens, carriage house and stables with
spacious lots. And toward the water
the building rises in the middle in a
turreted shape. 1t stands detached
from other structures, and is altogeth-
err a suitable and delightful mansion
for the chief magistrate of our state"
In the latest addition of the acade-
my, now called Oklahoma, the French
troops encamped during the revolu-
tionary war. The Naval Academy will
take a step northward by reason of
the completed improvements. The
first building, absolutely part of the
academy, north of College creek. will
be the new marine barracks. These
are to be erected on the government
farm, at an angle made by the north
west bank of College creek and the
public road. The barracks will have
six acres of ground, to be used as a
parade ground and for garden pur-
poses. a short bridge will be erected
over the cove near the barracks, to
connect them with the academy bridge
over College creek, and this will also
shorten the distance to the main part
of the buildings.
The growth of the naval academy
has been marvellous to those who
knew it when it still went by the mod
est name of naval school. The setting
sun now throws into the academy
grounds the shadow of the dome of
st. Johns, the Alma Mater of the au-
thor of the Star Spangled Banner.