The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-10

spot the Office OF the new Union Trust and
Storage Company. in which Capt. Joseph
Willard is one Of the principals.
Many things have made Willard Hail
conspicuous. Built in the earlier days Of
Washington. when the Government build
ings were the only large structures in the
city. and the only ones that made any pre-
tensions to architectural importance or
beauty. IL was at that time perhaps the
handsomcst edihce not owned by the Gov
eminent And what it has lost in COM
paIativc size and Importance as the city
has grown has been made up by the quaint
ness Of its pure Doric Greek design among
the tall and plain brick office buildings
surrounding it on every side. There are
few. If any. other buildings in the city. eX-
cept the Government structures. built on
classic lines The hall is sixty feet front
in Street by nearly one hundred feet
deep.
Thousands Of people pass Willard
Hail daily and certainly not one in hun
bred Of the throng knows anything OF its
notable history. knows that il is eighty
years old. that II was FOR many years one
OF the finest church buildings in the city.
and the worshiping place OF Presidents.
The old r Street Church" as IT was
Church in Washington. It was built late
in tho second decade Of the century that
is nov ending. or perhaps in the early
'2os. At that time il was considered
fine structure, and the PresbyteIialS
thought themselves especially fortunate
in being able to erect so costly an eciiice.
None Of the two or three churches Of the
period were comparable with it except ST.
Johns Episcopal Church on II Street op-
posite the White House, which is also
still standing.
Two Presidents. James Buchanan and
Franklin Pierce. worshiped at the n
Street Church besides large part OF the
official and polite society OF the
Capital City. Rev Or. Laurie was one
Of The FIRST. if not the first. pastor Of the
church He preached there for many
years. DR. =. d. Gurley was the last
pastor and he is the man with whom most
people OF the present generation, who re-
member anything Of the church, asso-
ciate il. He was pastor during the ten
wears from 1873 10 1883 DR.. Gurley and
his congregation built the present New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church, the
successor TO the old i Street structure.
The Gurley family has been and still is
one OF the best known In the city. The
Curley Memorial Chapel on Florida Ave
nue. near Seventh Street was erected
few years ago in memory Of old Or. Cur
ley.
The structure passed into the hands of
Ioseph Willard. father Of Capt Joseph VIII
lard who was. until "a few days ago, its
owner. in 1873. when il was given up by
the Presbytrriaus aud sold by them. Since
that time il has been Willard Hall. Dur
ing the first years Of its use as a public
hall. Willard was enc of the largest and
finest in the city, and ia it were held sew
eral Of the important conventions Of the
early sixties among them many OF those
that grew ogt Of the civil war. The Peace
Commission met al the hall in 1861 lis
career as an amusement place has also
been a long one.
The cornerstone Of the old structure VIII
be reached by the worknen Ia few weeks.
There e. TO be a litue informal ceremony
when 90 is opened. Tor the first time in
eighty years. Captain willard has given
strict instructions that the seal shall not
be broken and the stone not disturbed IN
til his return from trip TO the Pacific
Coast. next month. He anticipates the
finding Of a curious collection OF relics OF
the old-time Capital City.
The new structure for the trust company
will be in its way a conspicuous building
also. Il will be a tall building compare
lively. although only Of one story II will
be solid and strong in appearance, in keep
ing with its object. plain, but handsome ir
front wide, high. double doorway viii
be in the centre. and directly above this
will be the only window Of the front or
uameutal in design. and heavily barred. In
side will be one large lofty hall. The
building VIII cost $4,000.