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, It was at that time perhaps the
handsomest edifce not owned by the Gov
eminent. And what it has lost in COM
parativc 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 F Street by nearly one hundred feet
deep.
Thousands of people pass Willard
Hall daily and certainly not one in hun
dred Of the throng knows anything of its
notable history, knows that il is eighty
years old that Il was for many years one
of the finest church buildings in the city,
and the worshiping place OF Presidents.
The old "F Street Church." as it was
first called, was the first Presbyterian
Church in Washington. 1t was built late
in the second decade of the century that
is now ending, or perhaps in the early
'20s. At that time it was considered
fine structure, and the PresbyteTials
thought themselves especially fortunate
in being able to erect so costly an eGlfice.
None of the two or three churches of the
period were comparable with ii except St.
Johns Episcopal Church On II Street OPP
posite the White House, which is also
still standing.
Two Presidents. James Buchanan and
Franklin Pierce. worshiped at the "F
Street Church. besides a large part OF the
official and polite society OF the
Capital City. Rev DR.. Laurie was one
OF the first. if not the first, pastor of the
church. He preached there for many
years. Dr. p. 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
years from 1919 to 1853 Or. Gnrley and
his congregation built the present New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church, the
successor TO the old L Street structure.
The Gurley family has been and still is
one of the best known in the city. The
CurIey Memorial Chapel on Florida Ave
nue. near Seventh Street was erected a
few years ago III memory of old Or Cur
ley.
The structure passed into the hands of
Joseph Willard, father CT Capt. Joseph VIII
lard who was. until a few days ago its
owner, in 1853, when it was given up By
the Presbyterians and sold by them. Since
that time it has been Willard Hall. Dur
ing the first years of its use as a public
hall, Willard was one of the largest and
finest in the city, and in it were held sew
eral Of the important conventions of the
early sixties. among them many OF those
that grew out of the civil war. The Peace
Commission met at the hall In 1861. Its
career as an amusement place has also
been long one.
The cornerstone Of the old structure will
be reached by the workmen in a few weeks.
There is TO be a little informal ceremony
when it is opened. for 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
Coast. next month. He anticipates the
the old-time Capital City.
The new structure for the trust company
will be in it's way a conspicuous building
also II 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 in
front. wide high double doorway will
be in the centre, and directly above tits
will be the only window of the front. or
in design, and heavily barred In
side will be one large lofty hall The
building will cost So, 900.