The Washington times., 1902-01-12
NO SACRIFICE TO BE MADE.
Inadequate Offers Not to Be
Entertained.
a MINIMUM VALUATION SET.
twenty-five Dollars a Foot Fixed as
the Price.
No Action 10 De Taken Until the
Next HeetinE of the board of
Trustees-Wiu Not Consider n Bid
of Less Than Quarter of n
Million Dollars.

Nothing has been done by the board o
trustees Of Foundry Methodist Episcopal
Church locking to the sale of the property
since the meeting a week ago, when it was
decided TO sell if a suitable purchaser
could be found.
Since the announcement was made, how
ever, that the church property would be
disposed of several offers have been made
for It, These were in the shape of pur-
chases for cash and trades in other
property in different parts Of the city.
No Sacrifice to DE Made.
A memtor of the board of trustees
said yesterday, in speaking of the mat
ter, that there are several things to be
considered i'll the sale of the church prop
erty. One is, he said, that the congrega-
tion has no intention to sacrifice the
property, which is very valuable. For
this reason a price of S25 a foot has
been placed upon the lots on which
the church building and the parsonage
stand. Another thing TO be considered,
he said, is that the property will not be
sold unless the board of trustees is able
first to secure a suitable lot for a new
building in a desirable part of the city.
After looking the situation over he
stated when the congregation moved it
would be westward from its present home;
that is, the new location will be west of
Fourteenth Street.
No Decision Yet Made.
However, the trustee affirmed nothing
definite would be known in reference to
the decision of the congregation until af-
ter the next meeting of the board of trus-
tees
The Entertainments of large business
houses and Government buildings in what
was cnce residential section of the city
induced the congregation at its last quar-
terly conference. TO pass resolutions ex-
pressing their willingness to sell the
church property whenever a suitable offer
shall be received.
Desirable Location Wanted.
The members of the church have decided
that the time has come when they should
move TO a mere desirably located portion
of the city. The church is now situated
in what is fast becoming the heart of the
business world of Washington.
The congregation. it is said, will not
consider an offer of less than $3.50, 600.
Several offers for the property have been
made, but none of them, it seems has
come up TO the valuation set.
The history of this old church is one
of great interest. Ii has stood on the
present site for very nearly a century.
The first building was small one-story
structure, built in 1916, when the streets
of Washington were mostly on paper, and
those that did exist generally consisted of
mud and wagon tracks.
The Beginning of the Church.
The church was built by Henry w Fox
all, an Englishnan, VINO, just before and
during the war of 1872, between this
country and England, operated a small
foundry just above Georgetown. During
the war, though an Englisbman he made
guns for the American army and navy.
He was one of the stanchest of the Unit
ed States friends during the ward. and
one of the most highly respected men of
the day.
Foxall kept his foundry working night
and day, and tradition has it that some
of his guns were hauled by oxen from
Washington to Lake Erie, where they
were placed on Perry's feet and did good
service in the memorable battle of Lake
Erie. Some of FOxalls guns have very
interesting histories attached to them,
most of hem having taken an active par!
in the decisive battles of the war.
Late in the summer of 1914 General
Ross, with large army of English SOL
diers. entered Washington. One of the
first things which General Ross did was
TO order an expedition against the Foxall
foundry to DESTROY il. The expedition was
started, but before it had reached its
destination one of the severe storms
which are still characteristic of Washing
tons summer turned the men back to
wait until the next day.
The next day, however, the plans were
changed. and the foundry was never de-
stro-ed
A Gift of Gratitude.
FoXall. who was a most deyout man.
thought that the storm was gift Of Prov
idenoe in answer to his prayers. not only
for his foundry but for the entire Ameri-
can naticn. Two years later, as an offer
ing Of thanks, he donated his land at the
corner of Fourteenth and C Streets, and
bUilt church on the property.
1t was at once suggested by the worship
pers that the new structure be called the
Foxall Church. but on account of the
donors expressed desire to the contrary,
it was called Foundry. I is said that the
name is derived not only from Mr.. Fox
all's foundry. but that it was partly in
honor OF the old foundry where John Wes-
ley, the founder of Methodism, first held
religious services in London.
The building which MIR. Foxall erected
was brick structure. which faced Four
ieenth Street. The exterior of the build
ing was artistic in design, and severely
plain. The interior of the little church
was fitted in the best style possible in
these days. There was gallery on three
sides CT the church.
In 1916, the cellar of the church was
converted into Sunday school and lee
ture room. In order to do this the floor