The Washington times., 1902-05-12
Corner of Fifteenth Street
and Rhode Island
Avenue.
TRANSACTION NOT COMPLETE
Expected That Negotiations Will Be
Closed and Building Operations Begun
by Fall-No Architect or Design for
Building Selected.

Unless some unforeseen obstacles aris'
in the near future, the new Foundry Meth
odist Episcopal Church will be built or
the northeast corner of Fifteenth Street
and Rhode Island Avenue northwest. The
transaction has not yet been completed
although some definite steps in the matter
are looked for in a few days. AT the close
! of the church stated that a special meet
ing of the committee appointed some time
ago to select a site for the new edifice
would probably be called late this after
| noon or tonight. and that IL such was the
case the matter would very likely be defin-
J itely settled then and report made to
the congregation at the weekly prayer
meeting Wednesday night at the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church.
The members of the committee would
say but little regarding the movement 1t
Is their desire to keep the transaction as
quiet as possible until all the details are
consummated. II was learned. however,
that the property at the corner OF Fifteenth
Street and Rhode Island Avenue is valued
at about $4,000. Members Of the commit
tee stated that they were willing to ex-
pend fully that amount for a site. and par
ticularly for one in that locality. They
said that up to that time no meeting had
been called to decide the matter.
Rev. Luther B. Wilson, pastor Of the
church. announced that no architect has
been selected to design the structure. and
that no plans have been considered. When
the site for the church has been pur
chased this matter will be placed in the
hands of the building committee. This
committee viii be appointed at the next
business meeting of the congregation. |
which will probably be called within the
next two or three weeks.
Conference Approves Site.
II the committee intrusted with the Sc
lection OF the site decides to purchase |
the property referred to. and no complica-
tiors arise as to title. 1t is expected that |
the sale will be promptly concluded. The
committee has already reported to the
quarterly conference, and at that time
the purchase of the site was Endorsed. F.
W. Graham. the real estate broker. is
the negotiations for the prop
erty owners. while Theodore Harding is
attending to the interests OF the church
people.
The piece OF realty which has been se-
ected contains over 12,000 feet OF ground.
L has frontage of 145 feet on Fifteenth
Street and no feet on Rhode Island Ave-
lue. The house which is located on the
round facing Fifteenth Street is owned
" Admiral Upshur. while the frame
louse is owned by James o'Hagan. and
he remaining ground by Miss Riggs q
lister of f. Francis Riggs.
The site committee, as we'll as the con-
generally. of Foundry Church
las been actively on the lookout for
uitable piece of ground for the erection
4 the new house of worship ever since
he old edifce was disposed of to Mr.
'homas F. Walsh. A vast number OF
ffers of available property have been
lade to the committee. By many per-
ons it was advocated that the new :
hurch should be erected in the far north
rest. 1t was finally decided. however.
hat ii would be better to build some-
here near the heart of the residence
ortion of the city Three sites along
ixteenth Street we're considered. one of
hich was at the corner of Madison
treet, while the other two were at the
Drner of Sixteenth and P Streets. .
Churches to Combine.
ne PROXIMITY OF the new FOunury Il
hurch to st. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
hurch will, doubtless, bring about the
'nsolidation of the congregations OF the
70 houses Of worship. This has been
'actically agreed upon, also that the
urch will continue under the old title
Foundry Church.
If matters concerning the purchase OF !
g site move forward as the congrega-
IN hopes for, it Is expected that build
g operations will begin in the next
cnth or so upon the new edfce. Fol-
wing the erection of this church will
me the sale of the property of ST. Pauls
aggregation at Fifteenth and R Streets,
d the money received from this Will be
ed to purchase church site in the vi
lity OF Columbia Heights or Washing
n Heights This is in accordance with
2 desire of those Methodists who are
xious to have a church in that fast de-
looping section of Washington.