Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-14
De MOL|TI0N BEGUN
Removal of Old Buildings
From Arsenal Grounds.
HISTORIC STRUCTURES
THE OLD PENITENTIARY CON-
SIGNED TO OBLIVION.
Prison to Which Mrs. Surratt and
Others Were Committed After
Lincoln's Assassination

The progress of the improvements at
Washington barracks to fit it for its future
use the finest equipped training school
for army engineers in the world has made
it necessary to tear down many of the
old buildings that have adorned the park
for years and which are familiar to the
people of Washington, particularly the
older residents, who in years gone by would
seek the cool shades of the arsenal, as
the park was then known, in hot summer
afternoons, and under the boughs of the
trees, enjoy the cool winds from the Po-
tonac.
Several of the buildings at the southern
end of the park were demolished last sum-
mer, and a day or two ago the workmen
began the razing of the large building on
the west side of the circle midway of the
park. This building handsome struc-
ture of brick and and looked massive
and able to withstand the wear of CEN
turtles. For many years it used as
the quarters for the officer commanding
the station when it was used by the artil-
lery corps. Now, however, it must sive
place to other more modern buildings in
accordance with the general scheme of
Improvement. In a few days nothing will
remain of it except piles of bricks and
timberS.
This building has a history, perhaps I'M
known to many now residing in Washing
ton, although the record is familiar to all
the older residents of the city. Prior to the
civil war the District of Columbia had its
own pententiary Its criminals were not
sent to Albany, MOundsville or elsewhere,
now the custom. The building being
removed and the one standing opposite on
the east S de of the circle, formerly used
quarters for the staff officers, formed
the west and east extremes of the peni-
tertiary building. They were connected by
a three-story brick structure, which was
{lnA l.; ~I, brio
on which an armed sentry walked. sur
rounded them. The warden's house and
office were located on the west end and the
building standing on the east SIDE was a
portion of the workshop of the prison.
When Building Was Erected.
The pententiary was commenced in 1927
and in 1881 1t was in use. From that time
until the second year of the civil war it
was used as a prison. Then the military
authorities required more room for the
operations of the government arsenal and
1T was determined to use the building for
that purpose.
The transfer to the military authorities
was made with the greatest secrecy. Some
of the prisoners were released to go to the
front, and few who had but little time
to serve were pardoned. A number, how
ever, were retained as prisoners, and late
one night were marched to a steamer near
by and taken to Albany to complete their
sentences. With this transfer the history
of the building as civil prison ended.
During the war many military prisoners
were confined there. and within its walls
Mrs Surratt and her male companions
were incarcerated, tried and sentenced, and
Mrs Surratt, Payne, Atzerott and Herold
were executed.
Here too the body of Wilkes Booth
was buried, where it remained for two
years. An old soldier year or two ago
pointed out to Star reporter the spot
where the grave had been. He said 1t was
10 Il ,J,xxr he F,e,f
of the building now being torn down. He
knew the location, he said, because he had
assisted in removing the coffin from the
grave
The First Warden.
Colonel Williams of Virginia was the first
warden of the old penitentiary. He was ap-
pointed by General Jackson in 1881 and was
succeeded by Colonel John B. Dade, Major
Robert Coltman. James B. Ellis, Thomas
Thornley, Chas. P. Sidwick and Hiram I.
King in turn The latter was In office when
the civil prison was turned over to the mil
itary authorities. The old penitentiary, as
may be supposed. had many inhabitants.
Some of them were deep dyed in crime and
convicts of national reputation were there.
The larger portion of the inmates how
ever. were serving terms for grand larceny,
and the value of the property stolen was
required to be but s. to sustain this charge.
the large proportion of this class is easily
explained.
When the civil war ended the need of the
military authorities for the building ended
also, but 1t was not surrendered to the Dis
trict. Peace demanded a station for the
military forces in the neighborhood of
Washington, as did war, and it was deter
mined to transform the old arsenal
grounds
In 1867 the center the prison portion of
the old building. was torn out and its wings
transferred into handsome residences. The
site of the prison became beautiful flower
grown circle and in its center a fountain
was located that for many years spurted
jets of sparkling water.
When the changes were completed the
arsenal the place of beauty so well
known to many in Washington. Its grounds
were strewn with old cannons and piles of
cannon balls. relics of war times About
three years ago 1t was turned over to the
engineer branch of the army, and, as
stated. 1t is now being converted into the
fEest engineer school in the world.
When the work is completed the park
will again be a beautiful place, but there
many in the city who regret the disap
pearance of the old buildings and the shady
walks with which they were ia miliar in