Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
FOR A NEW BUILDING
Efforts in Behalf of the Co.
lumbia Hospital.
OLDMAYNARD MANSION
WAS ONCE THE BRITISH MINIS
TIERS HOME.
institution for Suffering Womankind
in Pressing Need of Better Shelter
History Of the Institution.
OLDMAYN YARD MANSION

The District has lost during the past yea
many old landmarks which were destroyed
or cast aside to make room for improve
ments planned and under way. If the Ell
forts of the body of representative citizen!
included in the board of directors OF th'
Columbia Hospital for Women are awaiting
1t is more than likely that before another
winter passes another of these relics OF an
almost forgotten past will go the way of the
lust and unjust For years past has oeen
growing strong sentiment in favor OF the
erection in the District of modern hospl-
tad for women. Each year the necessity
has become more pressing for building
which will be commensurate with the char
acter of the work such an institution is call
ed upon to perform.
Washington has enjoyed the distinction
having among the medical fraternity within
it's gates some of the most distinguished
specialists in women's ailments in the coun
try, and a great majority of these speclal
lists have been grouped on the attending
staff at the Columbia Hospital for Women
In the thirty-odd years of the existence
of the hospital an institution for the
care of suffering womanhOOd many import
ant discoveries have been made in the
science of treating women's Ills, but little
has been done to place at the hand of the
hospital the facilities which modern surg
cry requires for its successful work.
The Maynard Mansion.
1t is perhaps not generally known that the
Columbia Hospital building was not design
ed as a hospital building in any sense of the
word Back in the early ffties it was con-
structed at the northeast corner of 25tf
street and Pennsylvania avenue'by the cele'
iHa Dr
nard, then a prominent local dentist, as q
private residence. In the style of those
times 1t was a magnificent piece of Work
Those who delight in things that are old
things suggestive of q departed age; those
who love old buildings so fearfully con-
structed that starting from the front hall
the most astute person could not tell where
his walk would end If he kept straight
ahead, would find much to interest and
edify them in the architectural complexity
of this old mansion.
AS it was originally built the main en-
trance was at the second story and was
reached by broad fight of steps from the
street, which was at least forty feet below.
For convenience, half of this stairway has
been removed and only that portion remains
which mounts the heights of the terrace on
which the building rests, the entrance being
now at the first floor. This entrance opens
into a wide hall which is bisected by mar
rover corridors. The second floor is reach
ed nowadays by a broad flight of steps
which wind from the end of the entrance
hall In a most graceful way to the fiool
above.
The steps that are now in use, it might
be said, are the same that DR.. Maynard
built in the house, with patchwork made
necessary by the wear of time. This patch
work, by the way, is most apparent in every
section of the house, extending to the floors
walls, ceilings and even to the rooms them
selves.
British Minister'S Residence.
In the height of his fame as an enter
tainer DR.. Maynard relinquished his home
in this city, and the mansion he erected
was let to the representative of Great Brit
ain then in Washington. In this house the
British minister had one of the most mag
nifcent residences in the District. Its stu
alton and its impressiveness put to shame
most of the other private houses in Wash
ington, and its doors We're ever open in
most hospitable fashion. The history of the
English legations occupancy of the May
nard mansion Is one of magnificence and
lavish entertaining. Its brilliant lights IL
lumined the avenue many cold winter
night. 1t was not until 1872 that the
building was found to have outlived its
usefulness fashionable residence, and,
not being fit for anything else. apparently,
the government purchased the ground and
the building and turned the latter over TO
the trustees of the Columbia Hospital for
use in caring for afflicted womanknd.
Inc COlunDla Hospital naQ history OF
six years of work before ii entered the
structure a munificent government pro-
vided for Its housing. In 1866 the institu-
ton was started by subscriptions and dona-
lions made by citizens of Washington. and
was Incorporated by act of Congress APP
proved June / of that year. The avowed
object of the institution, as stated in its
charter, was to found in the District OF
Columbia hospital and dispensary for the
treatment of diseases peculiar to women
and to maintain lying-in asylum, in
which those unable to pay therefor could
be furnished with board, lodging, medicine
and medical attendance gratuitously. DR.
j. Harry Thompson. a distinguished physi-
clan and surgeon of the District was in
strumental in organizing the institution and
In fostering and encouraging it's growth
after 1t had been started.
First Annual Report.
According to the first annual report OF
DIR. Thompson the year 1861 found the city
of Washington with leo, 600 inhabitants and
not a single civil hospital or dispensary &c
which the poor of its resident or floating
population could apply for medical assist
ance in case of disease or accident The
need, he declared. was in part supplied by
the Sisters of Charity who established the
Providence Hospital, but this only fur
nished facilities for very small part OF
the demand.
The need of two institutions was empha.
sized by DR.. Thompson. One of these he
declared should be a general hospital with
300 beds, and the other a woman's hospital
with at least 100 beds The plan of DR.
Thompson was to establish a hospital for
women. with a section set apart as a living
in asylum. II was not the project of the
founders to dedicate the institution entirely
to charity. II was their object to furnish a
hospital which should be modern in every
way. with comfortable wards for sufferins
women of all classes, those who could az
ford to pay and those whose means were
not sufficient to meet the cost of the kind OF
treatment that was to be administered
DIR. Thompson associated with him Rev
Dr. A. ID. Gillette and Rev. DR. C. H. Hall
and secured the support of Secretary Sian.
ton. who then presided over the destinies
of the War Department With Mr. STAN
tons sanction the medical department OF
the army loaned the new institution fifty