The Washington times., 1907-09-22
MARINE BARRACKS
To MAKE WAY FOR
MODERN BUILDINGS
Dramatic Tales Cluster
Around Century Old
Houses.

Workmen have begun the demolition4
Of the last OF the old buildings az ths4
Washington Barracks located betweeu
Eighth and Ninth streets and G and =
streets southeast, that have been fa-l
miliar landmarks since the oldest inhab-4
liant first remembers their odd I'D for~'
biCdiag appearance.
MAJOR Richard s. columns interesting
histc-y Of the United States Marinsi
Corps IN the account Of the operations
OF the British against the Capital IN thse
year 1S14 says.
ION the I'D (August) Captain Barney
Joined an assemblage Of armed citizensst
that was called an army. at the wood
yard. The next day he marched into'
Washington and took I'D his quarters at
the Marine Barracks"
! After the defeat Of the Americans and
d the occupation OF the CaIital by the
British soldiers il is said that these
/ buildings were occupied by the English
and a portion OF them used for thss
/ stabIing Of their horses
Built Over Century Ago.
In the records OF the Navy Departs
utent It appears that Congress made ap~
! propriations early in the history OF
1 Washington for quarters for the ma
rines, and while the exact date OF the
erection Of these buildings is not known
the fact is pretty well authenticated
that they were built more than a CEN
/ fury ago and ere among the few re-
naming buildings Of that early period
The structures which antedate any
thing else on the grounds are On th5.
Eighth street side OF the square and
together with what Is known az the
& Center house which was at one time
used for officers quarters. are the only
remaining snes left as tic other three
sides Of the quadrangle have been re-
built With handsome buildings during
the past few years
The houses are one-stOry In height
with slOping roofs, and on e inner side
have an arcade or corridor extending
along the entire front, somewhat after
the srvle Of the Alhambra. which gives
the architecture a decidedly Moorish
character. They are built OF brick said
20 have been brought from England.
and the outside facing Eighth street IS
spIashed with gravel and cement. which
in earlier days was designated as
rough cast" but now has the title OF
! pebble dash" and has become 50 pop-i
ular in the modern style OF house. par
ticularIy in those IN the suburbs
Adhere to Old Style.
In the new buildings which have been
erected on the grounds the same gen
eraI idea IN modified form has been
al Jted. as Col T. L Denny. the quar-
/ ternlaster commanding. seems Of The
Lopinion that the old style. with the long.
roony, and sun-protected corridors
could not be improved upon The Cen
ter house, which IS not as old as the
wings now being torn down, viii prob
ably follow IN short time. and the en-
tire three sides viii then have been re-,
built
In pursuing his investigations The
| Times representative uneSrthed many
interesting stories connected with these
old buildings. not all Of which could
be verified.
Among other things It was stated
that Aaron Burr. after his duel with
Alexander Hamilton. had been nearer
ated there and numbers OF other pronli-
nent men had also been held as pIis-
oners within their walls. The usual
quota Of hair-raising stories Of dark and
bloody deeds, OF hasty words. and con-
sequent spilling Of blood by men IN
moment Of anger naturally centsrcd
around LleSG Ola houses lEldL III . lev
more days will have passed away. to be
superseded by more modern and com i
Portable homes for Uncle Sans gallant
water soldiers whose history Is rO@l
plete with bright names and gallant
deeds.
Five Houses for Officers.
Builder Arthur Cowsin has secured
the contract for the erection Of five new
buildings for officers quarters. after
plans prepared by Architects HornbIows
er & Marshall.
The design OF the new houses follows
along the colonial idea and IS neat and
attractive in every way The buildings
VIII be two stories and attic with slopiuS
roofs and. unlike the buildings they re-
place. viii have every modern conveu~
fence.