The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-05-03
ENTER A NEW. HOME
SwartZell, Rheem d HenSey
Move TO 18th Street.
BUILDING OF UNIQUE DESIGN
Business Founded by ID. II. Warner
Passes Through Several Changes.
Present Corporation Created I'm
I0O4-Represents Clients in All
Parts of the Country.

Ailt new DuluiHk or llS SNaTLZelI,
Rheem & Hensey Company. at III Fiji
teenth street northwest was formally
opened TO the public last night at a re-
ception given by the members OF the com
pany 10 their many friends in Washing
ton
Fresh from the hands Of the contractor
and spick and span in its aew furnish
ings, the building, designed for a real es-
tate office, was Respondent with palms
and flowers. which added color and fra
GRANGE to tho splendid tinting of the
walls and the rich brown Of the mahog-
any woodwork Of the interior. The build
ing was brilliantly lighted last night, and
as the guests came and went after con-
graduating the owners upon their fine
office the scene suggested a state ball
rather than a private function in honor
Of an enterprising business house of the
National Capital
Designed by Paul J. PeIz,
The Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey build
ing was designed by Paul j. Pelz, Of this
city, and built by Norcross Brothers, Of
Worcester. Mass. The cost was approx
mately sl25,ooo, It has a frontage of 10
feet and a depth Of 30 feet. II Is two
stories high with basement The front
elevation is 80 feet high Within the en-
tire length Of the building is utilized for
the business purposes Of the firm, and il
has the general appearance of q banking
room Of modern design
The front is constructed Of white mar
bic from the quarrles of Dorset Vt and
was selected by the architect for its beau
tiful crystalline texture. The design is In
the italian style and has been much ad-
mired both by architects and iaymen
since its completion. Only enc expression
was heard last night from thu many who
looked for the first time upOr the inte-
rior-'What a beautiful buil1ing."
The Building in Detail.
Owing 70 the fact that the principal
room of the building receives light from
the sky, the front could be given great
solidity, There are but three openings,
the door and two windows The door is
in the center and the main feature of
the composition, around which the archi-
tecturaI details are successfully placed
forming several Trainings first the ash
Ter front: then. clusters of columns. III
lasters. steps and the main entablature.
and the wall faces against the neighbors
and the parapet
A flight of steps leads 10 q wide plat
form stretching between monolithic
blocks. The steepness Of the sidewalk
has been cleYerly overcome, so that the
bottom step is complete, showing a good
rise at the upper block. On the south
erly return on the subplinth Of the col.
umned cluster appears in Roman letters
and numerals: Paul J. Pelz, Architect
MCMVIII."
Description of the Walls.
From the platform rise the front wall
and the columned clusters fianking IT,
The wall is built up in eighteen-inch
asher. the horizontal joints are accentu-
ated by V-shaped joints in the fashion
practIced IN Northern italy during the
Renaissance period.
The two windows Of the front are cut
out frankly from the asher work. the
joints stopping with the window lambs.
plain. unadorned hntels covering the
openings. The only accumulation of these
features is in the window stills. which are
projecting, with nodded profles and re-
turns supported by pairs OF volute con-
soles with honeysuckle carvings in the
ends The window frames are of peacock
blue steel color. with transOm bars and
transom sashes over the main lights.
PiIasters of Corinthian Order.
The main entablature is evolved in the
sides by two groups Of columns and wall
pilasters OF the Corinthian order standing
on square, plain block stylobates. The
columns are futed, the pilasters are
plain-faced tied in every third course
with the wall masonry. The capitals
were designed after those OF the Pan
theon OF Rome.
The main entsblature is evolved in the
catholic cadence of architrave, frieze. and
cornice. The frieze is made ornate on !
the front face over the coupled columns |
by oak leaf festoons with ribbons, while |
in the middle stretch of the same member |
the name Of "Swartzell. Rheem and Hen |
sey Company" appears in Roman bronze /
Above the main entablature the design |
er allowed his imagination full rein, and |
while there is no excess or license. there |
is much that Is new and thoroughly en- |
joyable TO the eye. The column groups /
NolioasN u NVhRieO StS tpbutcos pam ana Il
graceful: then back of them, on a line /
with the main wall, is developed a large /
tablet with double base and cornice. |
fanked against and above the columned /
stylobates by two vigorous pilors large as
gate posts. highly ornate in carved cor
nices. well modelled lions heads, panel /
and wreaths forming in festoons
and hanging wreaths,
Shield os nrf03uaI nasf.
The center is occupied by a cartouche
or shield original in design and detail.
with guilloche ribbons and studs. with
floral branches upward eliminating in a
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