The Washington herald., 1908-07-05
Man WHO BUILT IT
James L. Parsons Is Proud
OF Municipal Building.
HIS BIGGEST AND BEST WORK
Contractor Was n Virginian and
Served Through Civil Wnr-Start-
ed I'm business Here in 1874.
Erected Some of the Finest Build
inGS I'm City-Plays Game Alone.

The name OF James L. Parsons Is asso-
ciated with that which is best in the work
Of construction in Washington. He has
been in business as a contracto. in this
city since 1874. and has erected under con-
| tract some of the largest and finest struc-
lures Of the National Capital.
Mr.. Parsons looks upon the Municipal
Building, in an important sense. as his
crowning work. He stated the other day
that IL had been the biggest Job he had
ever undertaken. He said he had accom-
plished the task alone. without partners
or company behind him of highly spe-
c!alized experts 70 aid him. He had car
ried the construction through as a gentle
he thought that some credit was due him
under the circumstances
AS for the quality Of the work, Mr..
Parsons said the building stood open 10
the world and would speak for itself. He
took pride in the thought that 1t was
good piece OF work well done. and that
II would be recognized as such as long as
it should stand and be devoted 10 the
purposes for which IL was planned
NrSlnlnu Dy Birth.
Mr.. Parsons was born and passed his
boyhood on a plantation I'm Louisa County,
Va His father was a planter IN that
county and a large stakeholder. and be-
fore the misfortune OF the civil war was
regarded as being wealthy
James L. Parsons was fifteen years old
in 1862. and. like other Southern boys. ne
was fired with loyalty 70 Old Virginia
and the cause for which the State stood
In the war. He enlisted. joining the
forces led by Stonewall Jackson. He par
ticipated in the battles OF Cedar Run,
second Bull Run. Antietam. Fredericks-
burg the Wilderness. and the hopeless re-
treat before the Northern armies along
the James River 10 Richmond and Ap-
pOmattOx. Mr.. Parsons saw the soldiers
life in all its bearings, and came out of
the war unhurt and a young and healthy
man.
Mr. Parsons went West after the war
and worked year on a farm at Leaven-
worth, Kans. firing Of this however. he
learned the carpenters trade IN the Quar-
termaster's Department Of the army.
where he remained for several years. He
came 10 Washington in 1872 and worked
for two years here as a journeyman car
penter.
Starts ns Contractor I'm 1874.
Il was in 1874 that Mr.. Parsons started
as n contractor. and he has labored in
that field untiringly since that time. Be
sides the Municipal Building. he erected
the Congress Hall Hotel, the Marlboro
apartment house. Stoneleigh Court. Hav-
enner's and Corby's bakeries, the Con
gressional apartment house. the residences
Of Thomas W. Smith and P. H. McLoch-
lin. the National City Bank. the power
house OF the Capital Traction Company,
and the College OF History at the Ameri-
can University.
Mr.. Parsons prides himself on the fact
that he has never had a partner. in the
sense OF forming a company 20 carry on
the work OF a contractor To use HIS own
phrase, he has played the game alone.
and, Il might be added. ever 90 a win
ming hand.
In his work on the Municipal Building
Mr.. Parsons has been assisted by his son
and daughter. both OF whom have taken
much Of the details from his shoulders.
Has Pride in Good Building.
Mr.. Parsons stated that his life had
been one OF hard work. in which he had
sought to put UP good buildings, as we'll
or better than others would do II, and at
a cost equaling or less than those OF his
competitors.
Mr.. Parsons feels commendable pride
in the Municipal Building and is glad
that II fell 20 his lot 10 erect it. He says
he feels that the municipality has a good
home, one substantially constructed, and
one which will be an ornament 10 the city
OF Washington for many years. He said
the other day that the completed struc-
ture was source OF great satisfaction
TO him. in that the people Of Washington
seemed 10 think well OF II and were proud
Of the new abiding place Of the city gov
ernment