The Washington herald., 1909-05-04
CORNER STONE LAID
FOR new ACADEMY
Services Conducted by Right
Rev. 7. J. Shahan.
HOLY CROSS STUDENTS SING
Mgr. Lee, Rector of 1T. Matthew's
Church, FOregoes Address Owing
to High Wind-StOne Is Dropped
Into Place Amid Impressive Ritual.
Will BE Model Structure.

As the closing words Of the Latin ritual
o: the Catholic Church fell from the lips
Of Right Rev. Thomas Joseph Shahrn.
rector Of the Catholic University. a sig
nal was given. and with the ereaking Of
ropes and wood. the corner stone OF the
rev Holy Cross Academy was laid in
place yesterday afternoon.
Workmen {, sted the stone with their
levels. and as its bulk settled down in
the soft mortar the students OF the old
academy sang a hymn 10 the blessed
Virgin. Again Rev. Mr.. shahan read
from his ritual, and with a hymn OF
praise swelling from the throats OF the
assembled students the ceremonies were
completed.
Throughout the ceremonies we're i'm
Pressive- The solemn monotone Of the
priests voice. half-drowned by the whist
ling wind; the sisters from a dozen par
ishes. dressed in black and with their
white-turbaned heads bowed in prayer.
and the gay dresses and parasols Of the
students. made a picture that stood out
bolding against the background Of green
foliage
Right Rev. shahan Lays stone.
The services were started shortly after
o'clock The Right Rev. Shahan stepped 10
the front Of the platform. and. raising
bis hand for silence. began TO read the
corner stone ritual OF the church He
paused several times 10 sprinkle the stone
with holy water. As he neared the end
Of the service he was handed the silver
trowel and after a few deft passes stood
back. and the stone settled into place.
The service took lass than twenty min
Utes
Mgr. Lee. rector Of 81. Mathews
Church. was scheduled 10 deliver an ad-
dress. but because Of the high wind
asked that the services be concluded with
the actual laying OF the stone.
In the copper box placed In the corner
Of the building. were the newspapers Of
the day, current magazines. and a num-
Der OF coins Of latest minIage-
Work on the new edifice VIII progress
rapidly from this date. and the architects
and builders hope 10 have the building
ready for occupancy by October
When completed, the new academy viii
be one OF the finest ladies' seminaries
IN the South or East Il VIII cover
nearly two acres Of ground, and. standing
on a height. viii be visible from ali
parts OF the city
About FIVE years ago. the Sisters Of
Holy Cross Academy bought the old
Dumbarton Hail estate, close 20 the
Chevy Chase car line. and situated on a
hill about a mile beyond Rock Creek
Park The property is bounded on the
east and south by the old Pierce Min
road. and comprises about twenty-three
acres Of land.
The building Itself viii face south, and
viii be five stories high. with basement.
cellar, and subceliar- There Is a frontage
Of 80 feet. and two wings, each I'D feet
deep. The edihce viii be built Of specially
prepared impervious brick and Georgia
marble, with mulliOns for the windows Of
marble.
VIII Have 1OO-fOOt Tower.
A central tower viii rise above the
main entrance 10 a height OF about 10
fest and VIII be built OF Georsia maro'
The architecture is Of the Gothic style.
with divergences 10 the Tudor.
The estimated cost OF the building is
$50. .0oo. Special pains are being taken 10
make the building hreproof, and every
modern sanitary arrangement has been
installed The majority Of the rooms for
pupils are provided with private baths.
A feature OF the new school viii be the
roof. which Is TO be built Of tiles and will
be adaptable to a roof garden OF play
ground Elevators xiii be installed aud
the kitchens will be provided with special
electrical heating and cooking apparatus
The architects who designed the build
ing are 7. H Poole < Co. Of New York
and Washington, and the firm has aimed
70 make the new academy IN every re-
spect superior TO ary other similar edu-
catiOnal institution in the country The
firm has built many Catholic Institutions
ard has put into the new building expe-
rieuCe OF many years. The Brennan Con
strUction Company has charge OF the ac-
tual work Of construction.
AiT. Poole and Mr.. Struther. Of the ar
chitectUral firm. and the president Of the
Brennan Construction Company were at
the ceremonies yesterday, 1lr. Brennan
contributing an immense box OF Ameri-
can Beauty roses which were later dis
tributed among the various sisters. who
came from St CeciIia's. ST Patrick's. St.
JOseph's, and St. PaUFs.
The Sisters Of the Holy Cross. With the
mother house in Notre Dame. Ind, have
ramihcatons Throughout the United
States supplying some Of the most i'm
portsnt educational and charitable instl-
tUtiOns OF which the Catholic church
boasts. The sisters have been among the
pioneers n the parochiaI school move
ment in the United States and have been
situated in Washington for thirty ye4rs.