Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-10
DEATH OF P.J.DRENNAN
Prominent Contractor, Aged
80, Passes Away.
ILLNESS OF TWO WEEKS
Result of Accidental Overturning of
an Automobile.
HIS ACTIVE BUSINESS CAREER
Construction Company of Which He
Was President Controls Large
Paving Contracts.
HIS ACTIVE BUSINESS CAREER

Patrick j. Brennan, local contractor,
died about l2::D o'clock last night AT his
country home. the Duvall estate. HNatts-
vile. Md. He had been i'll only about
two weeks. from the effects of an acct
dent which happened to him while he
was returning to Hyattsville one after
noon i'll his automobile. His machine
came i'll contact with a buggy and was
overturned the contractor being thrown
to the road and severely injured His
right side was very much discolored as a
result of the accident, and he was badly
shaken up. but his friends did not antici-
pate a fatal termination. His wife was
with him constantly during his Illness
The announcement this morning of his
death caused profound sorrow in bust
ness circles, as well as to host of
friends of the deceased. Very few of his
closest personal friends knew of the SER
iousneSs of his illness and they were
greatly shocked. at the news. Express .ons
of sincere sorrow and sympathy were
conveyed to the widow and sisters of the
deceased this morning and many friends
called a the country home of the Bren-
mans to say a word of coincidence.
Native of Ireland.
p. j. Brennan was thirty-eisht years of
age. He was born in the county of Gal
way. ireland, and came to this country
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs Michael
Brennan, in 1882. His father was in the
employ of the Crawford Paving Company
for many years prior 10 his death, which
occurred about fifteen years ago. His
mother died about eighteen months ago.
N al Z.
young Brennan accepted a position with
the Crawford Paving Company and when
he had mastered the work he went into
business for himself. afterward proving
ious competitors in the asphalt pavement
work. Michael Brennan. his father, it is
said, superintendent the laying of the
first asphalt pavement put down in this
city. He was in charge of the old tar
shed near Washington Circle, which was
afterward destroyed by fire.
Many big contracts were awarded the
Brennan Construction Company. of which
Il. j. Brennan was president and general
business manager. both government and
private corporations. as well as lndiv-
duals, favoring the firm The firm did the
brick work on the Senate and House
of Representatives office buildings. the
new Army Medical Museum and other big
structures and much of the street work.
More Than 81 100000 in Contracts.
At this time the firm has contracts
include the Southern railway and Holy
Cross Academy. buildings.
District government officials expressed
much regret this morning when they
learned of the death of Mr.. Brennan. The
Brennan Construction Company. of which
the deceased was the active head. has
Z, II So, r.,
several years has been a regular bidder
for street paving and repair work.
Mr.. Brennan created quite d stir at the
District building in the spring of 1858,
when he charged that there had been
favoritism on the part of District officials
in the division of the contract for street
and gutter paving between the Brennan
Company and the Crawford
Paving Company. 1t was alleged that
had been awarded to the Gran
ford Paving Company without competi-
ton, although the Brennan Construction
Company would have put in lower bids
had the contracts not been awarded with
out competition.
While the Commissioners decided, after
that the charges of favorit-
ism were without foundation, Mr.. Bren-
nan succeeded in getting an order from
the Commissioners prohibiting the issuing
of orders for street paving before the ap-
were actually available.
Negotiations have been in progress for
some time between officials of the District
government and representatives of the
Brennan company regarding alleged over
payments to that company for asphalt
and binder for street repair work, involv-
ing about $4,000. A proposition of the
District for equitable basis of settle
ment was under consideration by Mr..
Brennan and his legal representatives at
the time of his death.
The deceased was charitably inclined
and was always a liberal contributor TO
church and educational institutions. He
was also connected with fraternal or
CARNATIONS and financial institutions. AS
secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul So
ciety Mr.. Brennan had come in close
contact with many of the worthy poor
and had done much to alleviate their
distress He was member of Washing
ton Council, knights of Columbus; Of
Carroll Institute anu of the board of di-
rectors of the Commercial National Bank;
was a member of Washington Lodge of
Elks and officially connected with Provi-
dence Hospital. For many years he dis
played great interest in the work of the
Catholic University of America and of
Georgetown College.
Insisted on Attending to Business.
At the time the accident happened to
him he consulted his family pily stefan.
DR. Newman. He suffered much pain.
Dut diO not thllk ne hdu Deei seriously
injured. Instead of remaining in bed, he
insisted upon attending to business, sew
eral contracts requiring his attention.
Last Friday came the serious turn for
the worst. and since that time he re-
manned partly unconscious up to the time
OF his death. Mrs. Brennan and two sis
ters OF the deceased-Mrs. Agnes O'Brien.
wife OF Detective Patrick O'Brien, and
Mrs. Marian HauZe. wife of Policeman
HauZe of the White House squad-and
Rev Fathers Heath Of St. Jerome's Cath
Ollie Church, Hyattsville. and O'Connell of