The Washington times., 1913-12-28

buildings were erected in this style,
notably the Armstrong Manual Training
School, the Western High School, the
Chevy Chase School, and the Business
High School.
In the case of the Armstrong School,
almost constant complaint has been
made concerning the lighting Of the
, rooms, and the study hall was almost
worthless on account OF insufficient
light. The Commissioners were ap-
pealed to with request that additional
windows be added.
In. the case of the Western High
| School, on account of insufficient light
F; ing, a special appropriation was made
by Congress to change the design Of
f; the building and Increase the window
! space.
At the Chevy Chese School. after
| three years of complaint, from the
board of education, an appropriation
| was obtained for the construction of an
| addition, and the windows of the Z.
| nal building were increased to improve
the lighting.
When a recent addition was made to
the Business High School, the windows
were increased beyond reasonable pro-
portions for style OF type of architec-
ture. .-. ..--. ....,E-.
ItOTEldU stylG Ildu Dc6U SIll-
ployed spells impracticability from start
TO Iinish, through the fundamental in
ability to measure UP to the first re-
quiremsnt-light insufficient light
means alteration, and alteration means
money, and that means that the build
ings are going TO be too much of
luxury for Congress to sanction.
Architect Has Wide Comprehension.
In 1877, Congress appointed a COM
mission to visit the principal cities in
the United States for the sole purpose
of studying the different types Of archi-
lecture employed in the building OF
schools. That commission was most
favorably impressed with the st. Louis
and Boston schools, which are. almost
invariably, of the Tudor, Elizabethian,
or Jacobean type. Since that time, I'M
der the direction of Snowden Ashford.
the municipal architect, with but one
or two exceptions, school buildings OF
Washington have been designed in that
style
The story, as told by Mr.. Ashford
himself, In a recent interview, shows
that not only are we on the right track
at last, but that Washington is particu-
larly fortunate in being provided with
municipal architect who is endowed
with a consistent and definite artistic
sense, perfectly balanced at all times
by a practicability which l'eeps his
ideas in perfect harmony with the
wants of the child and the pocketbook
of Congress. The first intention was to
interview Mr.. Ashford on the new Gen.
tral High School all by itself. but when
he began to talk and to tell of the
struggle for an adequate and better
type OF school. and made the writer
realize that this new high school was to
stand for much more than just a new
building for the children of the District,
it was impossible to keep to the original
intention.
The new Central High School will
be one Of the finest school buildings In
the country said Mr. Ashford. The
Tudor type of architecture. in which
IT will be built, is not only the most
advisable from an artistic point of
view. but it lends itself admirably to
every practical and modern character
istic Of the latest school. The school
should harmOnize with the home.
Schools are not made to be placed in
suburban. or should be- The school in
the downtown district has long ago
been abolished, and they are being put
farther and farther out in the residen- |
building be compelled to compete archi- |
tecturally with buildings with which It
has no legitimate association? Tlt:
school should be home type, as long
as it is TO be in the midst OF homes. 1t
Is not an office building, nor should II
compete in the case of the Washington
school, with the public buildings of ma
t'onal import. The fenestration Of a |
school building determines TO a large
extent the architectural type. After the |
experience with the Manual
Training School, the Business School and
others built In the Georgian or Colonial
style. IL would be madness to think of
rejecting this Jacobean or Tudor style
Of architecture, which lends itself CO
plIantly to the idiosyncrasies of tho |
modern public school"
All the Old Will O..
He was more than hopeful for the
chances of a new Eastern High School, |
and said: They will at least get the
site, and the rest will only be a matter |
of a few years-Yes, that building will |
in no way be eclipsed by the new Gen. |
tral school. and may possibly be even !
street school is provided with an ath- |
letic field. IL still has no baseball |
grounds, and. owing to the difference in |
the price of land In IN" two sections
Of the city. the othe~ SChool may be |
able to have one provided"
There are about eighty-five OF the old |
brick buildings left, and many of them
will stand for good deal OF wear |
None seem in need of being condemned
Just at present. but they will all i
gradually go, one at a time. Just as /
surely AS the old red brick building |
meant "schoolhouse'' in our childhood, |
will the home-like and Widowed |
pleasant Tudor-Jacobean building of /
the future spell in even a more wonder
ful meaning for children the word