Evening star., 1915-06-27
PATENT OFFICE SITE
MEANTF0R CHURCH
Original Plan of City Called for
Such a National
Edifice.
STRANGE SURROUNDINGS
OF PRESENT STRUCTURE
Abbatoir and Icehouse at Corners
Of Square-Thrifty Gardener
Cultivated Streets.
Old Public Buildings-No. 4.
BY JAMES CROGGoN,

southwest corner of the square was an
Ice house. Near the corner of 9Th and
G streets there lived a Scotch gardener
by the name of John Orr, and he cul-
tivated some Of the land in the lines
of reservation No. s. and a portion Of
it was known as Orr's orchard.
Before the location of a public build
ing on this ground was dreamed of
Mr. Orr was cultivating some of the
street beds and about 1920 he was
fined for so doing. The highest point
was the southeastern portion, the de-
scent being toward valley made by
Sluice run. in the square west. No at
tempt was ever made to use it as site
for a church. although there were a
few religious congregations not far off,
st. Patrick's. near 10th and F streets.
existing prior to 1900.
Plan for Buildings Approved.
The old Treasury Department and
the patent and post office buildings
having been burned. appropriations
were made July 4, 1885, for the Treas
ury and patent Office buildings, and in
1899 for the post Office. The plans of
William P Elliott were accepted, and
these provided for building 27O feet
in length, so feet in width, of two
stories and basement. and the work
was commenced the same year. Robert
Mills being the architect. 1t was com
pleted in 1910 and occupied by the
patent office force, then consisting of
about half dozen clerks.
The square was inclosed with
wooden picket fence, planted with
trees. etc. in 1912. and greenhouse
was erected for some Of the botanical
specimens brought to the United states
by the Wilkes expedition.
The upper story, one vast salon, was
arranged for exhibition purposes. and
although the fire had nearly complete
ly destroyed the collection of models,
etc. with much of the collection of the
National Institute, which had succeed
ed the old Columbia Institute. the mod
els and other articles were accumulat-
ing. Therefore this hall was arranged
for exhibits. one-half being given to
the use of the museum and the other to
the models and files with applications
for patents. In the main story rooms
were the clerks of the patent office
there being twelve rooms on this hoor
and one or two of the clerks were To-
Gated in the east end of the basement.
Patent Office Exhibit Interesting.
Cases were arranged for the exhibit
ton, with some against the walls. and
very rapidly they were filled up; SO
rapidly. indeed, that the question of
models. was being considered The ar
ticles in the museum. although but
handful. compared with those in the
National Museum. We're extremely in
teresting and valuable. and in those
days the patent office was known bet
ter to the sightseer than any other
building.
1t was not only attractive to the gen.
eral public but to the dishonest, for
scarcely year after 1t was opened to the
public, December 20, 1S41, some mis-
creant by, means of false keys got into
a case and absrracted a gold snuff box
studded with diamonds, a pearl necklace
and the gold scabbard of the sword which
were presented to Presidents Jackson.
Van Buren, and others. A thousand dol
lars reward was offered by the commits
sioner. H. L. Ellsworth. and they were
returned in shapelesS mass. Seven
years after, November s. 1S4s, these arti-
cles and others of value We're stolen at
night, and they were recovered and for
a number of years were locked up in the
State Department.
There were fifty-eight cases in the
museum in which were to be seen imple
ments of war. and for a number of years
the original Declarat ton of independence
(now locked up in the State Department. +,
Gen. Washington's uniform, sword. camp
equpage, etc, wer to be seen here.
Also collections made by the exploring
by Capt. Stonsbury to the Rocky noun
tains. the Egyptian mummies of John
Warden and, in short. there were speci-
mems of birds, animals and fish from
every section from which it was possible
to procure them and find room in which
to exhibit them.
Old Tavern on Raleigh Hotel Site.
The museum was crowded and some of
ha ifS nf ho Nati Inof it,,fo
unlocked. Not the least interesting was
the great Persian carpet presented to
President Van Buren by the Imaum of
Muscat and shawls presented to various
government officers by Asiatic monarchs.
These gifts, under the Constitution, could
not be accepted from ANY foreign prince
or potentate," and 1t was the custo mwtth
such gifts, if they could not be returned,
to deposit them in the State department.
Sometimes, however, perishable gifts. such
as Arabian horses, wild animals. etc. were
received. Their reception necessitated the
passage of law authorizing their sale
by the Secretary of State, as in his Gus
tody they ate their heads off.
There was at this time a tavern on the
site of the Raleigh Hotel, called the Foun-
tain Hotel, and. taverns being required
to accommodate both man and beast, it
had stable yard adjoining, and here the
sales of perishable articles took place.
Gen. McComb, few years before his
death. bought a pair Of Arabian horses
there.
1t is unnecessary to say that both the
model exhibition and that of the Curl
osities had much effect ON the general
public. aside from affording mere pleas
ure. There were number of instances
where the boys of the neighborhood
undertook to gather small museums
and not far from the building the loft
of a stable was fitted up with cases, in
wild animals. snakes and insects. as
well as stones of odd shapes. 1t is
known also that when there was a ma
tional fair season tickets were given
the exhibitors. and to secure these some
boys. with the aid of clock works. con-
trived machinery of no earthly use
whatever other than to make a noise
and excite curiosity. One little fellow
was the posSessor of such an instru-
ment, which he entered for the sake of
getting the tick ct, and when he noticed
the crowds about his machine. curious
to know what it was doing, informed
them that it WAS grinding air. But he
had ticket and the family was ad-
mitted almost nightly.
Nucleus for Smithsonian Exhibit.
Before 1850 there were about thirty
clerks and a half dozen watchmen, the
building being sarefully guarded day
and night From the museum 1here