Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-12
WILL SHIFT HOUSE
OF DEFINITIONS SITE
To Be Located in Old Turn
verein Hall, 928 N Street.
After December |.
NEIGHBORS MAY PROTEST

department, after December is to be
located at 92S NJ street northwest.
which for a number of years WAS occu-
pied by the Turn Verein Society. and
for many years was the residence of the
late Samuel Norment.
The fact that the house Of detention.
which for sixteen years has been
located on 18th street, south of New
York avenue. is to be moved to the "
street location has just become known.
although the District Commissioners
signed the lease for the property the
first of the month and workmen have
been making repairs for the past two
weeks.
Residents on NJ street, in that vicin-
ity. many of whom own their homes
and some have been there for
nearly forty years, heard Of the in
tended move several days ago. 1t was
stated last night that il is the inten-
ton of the residents to circulate
petition which is to be presented to the
Commissioners. urging that some Other
location be adopted. II also WAS in-
timated that legal action might be
taken in an effort to prevent its loca-
ton there.
Lease Already Signed.
Maj. Pullman, superintendent of po-
lice, when informed last night that
some of the residents of the neighbor-
hood had decided to enter protest.
pointed out that the Commissioners
have signed a lease for the property
and that workmen have been engaged
for the past two weeks in putting the
building in order for the house OF de-
tention.
Warren NJ. Whyte of s25 VI street, di-
rectly opposite the proposed location,
who heard only yesterday of the inten-
ton to place the house of detention
there, was indignant. He said he and
other owners of homes in the neighbor-
hood had for some time been endeayor-
ing to dispose of their property, and
that the location of the house of deteu-
ton there would greatly depreciate the
value of their properties. 1t also was
stated at the home of Maurice Joyce
922 NJ street, that the residents of the
nefghborhood had talked of circulating
a petition of protest.
The property where the detention
house Is to be located is owned by
at a public auction about two and q
half years ago. The building was
erected during the civil war by John
r. Elzans. contractor, at a cost of
about $4,000. The bricks in the build
ing, il is stated, were imported from
England, and many Of the doors are OF
solid mahogany. The door knobs and
some of the plates on the doors. II was
stated, are of solid silver.
The property was later purchased by
Samuel Norment, who resided there for
many years. Many social functions
were held in the mansion during the
time Mr.. Norment resided there. Upon
the death of Mr.. Norment the property
was held by his heirs.
The Turn Verein used the building
for some time clubhouse. but
three or four years ago gave up the
building. 1t has been vacant since
the present owner came into possession
of it.
Well Situated for Purpose.
The building is well situated for q
house of detention. Maj. Pullman said
last night, being central as to all the
police stations and within a short dis
tance of the Juvenile Court He called
attention to the fact that the struc-
ture is a detached one. and that light
and fresh air can be obtained from all
sides, something that has not been
had at the present detention house.
There is a thirty-foot alley in the
rear and ten-foot alley on the side.
At the present detention house the
children who are held there from two
days to a week for the Juvenile Court
nave been confined to the building ana
were not able to get out for exercise.
At the new location. Maj. Pullman said,
there is a large yard in the rear with
a ffteen-foot wall around il where
they will be permitted to play and
thus get sufficient exercise under the
eye of a guard.
A recreation room where the children
can play during inclement weather
also is to be a feature of the new
place. The woIkmeu have been busy
installing sanitary plumbing and
heating plant in the building, together
with making a general overhauling OF
the stable. where the van in which the
prisoners are taken from the police
stations to the Juvenile Court will he
kept.
The present house of detention prop
erty is owned by residents of England.
and the police department has been
paying an enormous rental for the
place, which, according to Mai Pull