Evening star., 1924-03-12
METHODIST HOME
CONTRACTS GIVEN
Unique Haven for Elderly People
Will Be Erected at
Gaithersburg.
-
PLAN BUILDING AT ONCE
Administration Structure Will Be
Constructed First.
PLAN BUILDING AT ONCE

| Contracts have been let for the con-
struction of the administration building
| of the Home for the Aged and Or
| phanase. to be developed at Gathers
| burg, Md, by the Baltimore confer
! ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, Of which Washington is part, it
was announced today by Rosell f..
| Mitchell Of this city, architect in charge
of the work.
! +. II. Brooks OF Gaithersburg has
been given the contract for the general
| construction, and Niett Company of
Rockville will install the plumbing and
heating.
| This building will occupy the crest
! of a knoll in the center of the 100 acre
| tract upon which the project is To-
Gated. II will eb of semi i-ireproof
! construction and will contain the Su-
perintendent's office, matron's room,
! dining room to accommodate l25, with
ample kitchen space and equipment, and
| sixty double bedrooms. \ central heat
| ing plaEt will supply vapor heat for the
building and viii be of such propor-
| tions that it may be used also to heat
the various other buildings that are TO
be constructed later. The architecture
! is pure colonial. In addition to an en-
| trance portico there viii be a double
!.
Layout of Interior.
| The interior will be modern in
| every respect and will have many
conveniences for elderly people who
I seek Il haven there. Hot and cold
/ water will be installed IN each room
! with 4 tiled bath adjacent to each.
! Fireproof exits are provided that
! will more than meet the needs. On
the first floor a roomy parlor is
\ provided.
| The Epworth Leagues OF the con-
! ference are raising funds for an ad-
| summer which will be. connected
| with the main building through
! a slassed-in corridor that will also
! serve as a sun parlor This building
| care of a large number OF people.
Plan Small Cottages
| The project has one unusual fea-
rure which will make ii almost
! unique as Il home for old people. The
! tract is being laid out in small lots
| upon which will be placed little
| cottages of three and four rooms.
! with kitchens and dining rooms. II
|. is planned that elderly couples who
have become dependent, but still de-
! sire to retain their private family
! life, may be assigned to these cot
|. tages They will be allowed to keep
| house as they did when they were
| in their own homes Their supplies
will be drawn from the commissaI'y
and heating will come from the
! Central plant. In this way they may
still enjoy their home life and will be
able TO invite in other couples at
the home for a little supper or to
| spend the evening.
Provide Garden Space.
| Sufficient ground will be available
around the houses SO that a lawn
may be maintained, flower garden
developed and in The rear of the
| houses vegetables and fruit may be
raised.
In addition to these little cottage
gardens. larger garden to meet
some of the needs of the home will
be developed. a dairy has already
| been established on the farm and it
will be added to as the need arises
Winding Drives Built.
Winding drives will be constructed
| throughout the project and decora-
/ tive trees and shrubs will be planted
Mr.. Mitchell. the supervising archi-
| tect, who is also a town pianner, is
arranging for the landscape plans He
declares that the home, when COM
plete, will be a place of beauty as
weld as a refuge for the needy.
! As is usual in homes of this nature,
! any property that the dwellers may
| possess must be turned over to the
home at the time of entering. but in
stead of losing the use of their prop
| erty they will receive s per cent on
/ their money as long as they live, the
| principal being used for development
and operating expenses.
| They will be able, with this income,
to make trips to the movies, to the
| Capital or wherever they desire upon
| permission of the superintendent
| The general idea of the home is to
! take care of the old folk in their
; need and yet to remove, as much as
| possible, any feeling Of dependency
The aim of the hackers is to have
/ them as happy and free from restric-
| tion as possible.
! Rev. j. j. Ringer, pastor of St
Paurs Methodist Episcopal Church
South in this city, is superintendent
! of the home. DR.. E. V. REGISTER, also
! Of this city, is chairman of the build
! ing committee.
! Plan Assembly Hall.
! other buildings to be erected later
, include an assembly hall where church
! services will be held and where en-
| tertainments, including movies and
! concerts. can be staged.
1 A large part of the funds for the
project is already subscribed, and
| bonds have been issued for the un-
paid portions of the subscriptions.
1 The work will be pushed as rapidly
! as possible, for a large waiting list
in fact, one far exceeding the accom-
modations of the first building-xis
/ eager to take up residence at the