Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-21
Some Facts About
Judiciary Square.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star.
Please stand by, as they say over
the radio. Here are some facts in
regard to Judiciary Square. This
square originally embraced all the
space between D and G. streets.
Fourth and Sixth streets northwest.
1t was evidently in the L'Enfant
plan, as a space designated as Jul
dietary Square may be found on all
old maps and charts of the city; as
far back as 1900 it appears on the
map. Unfortunately. the original
plans of L'Enfant were lost. There
were never any buildings of per-
manent nature built on this square
until the City Hall was erected, the
corner stone of which was laid in
1920. The east wing was erected in
1916 and the west wing in 1849. In
1915 they were casting about for a
suitable site for a city hall and they
finally decided to locate it on the
south side of the square, facing d
street. at the intersection of Indiana
and Louisiana avenues. There was
some question at the time as to how
to defray the expense of constructing
the building and it was said at the
time that they should organize lot
terry in order to raise the fund. This
iiiCliioo was IloI uIuSudl III lLooc
days.
In 1917 when the building was I'M
dergoing repairs and renovation the
court was temporarily removed to
other buildings.
During the Cos it was quite Gus.
tomary for the circus to exhibit in
Judiciary Square. 1t is related that
George Washington on several occa-
sions attended the circus while in
this city, and likely enough, the great
show of the English circus exhibited
in this square. The inauguration
ball. March 4, 1861, took place in a
huge building erected for the pur-
pose in the square quite near the
courthouse. 1t was on a grand scale,
and while the exterior would suggest
the tabernacle of Billy Sunday, the in
terror was most deliberately decorated,
and the illumination was very bril-
liant.
A few years ago a large building
was erected near the northwest cor
ner of the courthouse, an annex for
the court officials. On the north side
of the square. facing G. street, is a
huge pile Of red brick, the Pension
Bureau Building. Just above the
windows of the first story there is
a girdle of terra Gotta, and on this, in
high relief, are shown a string of
marching soldiers; in fact, an attempt
was made to represent every branch
of the service. The designs are re-
peated q great number of times
around the four sides of the building.
The building is anything but impos-
ing, but the interior is very attraC-
TIVE, and. we might say, artistic. 1t
was in this building, March i. 1885,
that the great Democratic inaugural
ball was held; it was incomplete at
the time. being covered by tempo
rary roof. The building was finished
in 1887. The ball. on this occasion,
was well attended, there being pres
ent many prominent Democrats and
aristocrats. One of the conspicuous
figures attending the ball was recog-
nized to be that of William +. Cody,
Buffalo Bill" with his ambrosial
locks and dropping moustache and
everything. He certainly was a noble
type of a man and attracted quite
as much attention as did the Presi-
dent on this occasion.
FRANKLIN STEELE.