Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
Capital Sidelights

Capitol and completing this principal
building of the greatest Nation In the
world, 1t is of historic and sentimental
interest to note that August Schoen-
born was architectural craftsman for
Thomas u. Walter, architect Of the
great dome and Of the Senate and
House wings, and who, nearly 20 years
ago planned and advocated the extern
sion which is now being brought to
the attention of Congress.
A grandson of Schoenborn, who
has followed in his professional foot
steps, is today the right-hand man of
David Lynn, architect of the Capitol.
In bringing those plans UP to date
for presentation to Congress. This
Is August Eccard, civil and architec-
tural engineer in the Office of the
architect of the Capitol. Since his
early youth Mr.. Eccard has heard his
grandfather discuss details of the
famous Walter plans and all his life
has been interested in the prospect of
some day seeing the Capitol, which
mas been workshop for both of them,
architecturally completed. Thus the
threescore and ten years that have
elapsed since the plans were first de-
signed have been bridged and the
work can now be completed with the
same spirit and complete understand
ing and sympathy as though carried
out by that famous builder Of the
Capitol himself.
The evolution of the Capitol from a
comparatively small and insignificant
structure to its present magnitude
and nobility is interesting to trace.
The southeast corner stone Of the orig.
lnal north wing was laid on September
~, 1893. The surrounding country
was then a wilderness. George Wash
lngton, then President of the United
states and master of the Virginia
Masonic Lodge, No. %, was the lead.
ing figure of the occasion and took
the trowel in his own hand and laid
the stone.
The first few years of building were
marked by a succession of quarrels
between architects, contractors. Dis
trlct commissioners and Executive.
Actual progress on the foundations of
the old north and south wings was
not made until July, 1895. The north
wing was completed first and into
1t In 1900 the Supreme Court and the
House OF Congress moved. The south
wing was finished in 1911 and work
was about to begin on the central
section and the old rotunda when the
War of 1912 interviewed. The wings
that had been finished were partially
DESTROYED by the British troops on
April "a. 1914.
On the restoration of peace in 1915.
the task Of rebuilding was taken up.
and the structure was improved by
use oEjbetter materials. The founda.
lions of the central building were laid
IN 1913 and the edifice was completed
IN 1897, capped by a homely little
wooded dome sheathed with copper.
The extensions on the north and
south, by which 1877 feet were added
to each side. were begun in 1851. The
corner stone of the new south wing
was laid by President Fillmore on
july 4, 1851. In December of that
year the west facade of the central
building, which until 1897 was occu.
pied by the Library of Congress, was
accidentally destroyed by fire. This
was restored the next year in connec.
ton with the new construction work.
Both extensions were partially COM
pleted in 1857. The House of Repre-
sentatives first met in the new hall,
which is now Statuary Hall, in De-
cember OF that year, and the Senate
met for the first time in the new
Senate chamber on January 4, 1859.
The new dome was finished in 1868,
and on December 2 of that year
Thomas Crawford's colossal statue of
Freedom was raised to crown it. Ar
chitect Walter, who had designed and
engineered the wings and dome, re.
signed In 1865, and the remaining Dor
tons Of the wings, including their por-
ticos and sta-rcases, were completed in
1857 by his successor, Edward Clark,
by whom the beautiful marble ter
races on the west front were begun
in 1882 and finished in 1891.
Although mot a creation but a
growth the Capitol, in symmetry,
dignity, grandeur and sublimity, has
been called the noblest public building
of modern times. Many of our State
capitol buildings have been modelled
after 1t. and the architecture Of
others has been more or less influ-
enced by 1t. Moreover, 1t stands as
the physical and visible nucleus Of
the Federal Government. Begun away
back In Washington's day, 1898, par
TALLY destroyed and then restored, and
added to as the public needs In
creased, 1t has now become a veritable
ediflce - history epitomizing our
growth as Nation.
So -
One of the veteran. most efficient
and popular woman employees at the
Capitol is about to retire, and leading
politicians from all over the country
who, during more than 80 years, have
noted her helpfulness in Republican
party campaigns, are regretting her
departure. She is favor
ably known throughout the entire
Federal establishment.
Miss May Carroll, secretary to Rep
Patterson Of the first New
Jersey district, has announced her
determination to retire from public
life when the Sixty-ninth Congress
concludes its sessions on March
next. She will have had an active
land conscientious) political experience
Of 81 years.
Miss Carroll was asked If she ex-
pected to retain her position with the
of Representative Patterson,
and her reply was an emphatic mo.
I have served as secretary under three
from the first New Jer-
sey district, and the charm might be
broken If went beyond the magic
number"
The experience of Miss Carroll in
public life has been both unique and
When a young girl she
accepted clerkship to the committee
on pensions under Representative
Harry Loudenslager, then chairman.
She was also associated with Repre-
William J. Browning, when
he was chief clerk of the House, and
later became his secretary when he
was elected to Congress.
After his sudden and Iamentable
death his successor, Representative
Patterson, asked Miss Carroll to con-
.inue in the position and she consented
70 do so. Her work under the regime Of
Mr.. Patterson has been most arduous,