Evening star., 1926-06-08
ORPHAN ASyLUN'S
HOME TO Be BEGUN
Mrs. Coolidge to Turn First
ShoveIfuI of Earth for
Buildings Tomorrow.

Mrs Calvin Coolidge tomorrow
afternoon at 1 O'Clock will turn the
first shovelful of earth for the new
building of the Washington City Or
phan Asylum on Nebraska avenue.
Hill Crest, as the institution will
be known, will be situated on mag
nficent tract of 1879 acres just east
of Mount Vernon Seminary. but the
school will retain its century-old
corporate name of the Washington
City Orphan Asylum.
With its history are wrapped up
some of the oldest and finest tra-
ditions of the National Capital. and
names like Dolly Madison and other
women who dominated the social and
political scene 100 years ago. To
morrow's ceremonies will he III charge
of the present board OF lady managers
of the orphan asylum, of which Mrs
w. V. Cox is the president. The
other lady managers are Mrs. Huston
Thompson. Mrs. Douglas T. Birnie,
Mrs l.. NJ. Saunders. Mrs. Is. w.
Parker, Mrs. Mark Kaufman, Mrs.
A. b. Brown, Miss Fonrose Vain
wright, Mrs. Fernando Cunihertl. Mrs
Andrew Bradley, Mrs. William ID.
Colt, Miss Carrie Tisdel Mrs. +. A.
Fenning Mrs. Wrisley Browne and
Mrs. George NJ EcheIS'
Began in 1914.
In 1914 Mrs. Van Ness. wife OF
Gen. Van Ness. a member OF Con
sress from New York, gathered a few
orphans OF. the War oi lSl2 ana
placed them in her own home, put
ting TWO rooms at their disposal. Dur
Ing the same year Mrs. Van Ness
interested a number of promlnen>
Washington women in project to
establish an orphans asylum, among
them. Mrs. James Madison, wife OF
the then President of the United
States. Congress was petitioned for
a charter and in 1915 one was granted
to the "WaShingtOn City Orphan
Asylum" Mrs. Madison was made
first directress'' and president OF the
Board of Lady Managers, though she
never presided at the meetings. Mrs.
Van Ness was the founder and head
Of the institution. Mrs Madison pre-
scented COW to the asylum, thus
evincing her interest in the physical
Welfare of the child inmates. Mrs.
Van Ness gave the land for the first
establishment. large site on II
street between Ninth and Tenth
streets. For many years the children
lived there. until the place was Sold
to st. Joseph's Asylum.
The Washington CiIy OrDhanaGc
was transferred 10 the house 203 l
street, built by Senator Rice. i'll what
was called Douglass row. ser-es OF
three large double houses which.
though not entirely completed. were
used as a hospital during the Civil
War.
Corcoran Gave Tract.
The City Orphan Asylum. having
no permanent home. V. w. tOrcoran
gave a large tract of land ~ our
teenth and ) streets. Nal-c the
buildings now in use T.c"a erected.
the corner stone of these buildings is
a block taken from the Clieed States
Capitol when rebuilt after the burn
ing by the British army.
The State Department. being in
need of new quarters and the asylum
being in want OF funds, The buildings
were rented to the Governments. Tfc
diplomatic corps made incessant
complaint that the American for
eign office" was so far oU1 OF the city.
In those days there were no paved
streets in Washington. and the cOun-
try roads We're at times almost i'm
paSsable. While the State Depart
ment was in occupancy of those re
mote quarters. the Alaska boundary
question was settled and signed.
In 1875 or 1876 the asylum moved
into its own building-a fine one Tor
the time, but now out of date and
unfit for the purpose intended. The
institution is endowed, though not to
large extent Congress gives no
help. nor are District of Columbia
funds available.