Evening star., 1926-10-31
CHEERFUL ORPHAN
ASYLUM GOING UP:
OId.StyIe Severity of Archi-
lecture Avoided in Nebras-
ka Avenue Site.

A noteworthy example Of modern
institutional architecture, substitut-
ing for the cold severity of the old
style orphan asylum cheerful. home
like "children's village" is taking
shape on the 14-acre plateau at Ne
braska avenue and Loughboro road.
The new group of buildings. to be
called Hillcrest, will relegate into his
tory the familiar red-brick home of the
Washington City Orphan Asylum.
which has been a landmark at Four
teenth and S streets for more than go
years.
Located just beyond the Mount
Vernon Seminary on a site reputed to
be the highest in the District of Co
lumbia. Hillcrest will provide for the
unfortunate charges of this 112-year-
old ol'phanage community group de-
signed to look like private dwellings,
with facilities surprising many mod
ern residences.
Plans for Institution.
The complete plans call for a CEN
trail administration building with office
and clinical equipment, as well as an
auditorium and gymnasium, around
which will be grouped the cottages
housing the young wards. The CEN
tral building will face Nebraska ave-
nue., overlooking wide lawn and
shrubbery to the front and a circular
terraced garden, with tall f1agpole, on
the eastern slope, toward Wisconsin
avenue.
Three of the cottages and a service
building, the latter containing laun-
dry, garage, employees quarters, tenn
porary infirmary. etc, already are
nearing completion.
There is nothing to suggest the in"
stitutional character of the group even
in the service building. The buildings
to the second story are of field stone.
and are finished off above with Eng
lish half.timber trim and slate roofs.
All construction is fireproof.
Feature for Children.
A feature of the development will be
nursery cottage, the gift of an
anonymous donor. which will take
care of the smaller "runabout" chill
dren. This wip be rambling one
story structure built around an open
| patio, where the youngsters may rOmp
with perfect safety under the eyes of
| the house mothers. The furniture is
| to be children's size and there will be
| a special toy closet. Interior decora-
tions will be colorful, to please the
eyes of children.
The cottages for the older children
will accommodate 20 each. They are
L-shaped and so placed as to afford
| the occupants plenty Of sunshine and
| fresh air. The second floors will con-
tain six single rooms for older chill
| dren who wish to exercise their sense
Of proprietorship. Each cottage has
living and dining rooms. screened
| porches, study room kitchen. play
| rooms. visitors rooms and domestic
| science shops.
The latest developments Of science
in the way Of home equipment will
be Incorporated. including oil burn
ers. electric refrigerators, vacuum
cleaners, incinerators. automati water
heaters, etc.
Grounds Well Planned.
The ground plans have been laid
out with a view to preserving as
nearly as possible the natural topogra-
ply of the land. A wooded ravine
to the rear will be an attraction for
the children. and we'll planned play
grounds, including a~'children's cir
GUS" are provided.
The Washington City Orphan Asy-
lum is one Of the oldest child-caring
institutions in the country, having
been founded In 1914 as a refuge for
orphans Of the War Of 1912. 1t is
supported by invested funds donated
by public-spirited men and women. Of
this city over a period Of more than
100 years. Further funds will be
necessary, however. to complete the
present building program, officials Of
the home state. 1t Is hoped that
private donors will subscribe funds
for the erection of cottages as indi-
vidual memorials. Money also is need
ed for the administration building.
a scale model Of Hillcrest Is now
on view at the Riggs National Bank.
Appleton P. Clark. jr.. Is the architect
and Horace w. Peaslee the landscape
designer. The board Of trustees con-
sists Of w. E. Edmonston. Blair Lee,
Erwin 3. Linton. c. Clinton James
| and George Francis Williams. Mrs.
w. V. Cox heads the board Of lady
managers.
The first white settlement in Ne