Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-02
GRAF TSMEN PLAN
]. FOR EXHIBIT HERE
Memorial Art Design Show
viii Be Feature. of
4 August Session.

A nniIlion-dollar memorial art design
show ia to be brought to Washington
next Summer in connection with the
convention of the Memorial Crafts
men of America, who will meet here
August 1920, and arrangements just
completed by the Washington Conven
ton Bureau, and sanctioned by high
Government officials, call for the set
ting up of a model cemetery as an
exhibit on vacant land south of Union
Station Plaza.
In announcing the signing of the
convention, G.. K. La Vigne, director OF
the Convention Bureau. today declared
the exhibits of the craftsmen would
he not only one of the most unusual
ever staged here. but perhaps the
largest. Orders have been given, he
said. for the transportation here OF
1000 tons of marble and granite
monuments which will be set up in the
model cemetery"
Models From Abroad.
Monuments great and small are
being shipped to the United State:
from Germany, Italy and Scotland
which will be added to the exhibits
Of craftsmen from all sections of this
country. More than 1000 delegates
vention, which will have headquarters
at the Wardman Park Hotel, and 500
firms have announced they would have
exhibits in the cemetery" The
total value of the exhibits is placed
at 100000.
This exhibit, which will include all
manner of memorials, will range from
huge shafts to tiny headstone markers.
II viii be housed in a giant tent cover
ing nearly 10000 square feet required
for the show.
The land to be used for the exhi-
bftion lies between Delaware avenue
and First street northeast, d and e
streets and is part of the plot recently
acquired by the Government for de-
velopment into park approach to the
Capitol. Permission was obtained
from the Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the House, the
architect of the Capitol and many
other officials for setting up the "ceme-
terry" Mr.. La Vigne said.
The services of one of the leading
architects of the country will be en-
listed in laying out the cemetery.
grass will be erected in front of each
memorial exhibit stone and winding
gravel walks with an occasional iron
bench will be provided.
LaVigne Idea Favored.
Plans for the unusual convention
exhibition, together with arrange
ments for the sessions of the conven-
ton itself, were laid this week during
conferences here between Mr.. La Vigne
and Robert II. Warner of Raleigh,
". c., vice president of the crafts
mems organization; Z. Z. Cassidy of
Chicago, executive secretary: r. l..
Belknap. Pittsburgh, Pa. executive
committee member, and c. J. Armi-
tage, Cleveland. Ohio, who will super
wise the show
The Washington Convention Bureau
had been seeking the convention of
the craftsmen since last Fab in com
petition with many cities. Unable to
offer the convention a building having
between 10000 and $4,000 square feet
of floor space for the memorial design
show. Mr.. La Vigne proposed an out
of-door exhibit in model cemetery"
and the idea met with approval by the
craftsmen.
In addition to the regular business
sessions and the design exhibitions,
the delegates are planning a trip to
Mount Vernon, a barbecue at Mar
shall Hall, dancing. golfing and sight
seeing.