Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-02

To this Editor of The star:
The movement to give the United
States Supreme Court new home is
raising q question MS to the genuine
ness Of one of our country's noted
landmarks.
Upon the site chosen for the Sill
prenie Court Building stands q great
gray edifice that long has been hon
ored as the "Old Brick Capitol" The
condemnation proceedings have led to
the assertion that this building is not
the stofied one IL has been supposed to
be--that the famous "Old Brick Cap
itol" was utterly demolished years ago.
A most serious assertion. This build
ing, II genuine, u.s. except for the pres
ent Capitol and the White House, the
most historic in Washington; IL spuri-
Gus. the country has wasted upon 1t
good deal Of sentiment and bronze
plate.
To get at the facts, something of the
undisputed record must first be given.
After the burning of Washington by
the British in 1914, certain citizens
fastened to erect large brick building
for the use of Congress. 1t stood where
now stands the building In question,
just outside the Capitol grounds, at the
corner OF First and A streets northeast;
and 1t probably saved to Washington
the seat of government. Through four
years of exceptional legislative impor-
lance 1t was the home of CongreNr-the
Congress of Clay, Of Webster, Of CAL
houn.
After that. though used for one pur-
pose and another, 1t was always known
as the "Old Brick Capitol" During
the Civil War it was taken by the Gov
eminent and made new history for it
self as the Capitol Prison" After the
war 1t stood virtually unchanged for q
year or two, when it came into the
hands of George T. Brown, sergeant
alarms of the Senate. So far anyway
there Is no dispute. Up to this time
the building standing on the historic
site was the genuine "Old Brick Cap
itol."
Now, what happened? The general
understanding is that Mr.. Brown
simply remodeled the old building into
a row OF three dwellings: but the pres
emit claim Is that he totally demolished
1t and erected on its site wholly new
building. Which did he do?
II we turn for the answer to the old
records. hoping to find something as
to building permits, we learn that they
have been burned. II we dip into rem
iniscences and latter-day newspaper
accounts. we get little help; for while
almost all indicate that the structure
was simply remodeled, yet they are too
confused to be reliable.
Turn instead to evidence strictly CO.
temporaneous. In The Washington
Evening Star of July 10, 1867, there Is
little paragraph which reads:
The Old Capitol-The contract for
converting the Old Capitol Building,
now the property OF Mr.. George T..
Brown, sergeant-at-arns of the SEN
ate. into three dwellings. was yesterday
awarded to Messrs. Morsell 81 Dem
ming"
Similar notices appeared Mt the time
In other papers, the language OF one
being, TO be converted into three
conclusive OF the question. The very
demolition, but for the remodeling Of
the odd Brick Capitol"
However, we may also follow some
what the actual work by cotempora-
neous account. We come upon such al
iusions as, The remodeling Of the Old
Brick Capitol into three fine mansions;
and again. The Old Capitol Prison Is
undergoing change so marked that
soon the building will not be known"
A very detailed account, almost CO.
temporaneous, Is given in the Wash
ington Republic OF May 4, 1880. Speak
Ing OF Mr. Browns work upon the old
Capitol" IL says: He tore out the in
side, added a mansard roof, built sep
arating walls. remodeled the old struc-
ture and turned 1t into three magnifi-
cent residences"
Surely all this disposes OF the claim
that the noted old home Of Congress
was demolished. Surely 1t establishes
that the building we have honored is
however altered. the historic tempo
rary Capitol
Should not the attack upon 1t only
lead to its better appreciation? Our
sluggish national sentiment is reaching
out at last TO save what it may OF our
historic landmarks. It even yet should
save this old home OF Congress, as in
deed the Senate recently sought to do.
The building is in good condition. and
much less changed than others that are
being rehabilitated.
But If it must so, let II 90 with a
clear title to being the "Old Brick
Capitol" FRANK w. HUTCHINS.