Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
Modest A,rhitect Of Earlier Days Of Republic
Mas associated Win Important Details
ofDe0elopment OF National Capitnl.
Other Structures Ebez0here Added to His
j Fame-Jefferson Was Among His
Friends and He Mas Unusually Popular.
BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR.

BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR.
"HE early architecture of the Federal
Capital is an interesting subject, even
to the layman whose mind is gen.
erally given over almost entirely to
other subjects but who occasionally
In his walks around the city sees some old
building that attracts his especial attention
Indeed these old landmarks haW ARCHITECT
tlrally more than a passing interest, LOT III
many cases they were designed by the Guys
early architects among whom were Dr. VII
liam Thornton who designed the United states
Capitol as it was FIRST built; James Hoban'
whose plans were accepted for the Wnlte
House; George Hadfeld, who planned the CITY
Hall now generally referred to as the Court
House. and Benjamin H. Latrobe, who was
responsible for ST. Johns Church, at Slxteentn
and H streets The Patent Office was started
in 1s4O from designs furnished by William r
Elliot and finished by Thomas U. Walter ana
his assistant, Edward Clarke.
William lowering an Englishman who estao-
1ished himself in Alexandria as builder, was
the architect and builder for Morris q Mich
olson when they started their building opera
tions down toward Greeneaf's Point in june
1886. and he also built the Naples, In South
east Washington.
George French was the architect Of Friend
ship home of E. B. Mclean. and James Rem
wick. ir. designed the Smithsonian Building.
The only example of the work OF Charles Bull
finch recalled aside from his work on the
United States Capitol while he was arcnltect
of that building, was the Unitarian Cnurcn
that stood for many years at the noFtheas.
corner of ID and Sixth streets northwest ana
which was for long time occupied as the
Police Court, before the present BUILDING was
erected.
>,,1,,DoNJ and others still have q
II nurober of examples of their work stand
49,, iv the CITY as monuments to ther skill.
However. many of the best types Oh cary
washington architecture are no longer !" "
seen except in photographs. and IN some case
not even photographs are 70 DC mao ~ oto,,Id
work Of these pioneer arch1tects, WHICH slIouu
tave been preserved that future generauons
might see washington architecturahy AZ IeasS
in embryo Maybe hundred OF moie ye
from now an effort will be mace 70 ereos
copies Of buildings which we are nv .o ~s
,1,tblesslv destroying perfect job OF restofa-
+;or can never be done Now Is the Time W
beoin saving the old buildings that VIII neces-
sarily create even a greater interest as "ine
goes on .,, oxoo.ad
g.. a~act limitation of old ones, never Will be as
INTERESTING and valuable as the original ones
Age in a building cannot be successfully Hli
tated and the fact that it Is copy destroys
a large part of its historic interest TO the
yaIue after the building has been removed,
and though it may serve purpose 10 erecC
model buildings generally design on paper
would serve just well. and OF course Woulo
be much cheaper . -. -
The first architects of Washington have not
alwavs received the credit due them for their
early efforts TO design pleasing and harmonious
structures and many of them suffered hanol-
cans. too that the modern architect does not
have to endure. Indeed, it is question some
fka n architect is
seriously enough by the public
Frequently we hear the physician praised Tor
being responsible for the gradual extension OF
life in the past several decades. In this con-
nection the writer feels that the architect Is
entitled to a great deal of the credit for the
noticeable increase in human longevity. He
is surely responsible for our light airy homes
and comfortable working quarters; for the
sanitary plumbing that nearly all buildings
are equipped with today, and, indeed, for all
features of modern construction Tor Wn1ch ne
draws the design Naturally, the chemist ana
the physician are to receive fun credit LOT tneir
mart but after all their work would be OF little
value were 1t not for the cooperation Of the
architect
NNE of the early architects Of Washington
~ whose structures are still prominently sen
here and which bid fair to remain as long
as the Nation itself exists, Is Robert Mills
designer of the Washington Monument, the
central part Of the Treasury Building and the
old Post Office Department. on street between
Seventh and Eighth streets-the site OF the his
toric Blodgett Hotel, which was destroyed by
fire on December Is, 1836-and some even say
that a part of the Patent Off1ce is TO be cred