Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25
BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR.


NE cannot help but feel just a certain
amount of regret rs he finds himself
past middle life and still growing
older. and especially would this seem
~ On n a person has been doing nothing
al, his life but idle his time away But wnetneT NC
has been industrious or trihing saving or waste
ful or useful or indolent the chances are tns'
t,efore he reaches nfe's end he viii have. SUM
Gent time left in which to think things over.
what a solace and comfort it VIII oe' per
chance to dream only of the better things OF
life that have gone before-the Things Ihas
have afforded the pleasures ana happiness y.
our younger days-''wnen al was "ieh' "
the world seemed gay
This Summer, we are told, square 22o' whlcn
10 between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets,
C street and Pennsylvania avenue, IN wnich
POLLS Theater stands, is to be RACED ana tne
area turned into park, so that tneTe WI.
be nothing to mar the view from the norm u
the new Department of Commerce Buholng.
while the Improvement is to be appreciated
and commended. and while the buildings to be
removed will mean little or nothing to those
vet to come upon lifes stage, still TO many now
living there will always lnger iono memories
of ENJOYABLE occasions within this triangular
area, where has stood for any years princlpany
the washington Light Infantry Armory Build
inc and the Cornwell Building, the former OF
which for many years housed Albaugh's Grand
Opera House while the latter is especially noted
for having been the meeting place OF the local
Grand Army of the Republic, where many an
old veteran has spent enjoyable nights recalling
the battles and incidents of the Civil War
LEW of us will ever forget the Grand Army
Reunion of 1892, when, on the Goth OF
September $4,000 sturdy veterans marched up
PENNSYLVANIA avenue and were reviewed by
President Benjamin Harrison, himself an ofticer
in the war between the States. That was nearly
80 wears ago. but the writer remembers 1t well,
for it was the longest parade he ever saw In
Washington.
His seat upon this occasion was camp stool,
which he purchased and placed next TO the
ropes on the north side Of Pennsylvania avenue
between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, some
where near Washington Topham's fathers
store and here he remained nearly all Gay,
from am. until late in the afternoon, seeing
nothing but veterans and more veterans; and
when he left at S pm, they were still march
ing by
Today the ranks of the Blue and the Gray
alike are considerably thinned out, and 50
many have joined the ranks above since this
greatest of all Washington Grand Army re-
views that the Sons Of Veterans have largely
taken over their fathers work, and in only q
few wears more the last Of the Civil War vet
Grams will have passed to the Grand Review
on high. But the site of the old Grand Army
Hall should ever be remembered as one OF the
historic spots Of the National Capital.
AS early as 1883 and for several years after
ward the headquarters Of the Department OF
the Potomac, G. A. r., was in the Lincoln
Music Hall Building at Ninth and d streets
northwest. However it could not have been
long after 1886 when a number Of the posts
moved into the Cornwen Building at 1412-14
Pennsylvania avenue, where the last survivors
continue to hold their meetings.
The Cornwells were not what we would call
early owners in this Avenue block, the first
transfer of realty to a member OF this family
not being made until about 1875, when Thomas
C. Mclaughlin and Thomas c. Wilson trans
ferred to Douglas Cornwell the eastern half
OF lot S, fronting 81 feet inches on e street.
to depth of s5 feet to an alley. Then, in
1875, Douglas Cornwel and John C.. Wilson
transferred title to George G. Cornwell in trust
end the fee simple went to the last named the
flowing year. Apparently the remainder OF
ut 5-the west half-became the property OF
Gilbert Cornwell soon afterward, being trans