Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28


if there are many others who can, with us,
recall events around so and so years ago, and
vet, when we for but moment reflect, we
know that there must be ever so many VINO
can and that we, who regard ourselves as VEN
cradle, are but mere children to whole lot OF
people still living.
Take for instance the large number of sur
vivors of the Civil War, one of the youngest OF
whom Mai. Gen. John L. Glenn, now In MS
eieIltieth year, can no doubt even recall events
preceding that conflict, while Maj. Willard ).
Saxton in his one-hundred-and-second year,
can quite likely remember events almost a cen.
tury ago, and, incidentally, the birthdays OF
both Gen. Glenn and Mai Saxton occurred on
the same date-August 49,
Sixty years ago, Gen. Glenn could have been
a father, while the Major could have gone him
one better and have been a grandfather; and
so some of the things we speak OF or refer to
as old might, to these men and others approach
ing their ages, be but objects or events OF re-
cent years.
What prompted this thought was the ques-
ticn that occurred to the writer as to how
many people could remember when the Seaton
Public School Building on I street, between
Second and Third streets was dedicated on that
balmy Saturday afternoon, September 30, 1871,
and upon reflection, he naturally concluded
that there must be ever so many. He also con-
cluded that there were many still living young
and old who retained fcnd recollections OF this
service all these years.
FIFTY NINE years make decided difference
even in the life of the centenarian, and We
could not expect that it has not made at least
Some difference in the old Seaton School, yet
as the writer gazed upon it the other day, i
seemed to him to have lest little if any of its
appearance when he first saw 1t many years
ago. when it was practically a new building
Chi and ING
still entering its grounds and its portals, just
as they did in the days of yore. Soon-as We
- now look upon yearS-they will be in our class
and looking back upon 1880 just as We do upon
1880 and earlier; and thus time grinds out its
generations, one after another. How wonderful
we think this world would be if could but
put our old heads upon the shoulders of these
care-free, vigorous ycuths-maybe; perhapsl
The history Of this old building, one of Wash
ington's first modern schools, is worth repeat
ing. 1t stands on historic ground for here,
during the Civil War days, when no one knew
with certainty what the outcome of that con-
fict would be, hospital buildings were erected
and first opened in December 1862, and called
Stanton Hospital. They included the entire
block from H and and Second to Third street
and remained in commission until October 19,
1865.
Just across the street to the north was
Douglas Hospital named for Stephen A. Douglas,
who, in 1851 purchased both the blocks to the
north and to the south of I street, between
Second and Third streets BY 1857 Judge
Douglas had erected what is POI I street,
for on April % of that year We find in The
Star this item:
1.-The improvements in the neighborhocd of
Judge Douglas are being commenced in earnest.
The contracts for building the houses (two) of
the Hon. H. M. Rice and Hon. J. C. Breckin-
ridge have been conditionally awarded to
Messrs. Baldwin 81 Brother at $4,000 each.
They are to be SO feet front, SO feet Deep with
rear wings, and four stories high, with attic
and basement stories"
After Judge Douglas married, for his second
wife, Adele, the granddaughter of the sister of
Dolly Madison, on November 20, 1856, he moved
into this corner house, and it was here that he
was notified of his nomination for the Pres-
dency by the Democratic convention which met
in Baltimore in 1860.
The second house, 2O3 street, was built and
occupied for while by Henry Mower Rice,
first United States Senator from Minnesota
serving from 1853 to 1863 and from this fact
the three houses became Familiarity known as
minnesota Row. Senator Rice was a man
of capacity and distinction, as one might judge
by the remarks made by Vice President Mar
sh all at the unwilling of a statue to him. when
M. Marshall said: I'm blazing paths for others
TO follow he made the first survey of the Sault
Ste. Marie; he aided the forming of the
friendly alliance with the Indians; with
Stephen A. Douglas he drew up the act author
iZing Minnesota to form a State constitution
preparatory to admission to the Union, and
fixed the boundaries of the new State. His
services Senator were painstaking and
patriotic, and without desertion of his party,
he remained defender of the Union of the
States.
THE next house, No. 2O5, which once included
part of DOT, was first occupied by Gen.
John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky, during a
part of the time he served as Vice President
AL
At the beginning Of the Civil War Breckin-
ridge went South and became Secretary of