Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09

T. IAN, Charles Kreamer, E. c. Harhaueh. A.
8. Johnson. r. w. Dunn, W. H. Hoover T. B.
Walker. n. q. Mccormick and T.. J. King.
So ended the spectacular career Of one Of
Washtngton's best known citizens. The dairy
building went into other hands, became news
paper once. was the headuarters for the Jolly
Fat Mems Club, and since then has been used
for different purposes. The Marble Saloon also
sttn stands, and only the reminiscent mind will
recall the days when it served the public with
liquid refreshments.
a CROSS the street and just south Of the
Marble 6aloon--which, by the way, was
in the cellar Of the building-also remains
what was once FOrd's Opera House, and. incl
dentally. since there still seems to be q con-
founding Of this building with the old Ford,s
Theater. on Tenth between and streets
may the writer say that they are distinct and
separate places entirely, as, no doubt, ever so
many people already know. Indeed, the build
ing On Tenth street In which Lincoln was shot
was never known by the name Of Ford's Opera
House.
Just two months ago, Fred g. Philpitt an old
friend Of the writer's and native Washing
tonian, wrote from Miami, Fla for i1forma-
ton bearing directly on this subject, IN which
he said: Sending you q clipping" 1t
states no plays were there" (referring to Ford's
Theater on Tenth street) "after the Lincoln
tragedy. But have always told people that
I saw play there called Buffalo Bill and
Texas Jack! One day when ] was in WASH
tngton, was telling 1t TO some friends when q
Civil War veteran who was present asked me
when / was born and when told him. he said
Lincoln was shot In 1865 and that no more
plays were given from that time on / called
up washington paper and was told over the
phone that such was the general impression
but that as . matter Of fact plays were con-
tinued there TIL 1879. I remember the Indians,
oUaH E-w~<u
days. stagefuI at q time" ETC.
Within the present year, in speaking Of the
building In which Lincoln was assassinated the
writer said:
'"The old FUrds Theater Building. around
which has conferred so much intense history
worldwide, national and local-occupies the site
OF the First Baptist Church, the corner stone of
which was laid in 1888. and here Rev Obediah
B. Brown, celebrated clergyman Of his day, was
for many years the pastor.
I'm 1854 another Baptist organisation erected
church on the site Of the telephone Office on
Thirteenth street between q and H streets and
subsequently these two bodies combined, the
Tenth street congregation moving to Thirteenth
street In 1853, the last service being held In
the old church IN September Of that year.
tOn December 10. 1861. the trustees sold the
Tenth street church to David W. Heath and
he sold 1t to John T. Ford. the FIRST theatrical
performance given being by the Carlotta Patti
Concert Troupe. which gave two performances.
on November 10 and 81 1861.
after closing for short while for extensive
repairs In accordance with plans by James y
Clifford, architect. 1t was again opened In
March. 1861 as Ford's Atlneneum,' q name
under which It continued until Il was COM
pletely destroyed BY IRE on December 80. 1882
during the engagement OF the Reichings.
''The new building, as it stands today and
in which Lincoln was assassinated, was immedi-
ately begun ~ Mr.. Ford. and by AuguBt. 1854
was opened 70 the public with the Natal
Queen which was followed by Marrie Nsitcl,5Ii