The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-09-24

er structure is built.
In the corridor of the city hall of
Alexandria, across the Potomac river
from the city of Washington, is
large painting entitled Washington
at Yorktown" and it is said to be the
work of George Washington Parke
Curtis. 1t originally graced the walls
of the mansion where Arlington
Cemetery is now. The picture shows
the Revolutionary commander stand
ing beside his horse at the celebrated
siege. Curtis in his old age present
ed the painting to the Alexander
Masonic lodge. From the lodge room,
it went to the old market house,
which was later destroyed by fire, but
fortunately after the blaze, the pic
ture was salvaged.
In the gigantic pageant next June,
which will be staged as part of the
George Washington bicentennial, q
number of prominent stage and
screen stars will take parts Of Re-
evolutionary characters. Among these
will be former resident of Oronoco,
Olmstead County, Minnesota, William
S. Hart. He will be seen in the roll
of Patrick Henry. Margaret Anglin
will be Mary Bail Washington. Other
well known people who will take part
are Walter Hampden, Fay Temple
ton, Henrietta Crossman and Fred
Stone.
Washington police have adopted a
new system of putting "speakeasies"
out Of business. When they are rea-
sonably sure that houses are really
saloons, the police will place pickets
at the front and rear, to remain there
indefinitely, the theory being that in
due time all liquor supplies within
will become exhausted and then no
more can be run past the pickets. No
attempt will be made to arrest pat
rons going in and out Sounds like a
nice game of hide and seek or put
and take or whatever else have you.
Among the old buildings in Wash
ington which will eventually disap-
pear from the skyline, is the old Ma
tional Hotel at Sixth street and Penn
sylvania avenue. The name of its
founder is closely linked with the his
tories of the city of Washington and
of Alexandria. Originally, its found
er, John Gadsby, native Of London,
England, operated a small tavern,
called O'Neal's, at Nineteenth and !
streets, and, Of course, in those days,
tavern was almost synonymous with
the later bar rooms. From this COM
munity, he went to Alexandria and
took over the tavern called, "The
! Bunch of Grapes" which he styled
Gadsby's City Tavern. This old
structure is standing today and is one
of the interesting places of Alexan-
dria. Later he started the National
Hotel and on opening it, this former
tavern proprietor, was host to the
president of the United States, men,
bers of his cabinet, and members of
the diplomatic corps. The place be-
came the social center of Washing
ton life. Prominent men lived there.
1t was at this hotel that President
Lincoln met his cabinet members for
the first time. Incidentally, it was
later the temporary home of John
| Wilkes Booth, and it was there that
he roomed when he was plotting the
assassination of Lincoln.
Building after building in Wash
ington has been torn down this year
to provide space for modern govern
ment structures. I think could
count as many as one hundred
landmarks that have been RACED but
there probably have been that many
more. Among the places now going
down is the old home of Fighting
Bob" Evans.
Present plans provide for War
Navy group Of buildings in a region
west of the White House and north
of Constitution Avenue. In this area
is to be found the celebrated Octagon
House, one Of the most historic in
Washington, and all who are inter-
ested in things which have an asso-
citation with the long lost past, are
fearful that planner may destroy
this structure. The Treaty of Client,
which brought to a close the War OF
1912, was signed in the Octagon
House February Is, 1915, by James
Madison. It was to this house that
Dolly Madison, the presidents wife,
first fled, when the British soldiers
approached the White House to des-
troy it in the summer of 1914. The
old home, now owned by the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects, was erect
ed about the year 1900. Looking at
it, you would not guess that it il
fifty years old. 50 wen is it preserv-
ed.