Evening star., 1931-12-06

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
DON after the first of the year the old
Ford's Theater, Tenth street, will
be re-opened as Lincoln Museum. 1t
will house the relics OF the celebrated
4 Oldroyd cole ction and other souvenirs
of the life and death Of the martyred
President.
Ford's Theater, the scene of the American
tragedy, was originally a church. 1t was built
by the First Baptist congregation of Washing
ton, the corner stone being laid in 1888
In September. 1859, the First Baptist organ
ization merged with a kindred society and
moved to church building. erected in 1852, on
Thirteenth street between G and streets.
The name First Baptist Church" retained
by the amalgamated groups. The Rev. Mr..
Stephen D. Hill the last minister of the
abandoned church; he shared the pastorate
OF the consolidated society with the Rev. Mr..
Obldiah Brown.
The Tenth street property offered for
sale by the trustees of the church, and
December TO- 1861, it was bought by John
Thompson Ford of Baltimore an eminent
theatrical manager. Under Mr. Ford's auspices
the edifice was drasticaIly remodeled and the
newly reconstructed building was opened on
March 10, 1852, as Ford's Atheneum. The first
production was drama entitled The French
Spy" This was followed by many other plays
tho most celebrated actors of the period ap-
pearing in them
But Mr.. Ford was unfortunate On Decem-
Der 80. 1862 his establishment was totally de-
stroyed by fire. The newspaper reports of the
day speak OF the blaze having run it's course
despite the efforts of the Fire Department"
However, Mr.. Ford Immediately set about re-
building. The new structure, speedily put up
in consonance with the owners energetic policy
was opened in August 1868. The first bill was
an extravaganza The Naiad Queen" The pop
ular Maggie Mitchell and other stars followed
'Ford's New Theater" became the most FASH
ionable playhouse in the city, handsome and
well conducted-the principal temple of the
drama" In Washington. 1t kept its place until
the fateful night of Good Friday April "A, 1865
IN that date the Capital was in holiday
~ mood The long war was over The pre-
Wptpals evening there had been "a grand ilIum-
1natlon' OF the town. Crowds Of people had
paraded the streets to see the rockets and bon
fires and to admire the displays exhibited by
the leading merchants banks, newspapers, etc.
Gen. Grant was stopping at Willards and it
was reported that his great opponent, Gen
Lee, also was in the city.
The morning papers of Friday. April IA,
carried the following advertisement:
FoRD'S NEW THEATER
Tenth street aboDe Pennsylvania avenue
Benefit and last appearance OF
MISS LAURA KEENE
This FRIDAY evening April H. 1865
When she 0iu appear as Florence TrenchaYd
In her celebrated Comedy OF
THE AMERICAN COUSIN
Prom, the original manuscript OF Tom Taylor
a. played at Laura KeeHc's Thedter NetD York
for upwards OF Three Hundred Nights
She DtH be supported BY J. c. McCollom
John Dyott, Harry HaDk
And the Entire Company
In The Evening Star for the afternoon Of
the same day there WAS this announcement
CITY ITEMS
Fovd's TheateT-"Honor to Our Soldiers"
neU and patriotic song and chorus has
been written By Mr.. H. B. Phillips and ,oiH
to do honor to Lieut. Gen. Grant and Presi-
dent Lincoln and Lady, aDho tdsit the theoter
III compliment to Miss Laura Keene, Dhose
benefit and last appearance is announced in
the bills Of the day. The music of the dbore
song is composed by Prot. W. Withers, Jr.
At the theater certain special arrangements
were made during the day for the Presidents
convenience The four upper boxes of the house,
two on either side of the stage, were the places
of particular honor customarily occupied by dis
tinguished guests The so-called Presidents box
was really a combination of the two top boxes
the right hand side of the building, an ar
Tlngement effected by removing partition be-
tween the two.N The enlarged box, therefore,
had two doors opening into from narrow
passage eight by four feet in dimensions, lead
ing from the dress circle. The Presidents box
proper was decorated with curtains of fine lace
and buff satin There Turkey carpet on
the floor. The three ordinary chairs were COW
cred with velvet; a rocking chair, the property
OF MIR. Ford's brother, Harry Clay Ford, treas
urer Of the house, WAS introduced for Mr..
Lncoln's personal use. Across the front OF the
box Was hung American flag, artistically
draped around framed portrait of George