Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
People throughout the United States,
looking forward to the Bicentennial
Celebration next year of George Wash
ington's birth, have it fixed in their
minds that this is to be an ION to
washington" celebration as well as 10
cal celebrations in each community
throughout the length and breadth OF
the land. They know, in an indefinite
sort of way, that for seven years
commission headed by the President
has been active in making the people
Washington minded, but they do not
appreciate the magnitude of some out
standing projects, nearing completion,
the dedicatory exercises for which will
be big events in the Bicentennial pro-
gram. These projects will leave for pos
terity physical reminders OF the leader
ship Of Washington.
Senator Simeon D. Fess Of Ohio, vice
chairman of the Bicentennial Commits
sion, outlines several OF these memorial
works The famous boulevard connect
ing the Capital Washington founded.
and which Is named after him, with
Mount Vernon, his home, distance OF
is miles now under construction. will
be completed and dedicated April 80.
The restoration of Wakefield, Washing
toms birthplace. will be dedicated in
Nav. The Masonic Temple at Alexan-
dria. WashingtoniS home town, now
nearly completed, will be dedicated be-
TWEEN May 8 and IL as q national me-
mortal to Washington the Mason.
Other celebrations will INCLUDE Mount
Vernon, the home Of washington; Mon
ticello. the home Of Jefferson; Ashland.
the home of Monroe; Mount Pelier, the
home of Madison; Fredericksburg, the
home of Washington's mother, etc.
Another gigantic engineering sculp-
t,re proiect Is well under way and con-
centrated effort Is being made to have
the colonial figures of the Mount Rush
more Memorial dedicated next August as
a contribution of the people OF that por-
ton Of the expanded national domain,
made possible by Washington, the nrst
great expansionist, and carried out by
Thomas jefferson, his fellow Colonial.
This is "a monument commemoratlng
the conception. construction, preserva-
ton and growth of the Great American
Republic"
President Hoover explains thS-"A
great national memorial is now being
carved on Mount Rushmore dn the
Black Hills. It commentaries great
human creed, the political philosophy OF
Justice, freedom and the right to pursue
happiness. -
We understand JnaL tnc poI alS Va
Washington. Jefferson, Lincoln and
Roosevelt are not so much carved to
commemorate these men themselves,
but as physical records OF the work
and aspiration of the people they led.
the people who founded, developed and
preserved our great Western republic.
"GeoloRists assure us that the granite
in which they are cut will last for nun
dreds Of thousands Of years, and the
remote posterity will be able to see what
manner Of men gave birth and form 70
our republic
When the Lion Of Lucerne and the
Sphinx OF Egypt have crumbled into
dust, this memorial will stand forth in
all it's pristine vigor and beauty.
The likenesses of these four great
Americans are being chiseled on the
face OF Mount Rushmore in colossal
sculpture The countenance OF Wash
ington measures so feet from the crown
of the head to the chin. High on the
face Of Cathedral Cliff this memorial
group OF The Men of the Mountain
IS taking form, all figures scaled to the
proportions Of men 465 feet high. 1t Is
the conception OF the noted sculptor
Gutzon Borglum. Among the last off,
cial acts of Calvin Coolidge as Presi-
dent was the appointment OF a commits
sion to take charge of creating this
memorial.
Where the underground garage Is
being built in the extension Of the
Capitol grounds, which was once North
Capitol street between B and G streets,
once stood a large building, known as
the "Hillman House and subsequently
as the Kenmore House" q landmark
for many years, six stories in height.
This was originally the two residences
built by Gen. Washington. in 1893 and
1899. and mentioned in his will. The
houses were built in facsimile Of SINH
lar structures which Washington had
seen in Philadelphia-"two houses
united, doors in the center, q pedi-
ment in the roof and dormer window
on either side Of 1t in front, skylights
in the rear"-as Washington himself
described the project in a letter to Will
liam Thornton. one Of the three COM
missioners who laid out the city Of
Washington.
Washington's will refers to this prop
erty, now included in the Capitol
Grounds, thus: "Lots-viz-City of
Washington, Two near the Capitol,
ings $4,000" A picture taken by
Union officers quartered in the Capitol
during the Civil War shows these
Washington houses with North Capt.
toll street deep. raw cut, unpaved and
deplorable in its ghastliness, with
large number of huge blocks Of marble
just brought from the quarries north of
Baltimore for the construction of the
Senate wing of the Capitol" according
to manuscript of the Columbia His
torical Society. A somewhat similar
structure next door to the Washington
houses was for many years occupied
by William Elliott. surveyor Of the city
from 1882 to 1887.
Certain records of committees Of
Congress were secreted in the Wash
ington houses when the British invaded
the Capital. in 1914. and the Wash
ington houses and contents were de-
stroyed by fire. When these houses
were rebuilt. with some modification.
they were named Kenmore House"
after the estate of Washington's
mother in Virginia.
The assessment list for 1908 shows
the valuation of $3.50 on this lot and
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