Evening star., 1933-02-05
Many Will Miss Old
Landm arks Along the
Avenue-N otab bic
Parades Contributed to
Fame of Boulevard.
The Grand Review.
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.

BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.
MNSYLVANIA avenue has undergone
spss su rg rs5 "sss e
past four years the changes have been
rather startling as compared with those
made during former years, and when the
folks come here next month to see MI Roose-
welt inducted into Office, they will find much
different boulevard from the one they saw in
March, 1929, when the late Calvin Coolidge
was turning the reins Of Government to
his successor, Herbert Hoover.
OF the IA blocks facing the Avenue, from the
Capitol Grounds to the Treasury Department,
one entire square of business houses on the
north side has been removed recently for mu-
nicipal improvement, and on the south side,
all the buildings from the Botanic Gardens at
Third street to Tenth street have been razeo,
as well as the old structures which formerly
stood between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets
and Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets.
The United States Department Of Com
merce with a triangular park on the Avenue
side now stands between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets; the new Post once Depart
ment occupies space between TWelftn ana
Thirteenth streets, in the block to the west OF
the old building, and is progressing raploy
the Archives Building, between Seventh ana
Ninth streets the steel framework OF whrn
is lust being erected and the Department OF
Justice Building between Ninth and Tenth
streets fast assuming shape, represent the
Government improvements along Americas
most historic thoroughfare.
OF course, other Federal buildings have been
erected since the last Inauguration, and some
are now In course of construction in what Is
known as the Government Triangle, and else
where in Washington, but Tor the time pelng
we shall confine ourselves to national improve
ments along Pennsylvania avenue, from the
Capitol to the Treasury, and changes OF a
private nature will only be touched upon.
To many of the visitors who come here
month hence the changes made will mean
nothing; to others, not interested in old wash
ington they will elicit only favorable comment,
but to the old-timer who is returning nome
after soiourn elsewhere 1t will mean ever so
much. for he will miss the old landmarks and
historic buildings with which he grew up, and
no doubt he will leave the city for his new
home with a heavy head and sad heart.
THE buildings removed from what is now the
unimproved area on the north side of the
Avenue between Third street and John Mar
shall place running back to Louisiana avenue,
were razed for the purpose Of making way for
local Government buildings, but this, unfortu-
nately resulted in the removal of number OF
historic structures, of which Jackson Hall was
probably the best known.
It was an old building its corner stone hav-
ing been laid July 4, 1845, and the exercises
being conducted under Masonic auspices with
Judge James Shields orator for the occasion.
According to early accounts, it was an impor-
tant event. One chronicler tells US:
According to order, the associations,
cieties and individuals intending to participate
in the ceremony of laying the corner stone
of the ediice on Pennsylvania avenue, pro-
jected by Blair & Rives as a monument to
the memory of Andrew Jackson. assembled at
the hickory pole in front of the Union office
at 10 O'Clock on the 4th Of July, 1845. At
II O'Clock the procession was formed under the
command Of Gen. McCalla, the marshal in
chief consisting of the Grand Lodge of Free
and Accepted MaSons of the District of Co.
lumbia the Democratic Association and Young
Hickory Club, members of the Georgetown,
Capitol Hill and Navy Yard Democratic Asso-
ciations and large number of citizens. The
procession, headed by the German band pro-
ceeded from the hickory pole to Fifteenth
street up thence to G street, to the residence of
the orator of the day, Judge Shields, who was
taken in charge by the committee of arrange
ments. The procession then moved to Thir-
teenth street. thence to Pennsylvania avenue,
to the site of the edifice, and having halted
there and formed in a circle, Mr.. John c.
Rives, the president OF the Democratic Associa
tion of Washington, mounted the corner stone
and announced the contents Of the two glass
jars to be deposited in it, which included in
part: The Holy Bible, Constitution of the
United States, Life of Andrew Jackson" by
John H. Eaton, who you will recall, married
Peggy O'Neil; Jackson's inaugural address,
matters dealing directly with his two admin
istrations, the local newspapers of the day and
the following United States coins: An eagle,
half eagle, quarter of dollar, dime, half
dime, one cent and half cent. The corner
stone was inscribed:
Founded July 4, 1845.
Monument to Andrew Jackson
In the Propagation of His Principles.
Stat Immobile saxum Capitolh.'"
The famous Masonic trowel used by President
Washington in the ceremonies of laying the
corner stone of the Capitol Building and
Gently used by President Hoover in laying the
rorpar ctoyo of tho hrildipo for tho DeDart.