Evening star., 1935-05-26
SHeSehctedo,'
NeW Court
Home WaS the
E0ryChoice
ofFanons Old
Brick CabHol
and President
Monroe WaS
Suv0yu MIHe,e
in 1877.
Bv John Clagett Proctor.

JUDGING by the practically COM
pleted condition of the United
States Supreme Court Building
~ it is evident that the members
of that august body are holding
their last session in the Capitol, where
the court has held its proceedings
continuously since February 2, 1901
except for a few years subsequent to
the burning of Washington by the
British on August "a. 1914, when it
was uuartered in the Caldwell House,
which stood until year ago at 206
Pennsylvania avenue southeast.
The building to which this high
tribunal is to move is surely mag
nificent structure and is perhaps the
handsomest and most costly one ex-
clusively for court purposes in the
whole world. 1t is undoubtedly a
contrast to the old Royal Exchange
Building at the foot Of Broad street,
in New York, where it first met on
February /. $780, and to the Caldwell
House, and to other places where it
temporarily made its home.
Naturally there is 3 great deal of
history attached to the Capitol Build
ing the court is soon to vacate, but
the site selected for its new home has
also its background of stirring events,
since the neighborhood in which it is
located was one of The first sections
of Washington to be settled after the
site for the Capital was selected. and
in the hotels soon afterward erected
near the Capitol resided and boarded
some of the greatest men that this
republic has known.
Indeed, the Supreme Court Building
itself stands on historic grounds
where, at the southeast corner Of
First and A streets (now First street
and Maryland avenue), stood the Old
Brick Capitol, from 1915 until just
few years ago. when it was removed
to clear the ground for the present
white marble building.
But it really was very interesting
structure, and its construction came
about as a result of the War of 1872
1915, when Gen. Ross and Admiral
Cockburn invaded the city and Sc
lected the Capitol as one of the ap-
propriate buildings in which to build
a bonfire Except that it was not built
in the open and did not produce any
noticeable JOY on the part of President
Madison and other loyal citizens. who
were in the city at the time, or who
were more strictly speaking. any,
where nearby. But, no doubt, the
British soldiers were very much
elated-eXcluding those who were laid
low by Barney's men. and those blown
to atoms by the powder explosion at
the arsenal, during their brief stay in
washington.
WHEN our English cousins had
evacuated the city, and Mr..
Madison, Secretary Monroe and the
United States Army thought it pru-
dent to return, the question was.
where shall we lay our heads and
where shall we have our offices?" For
all the public buildings in Washing
ton but one had been burned. The
President took up his quarters at the
Octagon, Eighteenth street and New
York avenue, erected by John Tayloe,
and the other public offices were
housed in rented buildings.
Fortunately for the members Of
Congress, that body was not in ses-
sion at the time, having adjourned in
April 1914; otherwise that branch,
too, might have had to flee before
the enemy. However. it was criti-
cal situation, and a special session of
Congress had to be called to provide
funds for reconstructing the Govern
ment buildings and for other pur-
poses. But where would it sit?
Luckily, Dr. William Thornton, whose
design for the Capitol had been ac-
cepted, had prevailed upon the Brit
ish not to burn the old Blodget Hotel,
then being used by the Post Office
Department: the Patent Office and
the City Post Office, and so. in this
building, then situated on e street
between Seventh and Eighth streets
northwest, Congress convened on
September 19. 1914, and continued to
meet there until it removed to the
block in which the Supreme Court
Building now stands, In q brick build