Evening star., 1935-07-14

The east wing of the building was
first occupied by the Secretary Of the
Interior in 1853. Its exterior walls
were constructed Of Maryland marble,
and the difference between the faces
of the old and the new part Of the
building caused the old part to be
painted white to harmonic with the
marble. This building has always
been spoken of as one Of the 1nest
types Of architecture in Washington,
having been modelled after the Parthe-
non, or Temples of Minerva. at Athens.
Just how it will look after the F
street portico has been abbreviated,
is a question we can best answer after
the work has been completed.
The Patent Office once housed the
Governments collection of curlosltles
and in 1912 we find this branch OF its
activities recognized by Congress,
which provided that year for taking
care of the natural history specimens
obtained by the Wilkes exploring eX-
pedition. authorized by Congress in
1896. In 1884 Congress further di-
rected that this collection oe placed
under the care and management OF
the commissioner of patents, who was
authorized to employ one principal
keeper at an annual salary OF SsOO,
one assistant keeper at $3.50, one night
watchman at $500 and two laborers al
1865 a year A total appropriation OF
81, $50 for the first year OF the nucleus
of the National Museum.
For many years here also was
housed the original manuscript OF the
Declaration Of Independence, for the
restoration OF which Congress IN 1875
provided for a commission consisting
of the Secretary of the Interior, the
Secretary of the Smithsonian 1nstltu-
ton and the Librarian Of Congress.
Though the old-timer will always
call this building the Patent once, ye1
this branch of the Government Is no
longer located here, having recently
been transferred to the Department
OF Commerce Building.
The site OF the Patent once was
one of the reservations intended by
L'Enfant for public purpose. this
particular one being for the erection
of the National Church or Mauso-
leum, which. as we know never ma
terialized. 1t was q part OF the Burns
tract.
DRIoR to 1895, when construction
L work on the Patent once Build
ing was begun, the ground in this
immediate vicinity was occupied oy
a truck gardener named John orr
whose orchard extended north at
least as far as Mt. Vernon Square.
Apparently he did not own the land,
and IL he ever leased 1t or paid rent
for it. as age crept upon him, he was
unable to continue to do so, ana
finally he was dispossessed.
Many years ago some venerable
person with a mind for the historic,
but whose name seems to have been
lost, wrote his recollections OF this
old man and his garden and orchard.
under the title of "Orrs Troubles ana
Death" However, 1t was not printed
at that time, but was later quoted by
the late James Croggon, who either
did not know the author. or mad
vertently omitted his name. 1t Is
a story of an uncompromising rich
man getting his pound Of flesh near
est the heart. Both have been dead
for nearly a century, and II their
bodies were disinterred, no doubt what
little there may be still remaining,
both would bear a close resemblance.
Just where the poor man is buried
no one knows. The man OF wealth
lies buried in a mausoleum. No fiowery
epitaph for the man of poverty, and
the one that was scratched IN chalk
on the tomb Of the rich man many
years ago, and still quoted by the
old-timer, is not printable.
But here is the story of John Orr,
as related by one who knew him:
My first acquaintance with this
man was in 1921. I had erected two
frame buildings at the corner of
Eighth and G streets. directly opposite
to his cabin, which stood on the pub
lie square. In going and coming from
his orchard he had to pass my house.
At first he only gave me a silent
salute as he passed. but at length be-
came somewhat more familiar.
"One day he called on me to tell
me Of q trick the boys had played
him. He said he always carried his
musket to the orchard when his fruit
was ripe to frighten boys who were
stealing his fruit. When engaged in
digging he placed his musket on the
ground. These chaps had seen this,
and, slipping behind him, they stole
his musket and were rejoicing over