Evening star., 1936-04-04
BY James Nevin Miller

Dp james IfECIH V1UttT. {.
~ PEN up a copy of Who's Who
and you will not find his
name there. Ask almost
~ any Washington news sleuth
who Lorenzo S. Winslow is, and you'll
get a negative answer. Yet this red
haired ex-Boston architect has real
claim to fame. He has face lifted"
the White House in record d-breaking
time Under his direction more
necessary improvements have been
made on the Executive Mansion than
in any administration, with the pos
sible exception of Theodore Roose-
velt'S
A quiet, self-effacing chap who
despises personal acclaim. Winslow
designed and supervised the actual
work on every new or improved
feature of the White House and
grounds since Mr.. Roosevelt took
Office back in March, 1888. These
include the ultra-modern kitchen,
completed, in trifle over three
months, late last November: the
spacious library. now used for hous-
ing priceless presidential books and
manuscripts, built in March, 1885;
the remodelled, air-cooled executive
Offices, finished in November, 1884,
and the handsome swimming pool.
used by the President almost every
day, built in exactly 20 days, in the
Summer of 1888.
So outstanding has been the career
of this maker of White House
history" that 1t deserves considerable
mention. Mr.. Winslow was born in
1892 in Mansfield, Mass, about 18
miles south of Boston. He springs
from the Nations most distinguished
Colonial stock-the original settlers
of Plymouth. On both his mothers
and fathers sides, the architect is
descended from Gov. Bradford and
John Alden.
Winslow has studied architecture
and civil engineering at almost count
less educational institutions, includ-
ing Harvard, Massachusetts, Institute
of Technology, Armour Institute, Chi
cago; Valparaiso University, Ind;
Ohio Northern University, and the
Ecole de Beaux Arts at Paris.
When the United States entered the
World War the youth was commits
stoned a second lieutenant In the
Regular Army and trained to be an
Army bridge and pontoon engineer,
which, ironically enough, he never
worked at, though he served over
seas, mostly in France, preparing
geographical charts and maps on the
locations of men, animals and equip
ment.
EARLY in 1920 the young officer re-
49, turned to the United States. OF
course, he visited his family in Mans
field. But he was not to nnger long
in the Bay State Early that Winter
came one Of those seemingly insignifl-
cant quirks of fate that, history shows,
directly or indirectly affect the careers
of so many outstanding leaders of
men. Winslow went to Greensboro,
N. c., "just for a visit" Greensboro
IS about 60 miles from Pinehurst,
famous Winter resort. Tourist busi-
ness in the region was booming. VIM
slow liked the place and so, when he
was offered a job with Harry Barton,
one Of the leading architects, he ac-
cepted it, "only for a short time"
For four years the Massachusetts,
Yankee, now turned Tarheel, worked
for Barton, supervising the building
of almost every conceivable type of
structure, including churches, stores,
private homes and Office buildings.
From 1924 to 1880 Winslow conducted
his own business. as construction
architect, specializing in large, fine
residences and enormous, de luxe
apartment houses.
In 1882 he came to Washington "for
o visit" and has remained here ever
since. It seems that he was asked by
o close friend, Col. u. s. Grant, Sd.
then head Of the ONCE of Public
Buildings and Parks, to do special
tob-design the huge Federal ware
house, which houses all warehouse
facilities of the vast Government de-
partmental system. This cost over
100000 and takes In two city
blocks. This job took about year
and half.
Meantime, the hard-working New
Englander somehow found time to
design and supervise the building of
O number of new dormitories for the
National Vocational School for Boys
In Washington.
Late in 1892, Winslow joined the
Civil Service ranks. still. however, re-
manning with the Office of Public
Buildings and Parks. Straightway
he was given important assignments: