Evening star., 1936-08-16
By John Clageft Proctor.

now being occupied Dy Jne northern
portion of the Willard Hotel.
Erected as a Presbyterian church
about 1907, it was for nearly a century
one of Washington'S historic land
marks, for in addition to being one
Of the city's pioneer churches, 1t later
became noted for a number of cele-
brated events which took place within
its four walls.
From the time Of its erection until
1t was sold in 1859, Willard Hall was
always known assthe F Street Presby-
terian Church, the congregation of
which had its beginning in 1903, when
the Rev. James Laurie, who had only
recently arrived in this country, re-
ceived call to serve the local con-
gregation. He was then only Is years
of age, a Scotchman and a graduate
of the University of Edinburgh.
According to WilhelmuS Bogart
Bryan, the call for Mr.. Laurie's serv-
ices was signed by Joseph Nourse and
William Brown, as ruling elders; Will
liam Mackey, Melchoir Steiver. John
MCGOWAN, Michael Nourse, Samuel
Collingwood, Lewis Clephane, George
Mitchell, George Kennedy, Alexander
Mcdonald and Alexander Mackey,
members of the church, and others
who were not members.
According to tradition, the first
building erected by this congregation,
where is now the Willard Hotel, was
small wooden church, but the only
n nh1lrNh
about 1907 as being substantially con-
structed of brick, and the front and
pillars as we knew it in later days,
together with other additions, were
added prior to the Civil War.
One of the earliest notable events
to take place in this building was on
December IS, 1924, when such dis
tinguished persons as President Mon
roe, Gen. Lafayette and Gen. Jack
son attended the first commencement
of Columbian College (now George
Washington University.
DEV. DIR. LAURIE served as pastor
of this congregation for half a
century, and the building was used
exclusively for religious purposes until
1859, when the F Street Church and
the Second Church, founded in 1920,
formed a union and took the site
where Is now the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church, on New York
avenue between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets.
DR.. Laurie, in the early days, was a
clerk in the Office of the Register of
the Treasury, and resided for many
years on the south side Of PennSylva-
mia avenue between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, near the center OF
the block. This block is now tri-
angular park. When he'first became
pastor of the F Street Church, and
for some time afterward, he is said to
have attended the fires and performed
the services of janitor when neces-
sary. But he left behind reputa-
ton that few Washington pastors have
ever equaled.
When the church building was sold
In 1859 to Henry A.. and Joseph C..
Willard, the Willard brothers had
also acquired the adjoining property
at the southwest corner Of Fourteenth
many years the property belonging
to Col. James Kearney. consisting of
a double brick house, three stories
high, built in 1900, by Col. Kearneys
father, John Kearney, who died in
1903, when experimenting the con-
struction of the Custom House in
Charleston, S. c, the plans for
which he had drawn.
From the time the church was pur-
chased in 1859 until it was removed
it was known as Willard Hall, and
was used generally for amusement
purposes, including concerts Of the
higher grade, readings and lectures,
though such attractions as Blind Tom,
the Negro pianist, popular in Wash
ington for years, also came here. On
October 81, 1892, the hall was severe
ly damaged by fire, as a result of
spontaneous combustion, so it was
thought at the time.
The fire was first discovered about
2 o'clock in the evening by Capt.
A. P. Cunningham, who was passing
along street. The employees of the
building were Immediately formed
in fire brigade, and, assisted by
number of citizens, fought the flames,
which started under the stage. The
chemical engine was summoned, but
even with its assistance the progress
Of the fire could not be stopped.
Of1cer Joshua L. Sprinkle, who still
resides here, and who was retired from
the police force a few years ago, at
temped to turn in an alarm from
box 145, on Fourteenth street just
below F, but the box would not work,
and he had to run around the corner
to the box at Fifteenth and G streets,
where he was more successful. Later
O general alarm was given.
Fortunately, the walls were Of the
early type of construction and were
very thick, and the fire was confined
to the inside of the hall, with the re-
suit that only the interior of the
building was damaged, though the
stage was entirely destroyed and most
Of the stairs we're damaged. The Will
lard Hotel used the basement of the
hall in which to store vast guam
tity Of provisions, and these were
damaged beyond use by the water
which flowed through the floor.
THE Washington Choral Society,
- one Of Washingtonis leading musi-
cal bodies of that period, was at this
time using the hall for rehearsals,
and its valuable musical library, which
was there at the time, was rescued by
Frank @. Metzerott, the treasurer of
the society, who, however, lost a piano
worth $500, his own property, which
the society was using.
The Star, in commenting upon this
fire, refers to the early history Of
the building, saying:
''Willard's Hall Is one Of the his, :,
toric buildings Of the city. It was for
many years the principal public hall
Ia the city and has been the scene |
Of many famous entertainments and |
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