Evening star., 1936-04-04
IMPROVED MANSION
Winslow, Red-Haired Architect, Did
Elaborate 4Face-Lifting" Job
at White House.

llISl, uCSlSilCo t1lC IOd0ndy oP-
proaches for the Arlington Memorial
Bridge; built numerous bridges and
roads in historic Rock Creek Park, and
planned various alterations for the
Washington Monument.
Winslow now had charge Of all
architectural designing in the Dis
trict under the National Capital
Parks. 1t is important to note here
that the old Office of Public Build
ings had supervision over the White
House and grounds since 1870. How
ever, always an engineer officer in
the Regular Army had been in charge.
But Mr.. Winslow, now civilian, was
to break this time-worn precedent.
IN THE Spring of 1888, shortly after
Mr.. Roosevelt took Office. Col. U. S.
Grant. Sd. then director of the Office
of Public Buildings and Parks, asked
for Mr.. Winslow's services for de-
signing the new White House SWIM
ming pool. 1t will be recalled that
friends of the President subscribed
about 900 for the building of the
pool However, Winslow cut down
the cost to less than 100000. The
pool is a masterpiece of blue and
green tile, containing numerous es-
pecially designed features for Mr..
Roosevelt's comfort and convenience.
And, by the way, few people know that
always the water Is kept at a tempera-
ture of exactly 88 degrees for the rea-
son that the President insists upon 1t
that way. The water is the purest
available and has really wonderful
system of piping and heating.
So anxious was Mr.. Roosevelt to
have the pool ready for his personal
ment, that Mr.. Winslow actually had
to design it while it was being built
The construction required only 20
days. The pool Is on the site of the
ancient stables underneath the west
terrace, between the White House
proper and the new executives offices.
Fortunately, Mr.. Winslow wasn't
exactly a novice at this sort of thing.
He had designed quite few swimming
pools during his sojourn in North
Carolina.
And was the President. delighted
with the pool? He personally COM
mended the architect on the design,
color and materials. The tile Is an
architectural terra Gotta in lovely
shades of green and blue. A unique
underwater lighting system is in opera
ton.
Practically every day throughout the
year, when he is in washington, the
President uses the pool. After a
Furnishing days work Mr.. Roosevelt
makes a practice of frolicking in the
crystal-clear waters just before supper.
A brisk rundown and he's in grand
shape for the evening meal. Often
times Mrs. Roosevelt enjoys a swim,
and White House guests use the pool
nearly every morning.
MIR. WINSLOW'S next important
AA assignment came in September,
1893, when he was called upon to
supervise quite few alterations on the
Statue of Liberty. This was Federal
renovation venture for the National
Parks Service. For the famed statue,
weird as it may sound to many people,
is national park, formerly taken care
of by the War Department. For three
or four months Mr.. Winslow took
charge Of the installation of an ultra
modern lighting system and inaugu-
rated other up-to-date improvements,
including new tunnel. It will be re-
called that the Statue of Liberty is
built on the site of an ancient fort on
Bedloes Island. It must be kept in
constant repair, since often there are
as many as 5000 visitors a day.
) In the Winter of 1888 Mr.. Winslow
was placed in charge of all the Gov
ernment exhibit buildings at Gettys-
burg, Pa, q well-known national park
and memorial to the famous Civil War
battlefield.
Next, in December, 1888, and Janu-
ary, 1894, the Boston architect was
assigned to design o new group of
Federal parks buildings at Guilford
Court House, North Carolina, on the
battle grounds Of famous conflict In
the Revolutionary War. Guilford
Court House is in the town of Gull
ford, near Greensboro, where Mr..
Winslow lived and worked for so many
years.
Meantime, back in November. 1888,
Winslow had started making sketches
for the new executive offices at the
White House. It Is well understood
that the President insisted on giving
the job to Mr. Winslow because Of the
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