Evening star., 1937-08-08
ME.2ICA'S awakening to

NCAtASA AWdhSlAllS W dAA
n appreciation of its early life
~ has become in late years one
4 a Of the bright colors in the
travel picture. Always present, it
seemed to lack luster as Americans in
the pre-depression years hurried to
the gayest Of play spots, sought out
alien scenes or were won't to marvel
at natures spectacular handiwork
that required no attention to detail
They still seek these diversions, which
are, perhaps. the main stem Of travel,
but they have become increasingly
conscious Of Americans epic past and
are manifesting growing interest in
relics of the country's yesteryear.
A combination of events has fos-
tered this interest. The depression
helped turn Americas attention in
ward, and travel reflected this trend.
What was there to see? Americans
found that sometimes at their back
door, perhaps in an adjoining State
were time-honored associations that
others, more appreciative, had tray
eled miles to see. Another factor has
been the painstaking attempt OF the
Federal Government, through the In
terror Department. to discover and
save valuable but little known shrines
from the ravages of progress. Inter-
est in the theory quickened, and now
America wants to see.
The restoration of Williamsburg by
Rockefeller publicized the movement
and turned attention to one OF the de-
nghtful phases of Americana-early
architecture.
A chance for what might be called q
circle tour of discoveries Of the his
toric American buildings survey is now
available to Washingtonians and the
Capitals visitors through an exhibit
now in progress in the art gallery Of
the Interior Department Building at
c and Eighteenth streets. Opening
July q, the exhibition of measured
drawings, water colors and photo
graphs of early American architecture
runs up to the last Of the nineteenth
century.
For the interest Of this growing army
of historic travellers, some Of the out
standing examples on display are cited
here:
IRON work, Mobile, Ala.-Although
much Of the fine wrought-iron
work used 50 lavishly in Mobile in
the early part Of the nineteenth CEN
tury has been carried away. sufficient
remains to indicate its graceful char
acter and extensive use on buildings
OF the period French motifs and the
use Of occasional bronze rosettes are
characteristic. Between 1910 and 1860
the vogue for cast iron swept the
South and local craftsmanship was
finally eclipsed by the new manufac-
tured importations from the foundries
of several large American cities. Mo-
bile abounds in examples Of the best
American cast iron work.
Madam Levert House, Mobile. Ala
Built about 1885 by Baron Won Stein
wehr, later home of Nine. Levert, noted
character in Mobile social life prior
to Civil War. 1t illustrates the vogue
for ornate iron work as an architec-
tural establishment.
Mission San Miguel Arcangel, near
San Miguel Calif-San Miguel,
founded 1897, was the sixteenth mis-
sion esta blished in California. The
present church was apparently built
in 1918. Walls are almost entirely Of
adobe, or mud brick The interior
walls are decorated with fanciful paint
ings, mostly representing architectural
features. The colors still remain bril-
liant. These are the most extensive
and elaborate murals now extant
among the California missions.
Old Drawers Church. Odessa. Del.
In l773 by Robert May e.
Co. of London, this Is one Of the
finest examples Of ecclesiastical archi-
lecture in the Delaware colony. It
took its name from nearby Drawers
Greek.
Du Pont powder mill. Hagley, Del
Built in 1922, this early specimen of
industrial architecture in America is
the oldest Du Pont mill in existence.
1t probably was patterned after pow
der mills in France, where first Du
Points learned the trade
The Hermitage, near Savannah, Ga.
This classic revival residence Of
brick and stucco built by the McAlpin
family on the banks Of the Savannah
River in the early nineteenth century,
was one of the most distinguished
country mansion of the South. The
bricks were made by slave labor on the
plantation. The house stood complete,
though dilapidated. with all of its sub
sidiary buildings, until recently, when
demolished and removed for the use
of a prominent automobile manufac-
turer. The great avenue Of live oaks
festooned with Spanish moss still re-
mains.
REAUREGARD HOUSE, New Or
leans-A notable example Of the
raised basement, single-story type
house of New Orleans, built 1926.
Architect was John Correjolles. Franz
ing members, joists and rafters of cy-
press. It is not "Old New Orleans"