The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1937-07-31
WASHINGTON. DC
The Nations Capital
Old Land Mark at
H. u. Demolished


Mordecsi w. Johnson A. cost OF
over a million dollars.
The present generation should
know TOO. that when the building
was erected the university proper
~ was not within the city OF Wash
ington. but In the county OF Wash
ington. the Northern boundary OF
the city proper. running along
Florida avenue. The section OF the
city surrounding the University
site was virtually suburban slum
area occupied here and there by
saloons and resorts for white peo-
pie. The spot now occupied by the
American League baseball park
was large amusement center ty-
pical OF that period.
Beer Gardens Aplenty
Az the opposite end OF the Univ
ersity property 10 the North were
other resorts and beer gardens,
prominent among which was Schut-
zen's Park. well remembered by the
older Inhabitants OF the neighbor-
hood. Had It not been for the dis
repute into which the section OF
the city was held, II Is doubtful
that so excellent site could have
been procured for school for coll
ored people at that time. Almost
the entire area Of the Macmillan
Park reservation TO the East OF
the university was part OF the orig
inal property and was sold TO the
Government by the university. for
use as reservoir The Freed
mems Hospital Is also located on
the university property under lease
to the Federal Government.
For many years following the
completion Of the Main Building II
housed. with room to spare. all the
academic activities OF the college
and OF the preparatory, the normal
and the Theological departments.
Only the medical and law schools
were Accommodated elsewhere. Dur
! ing the presidency OF General How
ard the offices OF Freedmen's Blu
roau also occupied a part OF the
first floor. Except for the addi-
ton Of the Chapel In the nineties
no expansion for the accommodation
OF student exercises was consider
ed necessary until 1908 when the
! science hall. now named In honor
OF former President Thlrkield. was
erected 4 description. OF the ac-
cancellations offered by the old
Main Building before the turn OF
the century will be interesting TO
those OF the present generation
and will revive many tender me-
mories In the hearts OF thoss who
were students in that long-gone
time.
The normal department. which
as late as the early nineties. offer
cd instruction running as low as
the sixth grade. naturally furnish
ed the bulk OF the academic enroll
meni. That department occupied.
nj that time. The entire first floor
with the exception OF one room n
the East center Of tho building
which housed the entire business
staff of the university consisting OF
the secretary-treasurer and part
time clerk.
On the third floor above the lab
ora,ory for biology. ACCOMMODATIONS
were provided for the work In
chemistry. Across the corridor
were the stock-rooms for the IL
brary with reading room and Of
flee opening on the north and south
corridor. at the head OF the stairs.
The three rooms NJ later days at
the extreme western end OF the
third floor. before the erection OF
partitions. served as the Chapel
where assembly was held every
day and whore the president prea-
ched every Sunday. The remain
der OF the third floor was used by
the theological department.
The fourth floor. which. just be-
fore the opening OF Frederick
Douglass Memorial Hall. was well
occupied by offices for various pur-
poses. contained In the nineties
two dormitory rooms. one occupied
by the bell-ringer and the other
by the student having supervision
OF the building. Other rooms AZ
the East end were used as storage
space for many interesting models
OF inventions which had been sent
TO the University from the United
states Patent Office. The space
directly over the Chapel was used
as a Museum con lining relics OF
the Civil War. collections OF old
coins. pictures and medals, and an
assortment OF curious objects from
foreign lands. This room was al
ways locked. admission 10 II being
looked upon as special privilege.
The mere recital OF these ar
rangements In comparison with
what exists today indicates the
growth In enrolment and sccomo-
dations during the last 3 decades
in the life OF the university. This IL
particularly true in view Of the fact
that the normal and preparatory
departments which. In early days.
enrolled the majority OF the stu
dents. have long since passed out
OF existence. This contrast Is in
tensified when we realize that the
college work as late rs the early
nlneties was Accommodated In what
amounts 10 about one floor OF the
old Main Building. This work now