Evening star., 1938-04-17
By John Clagen Proctor.


his best girl on an outing or to some
swell dance, and there were many of
the latter half century and more
ago, during the palmy days of Wash
1ngton's crack military companies.
This reminds the writer of one of
the early fairs and dances held by
the Washington Light Infantry Corps,
one in particular being held in the
Rink, in 1883. 1t had much to do
toward raising the funds with which
this organization erected its armory
at Fifteenth and E streets, in which
was housed, from the first, Albaugh's S
Grand Opera House
The Rink Building stood on the
south side of New York avenue be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets, where is now the Capital
Garage. At first here was summer
garden, conducted by William H.
Thorne, whom the city directory of
1880 lists as an actor. though it is
SAID he had formerly been the pro-
prletor of Niblo's Garden. New York
One of the big attractions of that
period just as it is today, was the
United States Marine Band, and this
body Of fine musicians, under the
leadership of Prof Louis Schneider,
was employed for while to furnish
the music.
Subsequently, Seymour A. Curtis
conducted on the premises the Wash
ington Swimming School and Roller
Skating Rink, and in 1884 Peter
Grogan was engaged here IN the furni-
ture and carpet business. one of his
clerks being his nephew, Peter ]. Nee,
Who soon went in business for himself.
and at the time of his death some
years ago was one Of Washington's
foremost Seventh street merchants.
Inc julius Lansburgn Furniture and
Carpet Co followed Grogan. and this
firm was occupying the building when
1t was destroyed by fire on December
%, 1896.
HE front portion of the Rink was
only one-story building. l09 by
1o2 feet, but prior to the fire five
story addition had been erected to
the rear, About this time it was con-
trol!ed by a syndicate composed of
Campbell Carrington, Harry Crawford
OF New York, Washington Danen-
hover, John S. Miller, George j.
johnson and others.
After the Rink was DESTROYED
Franklin Webster Smith of Boston
headed a company which erected On
the site curious looking building
known as the Hall of the Ancients,
for the display of Roman, Greciaa
and Assyrlan works of art. Although
Mr. Smith had the advantage of so
years OF European study in art and
architecture, and unbounded enthusi-
asm and zeal. together with the su-
port OF such men as S. W. Woodward
and B. H. Warner. yet the Hall of
the Anclents never proved profitab BILE.
and, as stated, the Capital Garage
replaced it some years ago
The block in which the Rink stood
Is known as square 252. 1t was early
built upon, and at an early date we
md located east of the Rink. nearer
10 thirteenth street, a house where
Edgar Allan Poe is said to have once
resided for a brief time. But the
want Of proof along this line at least
iends doubt to the statement. How
ever, it would be quite interesting if
sometime 1t were discovered that the
Bard OF Baltimore did write The
Raven or The Bells" in Washing
ton, Wnen stopping on H street.
DURING the Civil War period the
Poe house was occupied as a
ladies' seminary by Mrs Henry A.
Bdrr, who had previously taught a
school of her own as early as l846 at
The northwest corner of Ninth and E
streets NV. Nine. Burr, as she
was called. taught the daughters of
some of the first families of Wash
irgton, and about two years ago the
writer met one Of her pupils, when he
called at the Louise Home to visit
MISS Rosa Mordecai. In referring to
thls early teacher. Miss Mordecai be-
came very fervent, and said: Il
must not forget to mention our old
school mistress, Nine. Burr. She was
a real Frenchwoman, abandoned bv
her parents and brought up in New
York at one of their large schools.
She was a splendid teacher and a
most lovable person. so that our work
was all seasoned with affection"
The south side of New York avenue
Is also of Importance because No
1875 served for five years as the
Public Library, following the passage
by Congress of the act of June 3, 1896.
and the subsequent act Of June 30,
1893. incidentally, the obi lining of
this library was in the nature of a
victor for those who had fought so
long for a tax-sustained library for
this city, even If We do have to pay
about eight-ninths of the bill. But the
proportion was not quite so bad as
this when the bill was passed. How
ever. all sorts of arguments had to
be advanced before Congress agreed
to the bill. and it was undoubtedly
the argument advanced by Theodore
w. Noyes on June s, 1894, as chair
man of the Board of Trade Com
mlttee, before the House Committee
on the District of Columbia that re-
suited in the approval of the measure.
A S STATED in The Star at that
time, Mr.. Noyes said
"Of the So semi-public libraries in
Washington. containing over a mil
lion volumes, not one is a free cir
culating library, with reading room
open at night for the benefit of the
public. AS far as these books are
concerned. the people of the city are
in the position of the mythical Tar
talus. starving and famishing with
an abundance of food and water just
out of reach"
Mr. Noyes continued, saying:
up to June 80. 1898, the Govern
ment had donated S0,000,00O acres
of land to the States for public schools,
100000 acres for State universities
and nearly 10000 900 acres for apri-