Evening star., 1938-04-17
Was Residential Which
Was Associated With
Capital toll

attending agreed to associate them
selves as a new congregation and
adopted the name Epiphany.
At first the meetings were held
in Apollo Hall, then on the south
side Of E street between Thirteenth
and Thirteen-and-a-half streets, on
the present site OF the old Southern
Railway Building. The old hall has
quite a history. AS early as 1888 1t
was one-story frame building, To-
Gated on the north side of E street,
near the National Theater. 1t was
then occupied as wheelwright and
blacksmith shop by Mr.. Brockway,
and about this time was purchased
by William Morrow and removed to
the south side OF E street, where it
was raised and story placed under
1t. when it became known as Apollo
Hall. where numerous societies met
A FEW years ago. when looking up
the records Of the Church Of the
Epiphany. the writer found reference
to Apollo Hall and the early days of
the church, though he was unable to
ascertain who was responsible for
the record. However, what the author
said, fellows:
Apollo Hall was situated on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue or
rather E street. and a portion OF the
building is still standing. It was about
four doors west OF Thirteenth street.
During the week 1t was used for vari-
ouS entertainments, sometimes for
auctions. minstrel shows, etc, and on
Sundays it was arranged for church
services. 1t accommodated about 800
or 400 people. A reading desk was
at the north end OF the hall, and near
1t was a movable screen, behind which
the minister put on his robes for serv-
ice, and at the other end was a small
gallery used by the choir
Il do not remember that there was
any musical instrument, but Prof
Club led the choir for some time,
pitching the tune by a tuning fork.
There were benches arranged along
the sides and chairs in the middle
OF the room. Dr.. French commen. ed
to hold service there about the winter
of l84l-2. The services were we'll
attended, as there we're but three
other Episcopal churches in the city
at that time-Christ Church, Navy
Yard; old Trinity. on Fifth street. and
st. Johns Church
Among the congregation of the
mission at Apollo Hall were the fol-
loWlng-named families: James, Ames,
Gllllss. Goldsborough. Edwards, Nor
rlson. Bergman, Brown, Mcintyre,
fitzgerald, Dorsey, Davis. Club. Kel-
Ter, Maynardier, Kraft, Flllebrown,
Burroughs, Todhunter. Lenthal. Rcd
man, Dow, Dickens, Washington,
Stellwagen, Paris and others whose
names l cannot recall"
1t is recorded that William James
also was wont to start the singing.
with the aid Of tuning fork
NO RAPID progress seems to have
been made in this respect. when it
was reported at the meeting on Octo-
Der "a that Miss Louisa Harrison
had offered to donate to the vestry,
as site for the church. ground on G
street, being the present location Of
the church edifice and specified as
being lots 3 and 4 in square 252,
Indeed, women are not the only ones
who can change their minds, for al
though this generous offer was i'm
mediately accepted, yet We soon find
the vestry-composed entirely of men,
OF course-wavering in their conclu-
slons, and 1t was suggested that in
quiry be made to ascertain il til. lot
at the corner of Twelfth and e streets
could be purchased But apparently
this could not be done. and the site
gwen by Miss Harrison was used.
Bids were taken for erecting the
church. and several builders submit
ted prices based upon the plans sub
mitted by John w. Harkness, who was
a competitor also. Harkness was the
lowest bidder. but even theh-be-
fore the contract was awarded him
he was sounded out as to how much Of
the price set would be donated by