Evening star., 1938-09-04

pleted shortly after the death Of the
first President, for whom they were
built. The celebrated novelist, Mr.
E. D. E. N. Southworth was born in
one of these houses before they were
merged into one building and became
homicide occurred.
Ct. ALOYSIUS CHURCH was not far
behind the Government Printing
Office in time of erection. Its begin
ming was due TO the generosity Of AM
broSe Lynch, who. on May 4. 1857, con-
veyed to the president and directors Of
Georgetown College, the east quarter of
Square 622 for nominal consideration.
it being stipulated that a church and
a college should be erected and covered
in. the first in two years and the latter
in four years. On the same day deed
was given by Mr.. Lynch to the trustees
OF St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum for the
adjoining quarter west, minus 20 feet
for an alley between tha part ard the
college portion. The building of the
church was soon started and within
two years it was under roof. In Octo-
ber. 1859. the edifce known as ST.
Aloysius Church was dedicated.
Still fresh in the minds of many
is the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
depot that stood from 1852 to 1907
on the northeast corner of c street
and New Jersey avenue This site
is about a city block TO the east o.
the picturesque fountain in the Capt.
tol grounds. and should be perna-
nently marked for its great historic
value. Indeed. during the Civil War
particularly ''it was an all important
point. the center of interest, and large
crowds were about the depot day and
night. After the temporary inter-
ruption of traffic at the beginning of
the war. the arrival of troops from
the North was almost continuous
The 9th United States Infantry took
quarters in the old Crutchett Build
ing on the square, and the Govern
ment soon erected large frame build
ing to accommodate the troops, known
as the Soldiers Rest"
A LATER generation will recall! this
depot for the railroad excursions
they took to Bay Ridge. on the Chesa-
peake Bay, and to other nearby places
to which they Travelled by rail.
Minnesota Row" originally con-
sisting of three houses on the north
side Of I street. between Second and
Third streets NV, still remains as
reminder Of the period in which the
old building OF the Government Print
ing Office was built.
Here. at No. pol Temode!ed). re-
sided Stephen A. Douglas. the Little
Giant" with his wife (who was be-
fore her marriage the beautiful Rose
Adele Cults, niece of Dolly Madison)
and their two sons, Robert NJ and
Stephen A, jr. Before this, Senator
Douglas resided al the southeast cor
ner of New Jersey avenue and / street,
probably at what is now 108 I street
The middle house of Minnesota
Row" was built for Senator Henry
M. Rice Of Minnesota, and No. 205 for
Vice President John c. Breckenridge.
Douglas and Breckenridge were Lin
coins opponents for the presidency in
1860, and Breckenridge later joined
the Confederacy, though Douglas be-
came one of the Presidents most
ardent supporters during the few
months he continued to live after
Lincoln's inauguration.
During the Civil War these houses
formed a part Of Douglas Hospital
which occupied the square bounded
by I, K, Second and Third streets,
Stanton Hospital being in the block
Immediately to the south.
To the east of Douglas Hospital
was st. Aloysius Hospital, Just to the
north OF the church for which 1t was
named.
Just how the employees got trans
portation to the Printing Office in the
very early days can only be surmised
There may have been a private bus
line, or the workers may have Just
used "shank's mare" since the H
street carline did not come into being
for more tina ntwo decades later
u EGARDING the Tiber Creek tiE.t
once flowed through "Swampoo-
die" James Croggon has said:
'Tiber Greek passed directly under
what is now the site of the new City
Post Office. When tests of the ground
beneath the foundations for the struc-
ture now under way were made, two
.(See PROCTOR. Page B-S)