Evening star., 1939-01-22

Marshall of Kentucky and others
were won't to expound the benefits
arising from the abstinence from
alcoholic beverages. Here our es-
teemed friend. George Savage, Esq.
Cthe Father Mathew of Washing
tom, used his best endeavors to
rescue his fallen brothers and by
kind admonitions and a helping
hand succeeded in saving many
from drunkard's grave, some of
whom are now among our most
worthy and influential citizens"
1t does look as if the work done
by these good men will have to be
done all over again.
James Croggon. in writing of this
old building. infers that it was
always located at the south side of
E street. and was not moved there.
However, he has this to say:
Apollo Hall was long a place for
public meetings and entertainments
and played an important part in
the early history of the city Erected
in the early 30s on the south side of
E street, the lower portion was used
as a grocery store by w. M. Morrow.
who also for time conducted
there a broom factory. The hall was
used for balls, parties. lectures and
entertainments Many a man dated
his reformation by signing the tenn
perance pledge there in the 40s
when the Washingtonians' held
nightly meetings in the hall. The
latter was the birthplace of the
Church of the Epiphany. The then
little congregation was organized
and worshiped here in 1838-39. be-
fore erecting the church on G street
Wyman. the magician. gave his per-
formances in the hall. For many
years the hall was used as a dane
ing academy. first by Prof. Liable
/ and afterward by Nine Blake, one
of the handsomest women of hel
day, who later became the wife Of
United States Senator.
Theatrical performances were
also given in the hall in the 30s
There were many fairs and lectures
held there and in political cam
paigns the hall was a rallying point
apollo Hall was burned twice, late
in the 40s. the last time being COM
pletely destroyed. It's blackened
walls stood for many years as a
reminder of what it had been"
The writer finds the date of the
burning of the hall given as June
6, 1855.
AS stated, it was in this building
that Epiphany P. E. Church held
some of its early meetings, of which
an old manuscript account says:
1T was about four doors west of
Thirteenth street. During the week
it was used for various entertain
ments, sometimes for auctions, min
strel shows. etc, and on Sundays
it was arranged for church services
1t accommodated about 300 or 400
people. A reading desk was at the
north end of the hall. and near 1t
was movable screen, behind which
the minister put on his robes for
service. 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
commenced to hold services there
about the winter of 1841-42. The
services were we'll attended. as there
were 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
following named families: James,
Ames, Gilliss, Goldsborough. Ed
wards, Morrison, Bergman. Brown,
Mcintyre, Fitzgerald, Dorsey, Davis,
Clubb, Keller. Maynadler, Kraft,
Fillebrown. Burroughs. Todhunter,
Lenthal. Rodman, Dow, Dickens
Washington, Stellwagen, Paris and
Others"
| Another well-known establish
ment that occupied the E street
front of the block where is now the
building formerly occupied by the
Southern Railway was Jimmy" Ma
hers famous Indian hostelry, at first
called the Globe Hotel, but which by
1850 had become the Western Ho-
tel, though the proprietor remained
the same. In addition to being the
stopping place for visiting Indian
delegations 1t was also the head
quarters for Majors line of stages
running from the Navy Yard to
Georgetown.
This hotel also provided a meet
ing place for a council of Know
Nothings," and it is generally be-
lieved that here the plot was formed
to destroy the Pope's stone. the me-
mortal sent from Rome to be placed
in the Washington National Monu-
ment.
1t was on the southeast corner ot
Thirteen-and-a-H Half and E streets
that Washington Lodge. No. Is
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks
was instituted February II, 1882
though the Elks had no idea Of thu
historic neighbo~hood at the time