Evening star., 1941-08-24
By John Claeeff Proctor.

Since the War Department has been
given so much publicity recently, in
connection with its proposed mammoth
building to house 10000 Federal work.
ers, it might be interesting to know
that when this department was moved
to Washington in 1900 its entire force
comprised only 1S employees, not includ-
Ing the Secretary. At this time the only
avaflahIe building for this department
was 4 private dwelling that stood on
the sodth side of Pennsylvania avenue
between twenty first and Twenty-sec-
ond streets, whichS Secretary Dexter
rented from Joseph Hodgson. 1t was a
large, handsome, three-story brick dwell
Ing, and was destroyed by fire on
Saturday evening, November 8, 1900, hav-
ing caught from the adjoining house
occupied by Jonathan Jackson, who 1t
seems had died that very day, but whose
body was removed to place of safety.
The loss, which included many valuable
papers. relics and evidences of the Revo-
lutionary War, was practically COM
plete one, only a few of the public
records being saved while the blackened
walls were visible for many years >there-
after. and frequently formed a point of
direction being referred to as "the
Burned War Office"
From the beginning, the bulk of the
records of this department was first
stored in Lear's warehouse. stone struc-
ture near the foot of Twenty-f1rst street
west, which was owned by Col Tobias
Lear, at ore time private secretary to
Gen. Washington.
In Navy Building.
Sometime after the burning of the
Hodgson house, the War Department oc-
cupied a part of the Navy Building,
which stood to the south of what later
became the site of the War Building, and
here it was common practice to hold
regular religious services, especially on
Sunday afternoons, and an item tells us
that In the latter part Of April, 1901. Rev.
Andrew T. Mccormick, rector of Wash
ington Parish, conducted divine services
in the corridor of this building.
The War Department remained in this
building until it was destroyed by the
British in 1914, when it took up tempor-
ary quarters on the north side of F street
near the corner of Fifteenth street.
The Rev. Mr.. Mccormick referred to
died in this city on April 27, 1841, and
the National Intelligencer carried an in
teresting and eulogistic item about him,
the biographical part of which says:
Mr. A. T. Mccormick was native Of
Ireland and came to this city in the
year 1856. He was among the first to
open a classical school and the very
first to establish an Episcopal church in
Washington. The building had been
barn on the land of Mr.. D. Carroll, one
of the original proprietors of the city,
and by the individual and unaided ex-
ertions of this worthy and pious man
1t was converted into humble but de-
cent temple Of Christian worship.
Jefferson at Church.
The illustrious Jefferson was won't to
attend divine service in the lowly
chapel. He usually rode alone on horse
back his pew was handsomely cushioned
and his prayer book was French trans
lation. Mr.. Jefferson was much pleased
with Mr.. McCormicks reading. which he
thought excellent. Ia this humble church
he officiated till larger and more COM
modious one of brick was erected near
the Navy Ward in 1907, and continued
its pastor till 1923, when he retired from
Its pastoral duties.
Though unambitious of distinction,
he endeavored to render himself useful
to his fellow beings and to society. He
was appointed several years ago by the
board of trustees of the Easter Free
School, established by the corporation
of Washington, their president, and
acted in that capacity till the period of
his death to the satisfaction of the
trustees and the corporation"
The permanent home of the War De.
partment for many years stood on the
southeast corner of Seventeenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue. 1t was begun
In 1878 and removed in 1879 to make
way for the present State, War and
Navy Building. During the Mexican
War it was naturally very busy place,
and during the Civil War was 24-hour-
a-day establishment.
Lincoln as Visitor.
Here President Lincoln was a frequent
visitor upon tense occasions. when he
would go there to be close to the tele-
graph office or to confer with Simon
Cameron, his Secretary of War, and
later, Edwin M. Stanton, who succeeded
to this Office. Upon a number of the
Presidents visits to the War Depart
ment he was accompanied by his son
Thomas or Tad" as he was affection
ately called, a boy full of life and filled
with boyish tricks just the same as any
other boy.
Upon one occasion Tad amused him
self dipping his fingers in the inkwells
and smearing the telegraphers' desks.
One telegrapher, upon reaching the limit
of his patience picked up Tad and car
ried him to the President, expecting
that he would at least censure or chas-
tise him. But Mr.. Lincoln did neither,
simply remarking in his kindly way, Il
don't think they are treating you right
here, Tad; we had better go away" and
then, gathering Tad up in his arms. he
walked away.