Evening star., 1943-09-05
Old Landmarks of Lower Seventh Street
BY John Clagett Proctor.

BY John Clagett Proctor.
One of the most interesting neighbor-
hoods in Washington, and one which
has attached to it considerable national
and local historic importance, is the
section located in the. vicinity of Seventh
and E streets NV.
From the beginning of the capital out
standing events began to occur here,
and so. as early as July 4, 1893, the
laying of the corner stone of Blodgett's
Hotel took place. This building was
located on the north side of E street
between Seventh and Eighth streets.
The name "Blodgett" was not the real
name of the structure, but, instead,
was the name of Samuel Blodgett, ir.,
who originated lottery scheme for the
purpose of erecting the building. The
offlcial name of the hostelry was the
"Union Public Hotel" and though it
was sometimes called the Great Hotel"
this was only done to distinguish it from
the Little Hotel" which, as early as
I795, stood on the north side of F street
near the corner of Fifteenth street.
At the laying of the corner stone of
Blodgett's Hotel, according to an &C
count printed at the time, "One thou
sand five hundred people were present
and walked from thence in procession,
preceded by lodge of Free Masons, to
dinner, the principal dish of which
consisted of an OK roasted whole.
Toasts were drunk on the occasion. and
the day was concluded with much
harmony"
Of Brick Construction
An early description of the building
tells us that it was constructed of brick,
had a frontage of 100 feet, was so feet
wide, and two stories high, with base
ment and attic story 1t was designed
by James Hoban, architect of the White
House.
In 1900, Wignell & Reinagle. who con-
Quoted the New Theater in Philadelphia,
fitted up room in the Blodgett Build
ing and opened there, on August %,
what was called the United States
Theater, the initial performance being
svenice Preserved, or the Spoiled Child"
1t was the first regular theatrical per-
formance in the city, and one the per-
formers probably never forgot, as
short while before the performance
began heavy storm broke over the
city, overffowing the creeks and drown
ing much stock and almost running the
theatrical scenery. Apparently, the ex-
penses were greater than the profits,
for the promoters closed the theater in
less than month.
The Blodgett Building remained in
completed until 1910. when it was pur-
pied by the Post Office Department, the
City Post Office, the Patent Office and
the Library of Congress. Later, it was
notable as having been the meeting
place of the third session of the Tflir-
teenth Congress, September 10, 1914, to
March 3, 1915, following the burning of
the public buildings by the British. This
particular building had been saved from
destruction through the efforts of DR..
William Thornton, who told the British
officers that 1t housed patent models OF
interest to the entire civilized world, and
not of interest alone to this country.
Building Was ENLARGED
BY 1929 or 1880, it became necessary
to enlarge the building and an addition
was built to the original structure, fac
ing Seventh street, and to this side the
entrance to the Patent Office and the
City Post Office was moved
On December IS, 1885, this building
was destroyed by fire, together with all
the accumulated mail and all the early
patent models and specifications. So
far as the Patent Office was concerned,
its loss was an irreparable calamity.
Following the fire the business of the
Patent Office was transacted in the
City Hall, now the Courthouse and re-
manned there until it was removed to
the building at Ninth and F streets. The
Post Office Department. moved to the
City Hall, or Fuller's, now the Willard
Hotel
An idea of the horrible conditions of
many of our thoroughfares in the early
days is illustrated by an accident that
occurred in front of the Blodgett Hotel
q short while before it was destroyed,
and of which the Metropolitan news
paper said at the time:
"a dangerous accident happened yes
terday to one of our respectable citizens
from cause which is a reproach to our