Evening star., 1946-03-03


days of sickness. and finally death
bedimmed the sunshine of pleasure, and
Louise Corcoran Eustls passed into the
great beyond, at Cannes, in December,
1867.
Rich Philanthropies
And Endowments
Mr.. Corcoran'S gifts were varied and
many. He presented the Trinidad tract.
which is now nearly all built up with
houses, to the Columbian-now George
shlngton-University. He gave the
washington City Orphan Asylum the
site it vacated a decade or more ago
at Fourteenth and streets NV.
and contributed a sufficient amount to
build medical hall for old Columbian
College. He donated $4,000 toward
erecting Ascension Protestant Episcopal
Church, and supplemented this later
with a gift of $4,000.
His gifts were not confined to WASH
lngton, but included a number of out
side places.
To Washington and Lee University
he gave library of 5000 volumes. as
sisted William and Mary College flnan-
clally, and generously made gifts of
money % the University of Virginia and
TO the Virginia Military Institute His
enterprises included the erecting in 1847
Of the Corcoran Building. which stood
until some years ago, when it gave way
for the Hotel Washington. at Pennsyl-
Vanla avenue and Fifteenth street. The
earlier building was erected for Fed
sral departmental use, but finally gave
way for private office purposes AS a
lad, the writer recalls that the Western
Union Telegraph office was in this build
Ing at the corner of F and Fifteenth
streets. For a number of years Mr.
Corcoran-who was an early member
Of the Association of the Oldest Inhab-
.ants-gave this organization permission
TO occupy room here, rent free
On January l. 1886. few years be-
lore Mr.. Corcoran's death. the mem
oerS of the Association of the Oldest
Inhabitants called on him to pay their
respects at his palatial home, Connecti-
,ut avenue and H street northwest.
where is now the National Chamber of
Commerce Building,
One of Mr.. Corcorans most thought
tul acts was the bringing to this coun-
Try Of the remains of John Howard
Payne, author of Home, Sweet Home"
a song sacred to all,
Early Construction
Of the Louise Home
Dating back to the period when the
Louise Home was erected we find this
vicinity quite rural, though a boom had
then just started in Northwest Washing
ton real estate, as we may find by refer
ring to The Star of September 16, 1870,
where We find it stated that Mr.. George
w. Boardman is having plans prepared
Tor an elegant residence at the inter-
section of Massachusetts, avenue and M
street, to cost $4,000" Commodore J.
J. Almy will commence next Monday the
erection of fine residence on Massa-
chuSetts avenue between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets. 1t will have base
hASiie' WV olO1lCS dllu rIellCIl TOOL,
pressed brick front and brownstone
trimmings and will be 25 feet front by
so feet deep, and will contain 18
rooms with all modern improvements.
she cost is estimated at $4,000" Sem
ssor Edmunds has about completed an
segant residence on Massachusetts,
&enue between Fourteenth and Fiji
Fenth streets. 1t stands on Highland
aace. The house is two stories and
aSement with French roof. and con-
aims IA rooms. 1t is finished in black
talnut, with walnut and ash floors, and
every way a first-class residence and
n ornament to our CITY, 1t is valued
{ s25o00."
Two years before this, the National
Baseball Club had its games at Fiji
:eenth and l. streets.
That building had not progressed
very far west along Massachusetts, ave-
nue. in 1871 will appear from the follow
Ing advertisement taken from an issue
of The Star of that year:
To the curious ana anxious: Mime
D., so well known as the most success
full explainer of the past. present and
future ever in Washington. continues
tn no rnpSIllteI u,eok1,, l,,, of