Evening star., 1948-07-03
Letters to The Star
Top of the Washington Monument

Top of the Washington Monument
To the Editor Of The Star
was very much interested in the pictures
and article in The Star for June 80 concerning
the top of the Washington Monument, and
am sending my guess toward solving the
mystery"
First: The top picture shows that the stone
work has been completed, but note that the
tip of the pyramid is not shown. The workmen
shown in this picture, judged by the tools used
and other details, appear to be engaged In
applying coat of cement work to fill the joints
between the stones, thus providing smooth
surface which will shed water and prevent it
collecting in the joints where freezing and
thawing would injure the mortar.
Second: Next in chronological order is the
picture in the oval which shows the same
scaffolding upon which the workmen are seated
in the top picture and, above this, some later
scaffolding which has been added for the pur-
pose of completing the smooth outer coat of
cement up to the top of the pyramid and for
the final placing of the aluminium cap.
In other words, the lower picture, taken in
1885, shows, not a single huge block OF stone
but the pyramid with its outer coat OF smooth
cement, tribute to the good workmanship
of the masons shown in the upper picture.
I might add that, as a small boy then living
in Georgetown, clearly recall the excitement
attendant upon the placing Of the aluminium
cap and the completion of the Monument and
I well remember the firing OF the salute at
that time. I also remember an afternoon
stroll with my brother out upon the old Aque-
duct Bridge shortly after the completion OF
the monument, 1t was late in the afternoon
and the reflection of the sun from the shiny
new aluminium cap gave the appearance OF
knr% ~f tt,A naN,NYr
ment
EDWARD M. oFFLEY,,
Colonel, United States Army, Retired.
To the Editor of The STAR
Your article about the Washington Monu-
ment proved very interesting to me as my father
was employed in its construction for about
four years The Star knows my father as you
published a story about him and also his photo
graph before he died in 1887
The picture in the oval dnserD Is absolutely
authentic as saw this scanolding myself. The
picture at lower left Is the capstone, regardless
of people recognizing Col. Casey standing look
ing on while masons were pointing up joints.
The first public event that can distinctly
remember was the dedication Of the Monument
In 1885, My father and mother and stood on
the ice on Babcock Lake to see the wonderful
j
The reason for my remembering all this was
that my mother on all good days used to send
me to the Monument with my fathers lunch.
became very familiar with the progress OF
construction on this account.
Here Is clue to the cornerstone: II the
stone was set by Masons. 1t is most likely at the
northeast corner, but covered by the NIL made
when the grounds were raised around It,
/ The Masonic fraternity should be able to
tell you the history Of this.
W. B. CHAMPION.
TO the Editor Of The Star:
In the June 30 issue OF The Star you display
pictures Of the top Of the Washington Monu-
ment and suggest that some reader might be
able to throw light upon the mystery Of the
two variant views of the Tip" Of the Monument
It appears to this writer that the my4tery