Evening star., 1950-05-31


Architects drawing of build
for the Freedom Fair.
$25 900 would be requested. but
the appropriation was cut to
$4,000 and did not become avail
able until later in the year.
Boykin Named Director.
That was the year of the elec-
ton and there were no further
meetings of the commission. Ed
ward Boykin. a Virginian from
Charlottesville who had served as
director of the Thomas Jefferson
Bicentennial Commission and had
written a motion picture on JEFF
ferson's life and times, made him
self known to members of the
commission and got the job as
director at a salary $500 and a
secretary. His salary as director
of cultural and historical activities
later became $15,600. He and Mr.
Barron made an arrangement with
a Washington architect, Leon
Chatelain. to design an amphi-
theater and a building for exhibi-
tions on the Monument Lot and at
a meeting in Commissioner
Young's Office on December IA
1948, these plans were approved
in principle after being outlined
in the rough by Mr.. Chatelain.
Election Changes Personnel.
In the meantime Mr.. Truman
had been reelected President. and
the Democrats had gained "a
majority in Congress. So the
official personnel of the COM
mission was changed. Senator
Mcclellan and Speaker Rayburn
succeeded Senator Vandenberg
and Mr.. Martin. Representative
Mcmillan of South Carolina had
succeeded Representative Dirksen
Senator McGrath (now Attorney
GeneraD had succeeded former
Senator Buck. Senator Smith OF
Maine and Representative Norton
of New Jersey were added.
At the December IA, 1948, meet
ing in Mr.. Young's Office the di-
rector. Mr.. Boykin, submitted a
tentative budget of $2,798. 900. 1t
was decided to ask for SO million
1t was estimated that temporary
buildings on the Monument Lot
and an amphitheater could be
built for $2.5 million.
At another meeting on February
8, 1949, Mr.. Chatelain's Office
submitted new drawings of the
Monument Lot Buildings and a
revised estimate of cost at $1.2
million-the estimates having been
shaved because it appeared that
only SIS million. instead of SO mil
lion, would be recommended by the
Budget Bureau. The meeting voted
to direct the architect to proceed
with his plans and Mr.. Boykin
was instructed to clear them with
the Park and Planning and Fine
Arts Commissions.
Opposed to Location.
Following that meeting it was
decided to go after legislation
which would enable the commits
sion to proceed with it's plans fol
the Monument location. But Mr.
Boykin later reported that while
the plans were satisfactory to the
Fine Arts Commission the Park
and Planning Commission was
against the location on the Monu.
ment Grounds and suggested q
location in West Potomac Park.
On February %, 1949, the ena.
bling bill-which would allow the
commission to proceed with it,
planS-was sent to the Capitol un.
der covering letter from Mr.. Bar.
ron. who said that freedom woulc
be the predominant note of the
celebration, with emphasis or
Americas faith in principles or
which the Nation was founded. The
legislation was introduced in the
House by Mrs. Norton and in the
Senate by Mr.. McGrath, and II
had been prepared with the un.
derstanding that Mr.. Chatelain'.
plans. perhaps adapted to West
Potomac Park instead of the
Monument lot, would be carried
out. There still had been no men.
ton of Freedom Fair.
| A meeting of the full commits.
sion was held at the White House
on April Is, 1949, with all mem.
bers except Mr.. Mcmillan present
The enabling act had passed thu
House. but not the Senate. Anc
on April 6 the House Appropria.
tions Committee had ignored the
request for the SIS million.
Fair Project Unveiled.
1t was at this April Is meeting
that Freedom Fair was unveiled
by Mr.. Barron-taking member.
Of the commission by surprise
Freedom Fair took the form of 9
blueprint outline Of buildings laic
out In the shape Of USA, located
in West Potomac Park, south anc
! west of the Tidal Basin. The blue
print had been prepared by O firn
called Gardner Displays Of New
York, up to that time unknown te
meYnherR of fha commission aY.