Evening star., 1951-03-19
Soldier S Home
Catt|eAuctionet
AsFarm Closes
Fine Herd Is Sold
To Make Way for
New VA Hospital

Z The Soldiers Home Farm, one
of the most famous in the area
stopped operation today to make
room for Government construc-
ton.
Dairymen from Maryland ano
Virginia, and Holstein-Friesian
breeders from all over the East
were here to bid on Isl animals
that make up the Soldiers Home
herd.
Home employees MIXED for the
last time this morning. For
nearly 100 years the herd has pro-
vided milk for the District in
s. ssution. After today the home
will depend on local dairies fol
its milk supply.
Tommy Traynor, farm super
intendent for the last seven years
and herdsnan at the home fol
more than 20 years. estimated
that more than 500 buyers were
on hand to bid on the cows
calves and bulls.
Calf Brings $500.
The herd, built UP from a.20-
COW foundation herd, consists OF
some of the finest Holstein. In
dications are that many of the
animals will bring high prices.
AS the sale got under way, some
of the first animals offered
brought as high as $500. One
calf, less than one month old,
sold for $3.50.
AS the sale continued with some
of the better COWS coming on the
block, prices continued to rise. The
top COW by early afternoon brought
$3.50. A bull calf, less than one
year old, sold for more than $500.
Montgomery County (Mdo
County Agent o. w. Anderson said
prices did not seem out of line for
purebred animals. All animals solo
are registered, and papers are
transferred with them.
Few of the old soldiers at the
home came down to watch the
sale begin. One or two were no
ticed walking about the fringes
of the crowd, which was jammed
into a machinery building where
the sale ring had been set up.
Mr.. Traynor said the sale would
probably continue until late this
evening before the last COW passes
through the ring. Tomorrow, the
farm machinery and dairy equip
ment will be sold.
Site for VA Hospital.
The l85-acre farm will give way
to a veterans hospital and hos
pi center.
-conwhile, it was announced
thc. the George Hyman Construc-
t;cl Co. of Washington has been
awarded a $72 million contract
for construction of an 850-capac-
ity domicile building which will
be constructed at the Home.
The Washington firms bid was
lowest of seven. John McShain
Inc, of Arlington, the second low
est bidder, was $182, 900 higher.
The new building will be the
first in an expansion program
that may total $50 million. II
will be eight stories high and will
be erected north of the present
Soldiers Home.
To Be Finished in Two Years.
The main part of the building
will be 420 feet long and each OF
four wings will be 1875 feet long
1t will contain 4 million square
feet, and will have an auditorium
messhall, kitchen and other fea-
lures. Completion is scheduled in
about two years. Twelve acres
have been set aside for it on the
500-acre reservation.
Irwin S. Porter and Sons, an
other District firm, was awarded
the architectural commission. The
elevator contract went to West
inghouse Electric Elevator Corp
for $263 ,945.
Included in tomorrow's sale OF
machinery ere IA tractors, farm
wagons, hay rakes and dairy barn
and milk equipment. Many of
the tractors are old models
mounted on steel wheels. Much
of the machinery is considered in
good condition.
A:I kI.