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The Blessing of the Land Geraldine M. Rohling, Ph.D., M.A.Ed. Archivist-Curator he custom of blessing is as old as University but its proximity to Glenwood creation itself. In the book of Genesis, Cemetery and other burial grounds made it Twe read that at the end of each “day,” similarly unpleasant. The location question was God blessed the work. Thus, on the third day, thoroughly discussed both privately and, with God created “the dry land, ‘Earth,’ … [and] the help of the press, publicly. During their fall God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10-12). meeting of 1887, the bishop trustees agreed All was made holy. to retain the Middleton There are many types of estate in northeast D.C. blessings; among them, and proceed with the blessings for churches original plan. and the land upon The city was growing and which they stand. This within two years, the ex- blessing designates the tension of the “Eckington structure and the acreage electric railway” (street- for divine service and car) up Fourth Street to creates a distinct spiritual Michigan Avenue, would relationship; an abiding open up the area previ- quality of sacredness. The ously tagged as “unavail- church and the land are able property.” With the made inviolably sacred. extension of the streetcar A Question of Location line came the addition of In 1885, Walter S. Perry streetlights, another sign (trustee for the Middletons) of urbanization. To enable and Mary V. Middleton further access, the bishops planned to give the recorded a deed of sale to Rohling Geraldine M. B&O Railroad “sufficient James Cardinal Gibbons, Creation, Mary Reardon (1973) Archbishop of Baltimore, ground” for the construc- for a 62-acre tract of land known as “Turkey tion of “a handsome depot,” Cardinal Station, Thicket.” This purchase was part of the effort of which, in February of 1978, would become the the American bishops of the Roman Catholic Brookland/CUA station on the Metro Red Line. Church to establish a graduate school for the Such improvements aided in the development “sacred sciences” in Washington, D.C. that of the surrounding community of “Brookland.” would rival similar institutions of Europe. Whether by chance or just shrewd business, the 1887 development of the adjacent 134 acres of The wisdom of this purchase—not the land but the estate of Colonel Jehiel Brooks, in tandem its location—came into question two years later. with the rise of “little Rome,” was a venture Situated three or four miles from the “heart of that would and did pay well. During the the city,” it was considered “incon- commencement exercises of June 1909, venient” and too far outside of the city of Washington, D.C. Earlier maps and publications occasionally referred to this part of the District as “the northeast frontier,” with Boundary Road (Florida Avenue, NE), marking the limits of the city. Further objections were raised because of the proximity of the acreage to the cattle yards of the B & O Railroad that formed its eastern boundary (now the Metro line). Consequently, there was talk of selling the estate and purchasing a tract of land closer to downtown. Consideration was also given BNSIC Archives to property just east of Howard 1890 Map Mary’s Shrine v FallFall/Winter 2019 2019 Rector Thomas J. Shahan noted, “the university to imply. Frederick V. Murphy, who Shahan found Northeast Washington an undeveloped chose to establish the school of architec- section of the city. Gradually this section has de- ture, stated in a 1957 interview that Msgr. veloped [in tandem with the university] … until Edward A. Pace, the first dean of the School of Brookland … was rightly accounted among the Philosophy, offered to donate some property most desirable parts of our beautiful city.” located on Fort Totten Hill, the location of one of the Civil War defenses that encircled the The Gaffe of the Secretary city. He added the suggestion that the Brothers In 1910, Rev. Patrick J. Waters of Boston, a of Mary from Dayton, Ohio, might also be Ph.D. candidate appointed to the Anna Hope approached about selling some of their property Hudson Fellowship in Philosophy, became the at that location. Shahan however, felt that the private secretary to Rector Shahan. One day in church needed to be on the premises of the the spring of 1911, Shahan invited Waters to go for a walk. As they wandered about the grounds university not only for the students but also for admiring the beauty, Shahan told Waters of administrative reasons. his plan to “erect a beautiful national shrine.” Another proposed location was where the In a letter written some fifty years later, John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library Rt. Rev. Msgr. Waters sheepishly admitted that stands today. A detail from a 1914 lithograph he “tried to discourage” Shahan by saying “there shows the “university cathedral” at the center were already beautiful churches in Baltimore of the campus. This plan was developed by and Washington,” and suggested a smaller Murphy at the request of Shahan. According to project, “a church for students.” Shahan, ever Murphy, it was at this time that the idea of a the visionary, had his mind set on a magnificent “crypt church” came into focus, as it would fill shrine modeled after similar churches in Europe. in “the hollow space at the site.” In this same letter, Waters stated that Shahan pointed out to him the site he had chosen for The perfect location was yet to be found. A this magnificent church. Once again, the young preliminary survey of the campus grounds cleric expressed his opposition claiming that was made. The Olmsted Brothers, landscape the location “was too near the road and there would be no room for lawns or landscaping.” The “kid” was 0 for 2. Whether it was because of this discussion or the needs of his archbishop, that June, Waters was recalled to Boston to join the faculty of the archdiocesan seminary. BNSIC Archives Mr. Leo F. Olds, BNSIC Archives the brother of 1914 Murphy-Olmsted Plan Rev. Alonzo J.Olds, pastor of St. Augustine’s Church and the found- architects from Brookline, Massachusetts, made er of the Sanctuary Choir of the parish, replaced a careful study of the survey and recommended him. Olds was enthusiastic about the project. the location where the National Shrine stands Sadly, Olds resigned in 1915 for health reasons; today. Frederick regarded this location as he died two years later (39). Rev. Bernard A. central to the university and the surrounding McKenna of Philadelphia, a former student of scholasticates and religious houses, all of which Shahan and alumnus of the university, was then would serve and be served by the Shrine. appointed secretary “with a special view to the work of the National Shrine.” The saying “third Even though the chosen site was on level times the charm” could never have been truer. ground, the idea of a “crypt church” had McKenna became Shahan’s right-hand-man; the taken hold. This had a major impact on the most devoted champion of the National Shrine architectural style and which part of the Shrine and Bishop Shahan, and the first director of the would first be constructed. National Shrine. On 8 January 1919, the Committee on The location for the National Shrine, however, the National Shrine listed the names of was not as cut and dry as Msgr. Waters seemed eight architects for the job and discussed Mary’s Shrine v Fall/Winter 2019 The Blessing of the Land the qualifications of each: John T. Comès, Following a concerted effort to acquire the Pittsburgh; Henry Dandurand Dagit (Henry necessary funds to begin construction, includ- D. Dagit & Sons), Philadelphia; Edward T. P. ing papal approval, a papal blessing, and even a Graham, Boston; Charles R. Greco, Boston; papal donation, plans were made for the actual F. Burrall Hoffman, New York and Florida; work to begin. As with all things, it would begin Charles D. Maginnis (Maginnis and Walsh), “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and Brookline; Paul Monaghan, Philadelphia; of the Holy Spirit.” Frederick V. Murphy (Murphy & Olmsted), The Blessing of the Site Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Each On Sunday morning, 16 May 1920, at 9:00 a.m. nominee was esteemed in the field of church more than 6,000 persons, including a delega- architecture. In the end, the minutes would tion of 1500 Knights of Columbus from New record that by “unanimous consent,” the York City and 600 members of the New York committee favored “a Romanesque Church” and Chapter of the Daughters of Isabella, attended recommended “Mr. Charles Maginnis of Boston an open air Mass and the blessing of the site for ... as the architect of the building” with Mr. the future National Shrine of the Immaculate Frederick V. Murphy as associate architect. Conception. An al fresco breakfast and lunch That same year, plans for the National Shrine were provided for all who attended the event. presented by Charles Maginnis were approved and adopted at the December meeting of the Board of Trustees. The bishop trustees further authorized the Building Committee to select the material and award the contract for the con- struction of “the Crypt of the apse at the cost of $280,000 more or less.” (This would be a little more than $3.5 million in 2019.) The location was also finalized. As platted by the Olmsted Brothers on 28 June 1919, the Shrine would be located at “the western side of the University property, parallel with Harewood Avenue (Road) and five hundred feet from Michigan Avenue.” BNSIC Archives 1920 Knights of Columbus Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, was the celebrant.