McNair - Grant Hall Dedication

[L Verge]

To give you some idea of how beautiful the post is: Nearly twenty years ago, the Surratt Society held a banquet in the ballroom of the Officers' Club at McNair. Walk out the main door of the OC and turn right; in a few yards, you are standing beside the Potomac River with boats, cruise ships, etc. going by and planes coming into Reagan National Airport over your head. Look straight ahead to the tip of the point of land that the post is on, and the architecturally magnificent old War College stares back at you. Turn left and look down the parade ground, and you will see homes along Generals' Row that will remind you of Tara from Gone With The Wind; and beyond those, are buildings dating to the 19th and early-20th centuries. I believe I'm correct that Walter Reed did much of his studies on Yellow Fever in some of those buildings.

Anyhow, back to twenty years ago - the night of the Surratt banquet coincided with my daughter's Prom night. One of her girl friends was also my weekend manager at Surratt House, and they both dated McNamara Men who were best buddies. (A McNamara Man means they were students at a rather prestigious Catholic boys' school that prided itself in turning out fine scholars and fine gentlemen -- and unfortunately, my daughter let that one go!).

The two couples had heard everyone talk about how pretty McNair was, so they decided to have the supper portion of their Prom Night with us old fogies in the Officers' Club at McNair before heading out to where the happening dance and party was going on. Let's just say that those four teenagers were the hit of the evening, and all the old fogies thought they were so cute and that it was so wonderful that they had spent a portion of their evening with folks who had watched my daughter, Jen, grow up - she was two when I joined the Surratt Society - and had known Megan for several years as she worked weekends at the museum. Kent and Julian were definitely McNamara Men that night also. Before leaving for the dance, the two couples strolled along the river. I don't know if Jen remembers the evening, but this old mother sure does... Ft. McNair has that effect on you, even if you don't know the history.

[Jim Garrett]

To give you some idea of how beautiful the post is: Nearly twenty years ago, the Surratt Society held a banquet in the ballroom of the Officers' Club at McNair. Walk out the main door of the OC and turn right; in a few yards, you are standing beside the Potomac River with boats, cruise ships, etc. going by and planes coming into Reagan National Airport over your head. Look straight ahead to the tip of the point of land that the post is on, and the architecturally magnificent old War College stares back at you. Turn left and look down the parade ground, and you will see homes along Generals' Row that will remind you of Tara from Gone With The Wind; and beyond those, are buildings dating to the 19th and early-20th centuries. I believe I'm correct that Walter Reed did much of his studies on Yellow Fever in some of those buildings.

Anyhow, back to twenty years ago - the night of the Surratt banquet coincided with my daughter's Prom night. One of her girl friends was also my weekend manager at Surratt House, and they both dated McNamara Men who were best buddies. (A McNamara Man means they were students at a rather prestigious Catholic boys' school that prided itself in turning out fine scholars and fine gentlemen -- and unfortunately, my daughter let that one go!).

The two couples had heard everyone talk about how pretty McNair was, so they decided to have the supper portion of their Prom Night with us old fogies in the Officers' Club at McNair before heading out to where the happening dance and party was going on. Let's just say that those four teenagers were the hit of the evening, and all the old fogies thought they were so cute and that it was so wonderful that they had spent a portion of their evening with folks who had watched my daughter, Jen, grow up - she was two when I joined the Surratt Society - and had known Megan for several years as she worked weekends at the museum. Kent and Julian were definitely McNamara Men that night also. Before leaving for the dance, the two couples strolled along the river. I don't know if Jen remembers the evening, but this old mother sure does... Ft. McNair has that effect on you, even if you don't know the history.

My father attended the War College there in 1960. What a great name. "WAR COLLEGE"!!

[L Verge]

I think that was in the days when we knew we were at war and had no qualms about calling it a war. Sorry, I'm a rightie who gets tired of political correctness.

[Jim Garrett]

I think that was in the days when we knew we were at war and had no qualms about calling it a war. Sorry, I'm a rightie who gets tired of political correctness.

Somehow "Conflict College" doesn't really work.

[Hess1865]

Sorry, I'm a rightie who gets tired of political correctness.

Nothing wrong with that
PC has been out of control in the USA for far too long IMO

[Rsmyth]

Hi Betty, the link you provided to the news article says "JWB was temporarily buried at the far end of this walkway." is he describing warehouse number 1? If so, is that the walkway leading from the road to the entrance of Grant Hall? Thanks.

[Gene C]

Sorry, I'm a rightie who gets tired of political correctness.

Nothing wrong with that
PC has been out of control in the USA for far too long IMO

"Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:"

Proverbs 23:19

[BettyO]

Hi Betty, the link you provided to the news article says "JWB was temporarily buried at the far end of this walkway." is he describing warehouse number 1? If so, is that the walkway leading from the road to the entrance of Grant Hall? Thanks.

I don't think that's right....the cell blocks extended from the front of "Quarters 20" i.e. Grant Hall to the road..... I think that Warehouse 1 was located out where the soccer field was located. John and Barry would know definitely!

[L Verge]

We do need John and Barry to chime in because I thought Booth was buried in a building at the end of today's sidewalk also.

I have not read it, but we used to sell a book entitled "Silent Sentinel on the Potomac" about the history of Ft. McNair (whose current name only dates to the end of WWII, btw).

[John E.]

Hi folks,

The article is correct. Booth was initially buried in a storage room next to the Warden's quarters. The sidewalk which leads away from Grant Hall and toward General's row is indeed where the rest of the Penitentiary once rested.

In 1867, the center portion of the penitentiary was to be razed and required Booth's corpse and the five bodies buried in the south yard of the penitentiary to be re-located to warehouse # 1. Warehouse 1 was located southeast of the penitentiary and in front of James Creek. It is now a parking lot area in front of NDU.

In 1869, President Johnson permitted the bodies to be returned to their families.

[L Verge]

Thanks, John, for confirming that Booth's second burial was in Warehouse 1. Those poor bones got shifted around at least four times once his body was secreted off of the Monitor.

[Rsmyth]

Thanks John! Just to clarify...after the makeshift burial next to the gallows, the 4 conspirators were then buried in another location prior to the warehouse along with Booth? If so, what is known about that site and was Wirz buried there and then moved to the warehouse with he rest?

[GARY POPOLO]

Betty, What beautiful pictures. I don't know alot about the history of the fort McNair. But looks like everyone had a great time. I also agree with the others that the Powell mannequin was in bad taste. Best Gary P.

[John E.]

Thanks John! Just to clarify...after the makeshift burial next to the gallows, the 4 conspirators were then buried in another location prior to the warehouse along with Booth? If so, what is known about that site and was Wirz buried there and then moved to the warehouse with he rest?

I'm sorry for the confusing email. Here's a list of the burial places:

1. (1865) Booth - Storage room of Penitentiary.
Conspirators - Penitentiary courtyard right of Gallows
Wirz - Next to the conspirators (November, 1865)

2. (1867) Booth, conspirators, Wirz - Moved to and buried in
Warehouse # 1.

3. (1869) Bodies released to families (From Warehouse 1)

[Rsmyth]

Thanks John. I was the one confused. I did not know that Wirz was buried along with the 4 conspirators next to the gallows prior to being moved to the warehouse. But it makes sense.