VOLUMN IV, NUMBER 47, NOVEMBER 23, 1959
The nationfs Capitol - like ah aging lady - is getting a facial to remove-the
caresses of time and weather, . ...»•■ *
Lacy scaffolding, surrounds the Cap
itol dome, visible., to thousands of
tourists and official guests#The stat
ely East Front is, faceless, with the
steps; columns . and sculpture removed
for a'face-changing.
The present "reconstruction is the
second major face-lifting for the Cap
itol since the five sections of the
building were completed in 1859# Not
since the cast iron dome was set atop
the rotunda during the Civil'War, has
there been, such activity around the
Capitol building.
When the East Front superstructure
is completed-scheduled for fall 19.60,
the facade will have been extended. 32-§-;
feet beyond the original boundaries.
The $17 million construction. .Job "was
.le-nirSd to correct a major arohitec
tu.'al defect due to * the base of the
dome extending over‘the.,, east, portly*
The defect gave the'impression of lack
of support. ;; . *V '
Besides thd East Front'and the,‘dome,
the statuary-Waf, Peace, Hope., Justice
and America-.are also getting a 'new look.
Sculptors are' replacing or- repairing
the famous maidens who show the years
more than they should.
The statue of Peace, carved nearly
120 years ago, has lost her nose,hair^
shoulders, both arms and some of her
garments. Sculptors will .replace her
lost members with plaster and metal
strips. Then shefll be shipped to a
Vermont marble quarry to ,serve as a
model for replacement. 4 „ .. ;
Though. War, Hope and Justice are not
as seriously damaged, they have been
repaired with plaster.
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