Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-15
Town Hall and Theatre,

er part tonight to be opened for dramatic performan
ces some sketch of the enterprise may not be out of
place.
"Long time ago. before the last war;, and longer
ago than that association Of gentlemen formed
for the purpose of establishing Theatre and Academy.
The lot upon which the old Theatre stood was given in
lieu of subscription of five hundred dollars by gentle
man named Campbell, and the venerable building with
which we were all familiar stood there nearly not quite
fifty years. 1t would seem to have been condition that
Theatre was to kept up below and Academy above
the profits of all exhibitions down stairs to be appropr
ated to the support of the of education up stairs
In course OF time these conditions violated or were
said to have been violated The obligation to pay over
profits to the Academy ignored, and finally the
thing gin eout' and it claimed that the property
escheated to the University. The ITALIAN Association
however, had revived, and claimed to still live" and to
contest the right Of the University and still to retain
possession of the lot and building, within whose walls
have witnessed many very handsome performances by
the members. The old building, in which have
heard Booth and Collins and Rose De Vrles and
Ole Bull, and the colorcd minstres very dlap-
idatcd the first time we saw it, and kept get
ting gradually worse, until it almost unenantable
The Town Commissioners met in rented Hail. and kept
the gentlemen misdcmcaning, taken up by the Guard
in rented cells the Masonic Hall, formerly used
Concert and meeting room had been merged into the
dining room OF the Carolina Hotel. Most of were
anxious to have Il Town Hall for public business, and "a
suitable for public amusenents although there
then were and still are, many who doubted the expe
dency of going into the thing quite extensively as we
have done. Others think that when thing is to be
DONE it had better be done properly and once for ALL
Il
ever the Legislature OF 1915 passed an act author
zing the Commissioners of the Town of Wilmington to
issue bonds OF the Town to an amount not exceeding
fifty thousand dollars the proceeds to be applied in the
construction Of Town Hall, etc
In the of 1855 the rival claims of the Universe
ty and the Association compromised by d-
ViSon and the property Sold the Town becoming the
purchaser. BY agreement with the Association, the
town. in consideration OF the half purchase money of the
lot due and going to the Ialian Association stipulated
to put up certain walls to that amount and to do other
things to certain further amount the Association agree
ing its part to pay the interest of all town bonds is
sued money advanced, On such account the
whole property Of the Association being liable and the
building with all its fixtures, properties etc. revcrtng to
the town. either in the event of the Association ceasng
to have corporate existence, failing for one whole
year to meet the interest on the bonds issued on its be-
half
! In the Fall Of 1875 the Old Academy was pulled
down, and the erection Of the present building common
ccd. The original plans drawn, believe by Mr.
Trimblc OF New York but subsequently modified in
some Of their details The pedment and portico on the
Western or Town Hall 'front.' for instance. The Corn
Stone, inserted in the North East Corner of the Town
Hall was laid with Masonic Ceremonies on st. Johns
Day. being the 27th Dec, 1853 The building is in the
form OF H. being 20 feet Princess street and 100
feet on Third street. The Town Hall is 100 feet in
length by 60 feet in Wdth-the Theatre is II feet long
by GO feet wide. The building is of uniform height
"a feet and is Of tie Corinhan order far as applicable
| The Western or Town Hall portion of the building
has basement fitted up for Guard-rooms, a principal
story having rooms for the various municipal Offices
while up stairs is the large hall intended for public meet
ing etc. occupying the whole length and breadth of the
building, and making most noble and lofty apartment
The Theatre the Princess street Southern sde and
on the Eastern end lis whole exterior length is II
feet breadth 60 feet stage ~ by 81 feet auditorium
45 by 81 feet and some 20 feet occupied by passages
From parguc to ceiling "a feet The ceiling which,
as well the walls and the arch of the proscenum is
handsomely frcscocd perforated by ventators commu-
ing arrangements on the roof There is porq,ect
occupying the whole ground-room of the auditorium
A first tier or dress circle 81 feet above, sup
ported on eight iron columns and second tier above
that, supported on columns of the same character
The arch OF the proscenium is nearly 80 feet in height
and rather less in width is in good proportion and
adorned with suitable painting and gliding The drop
curtain, representing classical scene somewhere among
the Isles of Greece" is by Russell Smith, of Phila-
dephia us also some two of the and two
three of the wings. Mr. Smiths reputation painter
is already established and will suffer loss by this
specimen OF his SKILL which has that bright joyous, ho
day Tone suited for the position it occupies and is with
all work of art that will bear inspection under any
circumstances
The house is supplied with gas throughout there be-
inc l88 burners the stage, in the auditorium and in
the passages Under the stage there five excellent
Idressing rooms-mlsc ROOM greenroom ETC., fitted up
with gas like the rest of the building. The scenery
machinery etc. of the stage fitted up by, under
the management of Mr.. Joseph Walker, of Phadel-
phia whose work appears to have given the fullest salts
faction. The painting, excepting the portion done
by Russell Smith has been done by Mr. G. j. Haw-
thorne and other artists We think right to state that
the beautiful drop curtain present to the ASsocia-
ton from certain public-spirted gentlemen, to wit -
Messrs. Don. McRae, f. D. Hail. o. S. Baldwin, Geo.
Myers and L. a. Hart.
| The means of cgress from any part of the building
in Of fire or other accident, uncommonly ample
The provisions for guarding the property from fire
are not so well posted We know that at point high
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