The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-23
HORTICULTURAL HALL.
Description OF the New Building on
Broad Street-Some ACCOUNT
Of. the Horticultural So
clety, Etc. Etc. Etc.

One of the time-honored institutions of our
city IS the Horticultural Society of Pennsyl-
vania, which was Incorporated by the Legisla-
ture of the State in 1881, but it was instituted
as early as 1927, and is thus the oldest Horticul-
tural Society in the United States. During the
forty years it has been in existence it has num-
bered a membership OF at least two thousand
Among it's contributing and honorary MEMBERS
at all times in Its history, as well as at the
present time, have been found many of the
wealthiest and most intelligent citizens of Phi
ladelphia and the surrounding country.
The object of the Society, as shown by its
title, has been the encouragement OF fruit cul-
ture. With this end in view, it has held monthly
and yearly exhibitions, at which over $40, 900
have been awarded in premiums from time to
time. II has also collected library larger and
more valuable than any other of similar char
acter IN this country, which contains not only
all published works which bear directly on the
leading objects of the Society, but those treat.
ing oil kind ed scientific subjects as well. Mem
Ders OF the Society have access to the library at
all times, and on the first and third Tuesday
evenings OF each month Committee is in
sucn as may desire to peruse them at their
homes.
Horticultural science is also greatly promoted
oy monthly discussions and the reading of
essays, by gentlemen OF eminence in their par
, dcular departments. The list for the current
year embraces the iollowing:-
January-'Dlseases OF Vegetable Life." By
Member OF the Pennsylvania horticultural So
ciety."
February Diseases of the Pear" BY Thomas
March-"Ornamental Planting of Grounds" By
Apri-."GrOwing Specimen Plants" By Charles
May-"Foliage Plants for Decorative Planting"
BY Edward 8, Rand, Jr.
A. Warder.
July -"Roses and Rose. culture, By John Saul.
Aueust-"New Jersey Fruits" By William
septembeI-"F Flower OF the Field" BY DR.. Louis
October-"vepetab!e Physiology Modern Theo-
RES" BY Peter B. Mead.
November" History of the Grape, and Grape.
culture, By A. s. Fuller.
Decembtr-''Garden Farming" BY E. Satterth-
wait.
are reserved exclusively for the members of the
Society, but competition for premiums at the
regular monthly and yearly exhibitions is open
[ to all the world. The annual fees required of
member are but three dollars, and person may
= become life member on the payment of only
! twenty-five dollars which carries with t the
free use of the library at the hall and at home.
as well as one embers and two ladies' tickets
to each monthly meeting and exhibition.
The list of officers for the current year is as
iollows:-
Caleb Cope, NJ. w. BALDWIN, Robert Buist,
Charles Harmar Vice Presidents
A w. Harrison, Recording secretary.
Henry A. Dreer Treasurer.
Thomas +. james Professor OF Botany.
JaTes c. Booth, Professor of horticultural
Chemistry
j S. s. Rathvon Professor of Entomology.
In former years the Society met at the old
Chinese Museum on Ninth street, but of late
they have mad the use of the large Hall on the
corner of Broad and Walnut streets. These quar-
ters becoming too restricted, about two years
AGO the project OF new hall was discussed. At
first 1t was proposed that the Society should JON
it's resources to those of the Historical and other
learned societies OF the city, and that they
should in combination erect a building which
would not only afford ample facilities
for all the associations interested but would
prove an addition 10 the architectural beauty OF
Philadelphia. For some reason or other this
| plan dropped, and on the 18th of January, 1866,
the Society resolved upon the erection OF hall
of their own. Subscriptions for this purpose
were solicited by a committee of twenty-five,
then appointed, and consisting OF the folio wing
eenlemen:-
Caleb Cope, General r. PATTERSON, E. Mitchell,
: Thomas P James, W, L schafer,. Robert BUST, R.
II. Marshall Henry A: Dreer, w. Harrison,
4 Robert Cornelius, e. u. Bursin, M D., Thomas
9. Pc ciyal, Thomas Meehan, John Lambert, Samuel
The ground selected and secured by the Com
mittee was the large lot on Broad street adjoin
q, ing the Academy of Music ON the south, with
u frontal of seventy-hve feet on Broad street,
and q Qeptn OF Two nunureu IeeI. between the
new Hall and the Academy there will be an
open space of 6tteen feet, while on the south
side liesWestmoreland street. which is thirty feet
i in width. The new Hall will thus have all the
q light and ventilation that could be desirable.
The New horticultural Hall
a which is now in course of erection at this
locality, will be one OF the most substantial, as
Il well as one of the most attractive, buildings in
the city The plans and drawings from which
it is being built have been prepared by Messrs.
Sloan & Hutton, architects, of No. l52 South
a Fourth street, and the admirable manner IN
i which they have executed the task assigned
them will tend greatly to increase the great re-
81 putation which they already enjoy.
81 The outer walls Of the building are of brick,
and thIrty-one inches in thickness, thus giving
s. all the stability and durability that could be
X desired. The Broad street front will be oi
neatly-dressed cut-stone. 1t will have width
" of rs feet and height of 60 feet. There will
be projecting portico in front, supported by
columns of red sandstone. The window dress
A ings are to be of the same material, which will
form a striking ald pleasing contrast to the
j pearl-grey stone of which the main body of the
. front will be composed.
On the ground floor there will be two large
slhalls The one adjoining Broad street Will bt
We BY 20 feet in dimensions, and IL feet In th'
4 clear. In the rear OF this there Is TO be ban
oueting hall, 20 by ll2 feet and with capacity
Il FOR comfortably seating about one thousanf
4 nersons Both of these halls Will be wei
! lighted and ventilated. AT the west end al th'
N bnildiug will be a room 26 by 20 feet, with I
n height of 16 feet. This will be devoted 10 tn'
purposes OF rehearsal. and will have private
entrance on Westmoreland street, as well as
n private stairway leadingto the stage and maiI
The auditorium of the main hall will be II bl
100 feet In dimensions and will contain com
PORTABLE seating capacity for fifteen hundred
4 ners0ns al the seats beng regularly numbered
4 kia ontrance will be from the Broad street front