The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-17

Strangers passing on Congress street cannot
fail to notice between Exchange and Temple
streets, the attractive front of new three
story building, of chaste and pleasing archi-
tectural design. of the Venetian or Southern
Gothic order, erected by NJ ssrs. Jose and
Shepley. The lower story is designed for stores.
The south part Of the second story is occupied
by the Mercantile Library Association. On
the front of the northern part one reads in an
tome Runic characters,
CONGRESS HALL.
Portland is much praised by recent visitors
for the elegance of its new buildings. This
new hall is among the most creditable of the
new structures. OF pleasing exterior, conven-
tently situated on the main thoroughfare of
the city, near the City Building anil the Post
Office easily accessible by t,co broad staircays,
from Congress and Temple streets. respective
-ly, reached by ascending single flight of stairs
AN important consideration in these days of
short breath-nothing is wanting in respect to
situation and accessibility to make it a favor
lite resort for the purposes for which it is de
signed.
Entering the hall the attention il first at
trac.ed to the symmetry of its proportions and
to the pleasing general effect of the subdued
| light through the stained glass of seven lance
shaped Venetian windows, four ON the front
| and three on the rear, and of the neatuess and
| fitness of e finish and ornamentation. Its
size is 81 by 43 feet, with an altitude OF % feet.
One hundred settees, accommodating six per-
| sons each, may be placed in the hall without
| inconvenience. A platform raised two feet
above the floor is placed at the Northern end
| of the room, upon which is placed walnut
| table with an ornamental front. On the table
| will be movable desk covered with cloth for
the convenience of speakers reading from man.
uscript. The platform is built in sections, so
that it can be doubled up and removed on cas-
| tors.
The frescoing, by g. j. Schumacher, is
| worthy of the man who touches nothing viii b
he does not adorn. The frescoed arch back Of
the platform is a masterpiece of its kind, the
illusion being almost perfect. The work Of
Mr.. Schumacher is well supplemented by the
efforts of Ambrose Giddings, painter. The
builders, Messrs. G. r. & L. E. Frost. have
done their whole duty i'll carving out the de-
signs of the accomplished architects, L. New
comb s. Son. The ventilation and the a. range
ments for lighting are perfect, the floor of mar
row hard pine boards is all that floor should
be- aid the finish triumph Of art. Before
passing from the hall we should not fail to no
tice the orchestra over the entrance, at the low
er end of the room, where band can fine
ample accommodation, or it can be used to re
ceve the overflow of large audience from thu
floor. ...
Connected with the hall, on the same floor
are two spacious ante-rooms, the one trontin:
Congress street for ladies, and the other TO
gentlemen. The ladies' room is furnished will
sofa, table, looking glass and chairs, has
wash room attached with all modern conven
fences, and has been provided, as well as TIL
gentlemen's room, with carpet of appropriate
style from Marrett & Poor's. The gentlemen
ante-rvcm is furnished in a style correspond
ing to that of the ladies' room. Moreover, tn
| gentlemen have the convenience of smokin,
room in the third story, where the ladies hav
a second ante-room for the disposal of cloth
ing. This last room may also be used for re
freshments when occasion requires.
The hall and all the rooms are well supplies
with bronzed steam pipes, put i'll by Winslot
& Co.
The Hall will be occupied by the Spiritual
lists on Sundays for holding their meetings. A
her times it may be obtained for lectures
concerts, parties. dances, sc. 1t is large enoug1
to accommodate hundred couple on the floor
1t is certainly as pleasant, convenient, com
Portable and handsome hall as can be foun,
anywhere, of which fact the public can be; sat
isfied by being in attendance at the opening to
morrow night. The public are much indebt
ed to Messrs. Jose and Shepley for their enter
prise in erecting this building and FURNISHING
a hall of the kind 1--we have Described