Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-29

Spencer, one of the largest and most rapidly
growing towns in Worcester county, has long
felt the want of town hall, suitable for the ac-
commodation of its rapidly increasing popula-
ton, and at the town meeting held in March,
1871, it was voted to build new town house,
and a committee, consisting of Luther Hill,
William Upham, David A. Drury, John E. Ba-
con, Edward L. Kent, John L. Bush, Levi Nv.
Prouty, Dexter Bullard, David Prouty, Erastus
Jones, Henry Il. Green, Richard Sugden, and
Jonas r, Prouty, which includes a member of
every important business firm in the place, was
Immediately appointed who disposed of the old
wooden building, which for years had done ser
vice as public hall, and took the preliminary
steps for the erection of building that should
be credit to the enterprise of the place. and as
a result they to-day have one of the finest town
halls in the county, if not in the state.
The manner in which the work has been ex-
eeuted, and the erection of the building pushed
to a successful completion, reflects great credit
on the contractor and on the building commit
tee, who have given great deal of their per-
sonal time in looking after the work. The citi-
zens are all we'll satisfied that the building is a
credit to the town, and one to which they
can with just pride invite the attention of
visitors.
The hall is situated on rising ground, on Main
street, near the centre of the place, is one hun
dred feet in length by sixty-fye in breadth, two
stories in height, with French roof surmounted
by high tower, in which there is a large clock
made by Howard & Co. of Boston, and large
bell. The building is built of brick with trim
mings of frear stone. The lower floor is well
divided into convenient rooms for the public
library, town offices and large room in which
to hold town meetings. In the rear of the build
ing, entered by a side door, there is large
room that is to be used as fire engine house.
Thanking the main entrance on either side is
broad fight OF stairs with one landing, lead
ing to the spacious entry above, which leads d.
Tectly to the main or audience room This room
is seventy-fve in length, sixty-6ve in width,
and twenty-siX feet high. Here is where the
building committee have made extra exertions
to produce room that should equal or surpass
what the citizens have expected, and how well
they have succeeded can be better Judged by a
personal inspection. At the rear of the
hall is large stage with speakers
desk, and well arranged aute-room on each
side. At this end Of the hall are the memorial
tablets, with the names of those who lost their
lives during the late war, and the actions in
which they fell in gilt letters on green back
ground, the whole enclosed by gilt frame and
handsome ornamental painting. At the front is
large gallery, with one of Howard & Co.'s
maTblc-laced clocks in front, in position that
can be readily seen from any portion of the
hall. The room is lighted with five chandeliers
of twelve burners each, and eighteen side lights
of two burners each, Both on the side and
over head the room is beautifully frescoed, the
work having been done by P. A. Butler of Bos-
ton.
In the French roof there is large dining
room, capable of accommodating two hundred
people, with a well arranged kitchen in the rear.
The. crockery and glass ware connected with
this room are the property of the town, and are
to be kept in the hall. On this floor there is also
large hall beautifully carpeted and furnished,
that is to be used by the Masonic lodge of the
town. The building throughout is lighted with
gas which is made on the premises. The en-
tire cost of the land and building was $4,000
aud the cost of the furniture $4,000.
The building was erected from plans by Thos
W, Silloway Of Boston, aud the work done by
the following parties, all of whom, aud especial
ly the principal contractor, Robert F. Howe of
Spencer, deserve great praise grading and foun.
dation work, Joshua Bemis of Spencer; stone
work, VIM. N. Flint & Co. of Munson; brick
work, Sylvester Dresser of Southbridge; car
penter work, Robert +. Howe of Spencer; mason
work, Dwight Mason of Spencer; heating, S. c.
Marsh & Co of Spencer; gas fixtures, R. Doc
little OF Worcester; plumbing, Shields & Moody
of Worcester; furniture, S. & E. Hill of Spencer;
crockery, j. N. CIRCUITS Co. of Spencer.
The matter of dedIcatory services was one
which for long time was a difficult matter
upon which to decide, and the committee finally
concluded to dispense with the usual formal.
ties of speech making, and to engage the ser.
vices Of the Germapla orchestra Of Boston for q