The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-12-11
Quaker City Correspondence.
PHrLAn. Dec. ath. 1873.

PHILAD.. Dec. 9Th, 1873.
At the close of my last, was speak
ing of'Christ Church. ITO what I ther
said 1 may add as possible item o
interest, that all the material USED
in its construction was brought from
England. The grave yard belonging
to this church is situated on the Soutl
east corner of 9Th and Arch Sts. Ii
/ the extreme North west corner o.
which is ''Frauklin's grave" and, in &C,
corGance with his wishes, a plain mar.
Bile slab covers all that remains of the
great ilosopher-statesman and his
wife. The great elm-tree under which
William Penn made mis- famous treaty
with the Indians, was at Kensington
in the extreme northern part of the
city. But it was blown down in 1910
and nothing now remains to mark the
place where it stood except an lnsig-
nifcant monument, which would tax
the skill of a government detective to
discover. On the south side of Chest
nut St. about midway between Sd and
4th Sts. and some distance back stands
Carpenters Hall, "The cradle OF
American Independence" The place
where, as an inscription on the wall
testifies, "Henry, Hancock, ,and Adams
inspired the Delegates of the Colonies
with nerve and sinew tor the tolls of
war" The place where the first Con-
tinental Congress met, and where the
famous ''first prayer in Congress" was
delivered by Parson Duche. The
building was erected by the society of
Carpenters in ITO, and was intended
for the use of the society solely. Its
central location, however, caused it to
be used by the delegates to the first
Congress and for other public purpos-
es. It passed from hand to hand and
at length degenerated into an au ction
room,- at last the Carpenters resumed
control an fitted it up to represents as
nearly as possible its appearance in
Revolutionary times, and it is now
"kept as relic of the days that tried
mems souls" The doors are always
open to visitors.
On Chestnut ST., between 9TH and 9th,
stands the ''old State House," COM
menced in 1929 and completed in 1875.
1t is built of brick, the main entrance
faces south and opens into "Indepen-
deRce square" There is also an en-
trance eonChestnutSt. In the east lower
room the second Continental Congress
met, and here on the 4th of July 1776,
the declara ton of Independence was
adopted, and from the south steps the
multitude assembled by the ringing
of the sold belF' overhead, listened to
its fearless yet just sentiments. The
samel"old bell now cracked and use
less, but with its grand old motto still
intact, rests in state in the entrance
hall. With the exception of the floor
which has been replaced by mosaic
work, the room in which the decla-
ton was adopted remains as it then
was. The table on which it was sign
ed, the chairs of the delegates, the
elaborate glass and silver chandelier
with its old fashioned wax tapers still
hangs overhead, every thing just as it
was nearly a century since. In Con-
gress hall in the second story, Wash
ington delivered his farewell address.
In 1776 there were three other build
ings standing near by, these have been
remodeled and the space between
built up and the whole goes by
the popular name of estate House"
now. 1t is proposed however to re-
store the buildings and surroundings
as nearly as possible to their original
condition before the Centennial An
niversary. Visitors are admitted to
the State House betweed 9 a. m. and
4 p. m. daily, on application the Su-
perintendent will furnish tickets ad-
mitting the bearer to the steeple from
which q good view of the city can be
obtained.
Mr.. Editor, it. will be observed that
although | have had very good sub
ject to become enthusiastic over, yet
l have desisted. 1t is not my style. I
have given the simple plain statement
of the facts in the case, and have left
the ecsiatics to be supplied by the
reader in quantities to suit himself.
In conclusion, however, permit me
to say that no one should fail to visit
the cold State House" ii the oppor-
tunity is presented. As you cross the
almost sacred threshold, and stand
within its walls, and think of the past,
a feeling of reverence comes over you
that can be experienced by an Ameri-
can citizen no where else>oM The face
of the earth. Q. ACRE.
Meeting of the Portage County Medical
Society.
DIR. WAGGoNER's OFFICE.
December 4tb, 1873.
Society convened, and in the ab-
sence of President and Vice-Presi-
dent DR.. Belding was chosen President
pro TEN.
Minutes of previous meeting were
read, corrected and approved.
Reports of cases brought out very
clinic. DIR. Leonard, a
case of fracture of the metacarpal
bone of the right hand. DR.. E. w.