Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-23
I. O. O. r.
Description Of the View Hall.


modelled and Te1urnished, making It yirtually a
new structure, X will be dedicated with INNS
ing ceremonies on Monday Afternoon newt. The
membership will make short PROCESSION form
ing At the Coed Fellows Hall (which has been
used for some time temporarjiy-while the work
Was in PTogress-by the Oder at Az O'Clock
=. m, and the line OF march will be down eth
street to P.nIsylyanis svenue, to 9Th, to T., to
ar, 70 the new hall. Hsre the interesting defi-
eatory services will take place, and will be fol-
loved by addresses OF Grand Master Thomas
W. Fowler and Past Grand Sire W. W. Moore,
who for many years has been president of the
board OF trustees. At night addresses will be
delivered by Grand Secretary James L. Ridge
ly. OF Baltimore, and Grand Rem. Hugh La
tham, OF virginia, and the Odd Fellows choir
viii give concert.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HALL.
The tIont IL now the handsomest in this sec
ton OF the country. The lower story occupied
by stores) is faced with granite. and finished
with heavy iron cornice, on which is a balco-
ny on level with the saloon floor above. The
store windows are of massive French plata
glass, set in frames, which arc highly ornaments
al Above this story the front is OF pressed brick
with iron neutrality-suspicious., window heads
and sills In imitation OF stone. A heavy cornice
of iron finishes this front, and above il rises
the center dome of fine proportions, (con' .,n ~
ing room q feet square, while at each ,"
are smaller domes. On the front, ir ,it .. ner
are the words "Odd Fellows H - sIs iotseis'
els the emblematic three lr ~. ho aa III pan
9"T5 ond scaIsS loos and crooks, and the
WORD ana scales mere are two entrancss, ons
on the north de, for the members of tbs or.
80 -ively, and the other between the
.Jver st0resl for the saloon, each furnish
workmanship. From these flights OF steps, 6
feet In width, Of easy tread, with heavy walnut
hand-rail and oak bsllusters, ascend Reach
ing the saloon floor there is 8 ticket Office near
the door of the saloon, and the entrance to the
ladies dressing room, 13Hx19 feet, is close by,
while the gentlemens dressing room, Of tne
same size, directly above it, is reached by
small flight of steps, and both of these are
furnished with water basins, closets. and other
coIvenieDces.
The saloon has been extended and without
the stage is AZ by 90 feet and SO feet In height
The walls and ceiling are frescoed in handsome
style and lighted up by the chandeliers, in
which are $50 gsslghts in refiectors; the effect
is beautiful. The stage, raised three feet from
the floor, L. is feet wide and extending across
the saloon ~ feet has a circular front, and over
it an arch springs from the two futed and
gilded columns. This stage will be furnished
with curtains, now being painted by Mr.. Lamb,
Of the National Theater. On the sides is q
raised platform and settees, with backs and
perfect ventilation there are five windows In
each side Of the saloon and three in the front,
besides the ven,ilators. seven feet in diameter,
which pass up between the lodge rooms above
to the roof Through a door on the south side
of the saloon near the stage capacious supper
room Is reached.
Ascending to the floor above-the height of
the story being 10 feet, reception room 2lx42
feet, two lodge rooms 2sx42, and the encamp-
ment room Ej254 feet, are reached, as also the
library, directly over the dressing rooms, 26xIS.
There are handsomely frescoed and carpeted
with Brussels. There are raised platforms for
the officers, on which are placed neat pedestals
in walnut and maple, and they are festooned
with the appropriate colors. In these rooms are
perforated neat settees on the platforms aud
chairs on the floor. These rooms have attached
the necessary ante-roOms, closets, stOre-FoOms,
&c, for the use of the membership, and instead
OF hanging to the roof or truss principle they
are now supported on heavy iron girders-l3 in
nun Der, Weighing nearly 10000 pounds each.
The approach to these rooms is as stated before,
from the north entrance, and the reception room
and west lodge room are entered from that
direction, while the east lodge room and the en-
csmpment room are approached from the south
by corridors over the areas. Throughout the
entire building there are inside shutters with
SLATE, and the wood work is graiRedin oak.
The plans for this fine Improvement were fur
nlshed by Mr.. j. G.. Myers, but from time to
time deyiations were made therefrom. Mr..
Samuel Wise was the carpenter and superin-
tendent; Geo. H. Martin, bricklayer; Andrew
jackson, plasterer; Geo. X. Crossheld, painter;
kahlert x FrOsburg, fresco painters; Gebhart
galvanized iron WORK; Eberly < Co. did the tin
work; Henry McLinden commenced the plumb
ing, but died before its completion, and Mr.
James Tally completed it; Wood & Brothers,
OF Baltimore, put up the steam heating appar-
tus; Douglas Moore, of this city, put down the
CARPETS; Mr.. K. II. Boswell did the drapery of
the chairs; MIR: Gross furnished the massive
doors and pedestals for the officers, and the
stairs were put up by Mr.. A. NJ. Curtshaw.
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
The lot was originally purchased for the hall
IL tct0s W NSitudi, W anu Columbia
Lodges, and the Grand Lodge aud Columbian
EncamPment making appropriations in aid of
the hail, the cornerstone was laid in 1874, and
the building was completed and dedicated in
1Nl5, when it's entire cost was reckoned at
1900. The lodges above named, with Beacon,
Oriental ard Excelsior, are the present owners
For many years the saloon was the popular ex-
hibitiOn and concert hall Of the CITY, and the
tnve-tment proved to be very lucrative one,
ard has paid large dividends. The hall being
found few years ago TO be in need of repairs
street heinz m bo
lowered by the Board OF Public Works. In the
latter part OF 1872 movement was commenced
towards Temodeiing the hall, the plans were
prepared and in June, 1873. the lodges having
moved 70 temporary quarters, the work was
commenced. The cost of the improvements
will exceed Si0, 600, and the order has reason 10
feel proud OF the final completion of the hall,
which is now worth at least 100000.