Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-17
Dedication of the New Town Hall In Wa

Dedication Of the New Town HUI" "
| tervilIe.
The beautiful village Of wate,ville has too long
been dsgraced by a town hall that was hoI only
unsghtly in its appearance, but absolutely uhh'
for iirst-cIass public exhibitions. But last spring
the people in town meeting assembled, partaKing
of the spirit of enterprise that has revived every
branch of business in that town, voted by large
majority to rebuild the town hall. No loan for the
purpose was authorized, but the sum of 5000 was
promptly assessed uIon the taxable property oil
the place. The work of remodelling and rebuild
| ing was let ont on contract to MIR Avian Ropih-
| son Of Wateryille for $1,000. The old building
was to be taken and enlarged, according to spcci-
fcations submitted, the building to be ready Tor
the PAINTERS for the sum named. Mr.. Robinson
has carried out his contract faithfully, though we
| understand that he is loser. The town took up
the work where the contractor leftt frcscoing the
hail. finishing off rooms, putting in the heating
and lighting appar atus, furnishing seats, &c, so
that the whole cost of the building as 1t stands IN
It's completed state is about $4,000
| The building stands on the site of the CID one
| and fronts on Common street, being very easy oil
| access Us dimensions are 100 by ~ feet Inc
| hall is reached by large front stairway on one
side Of which is the ticket office, with an ante
room on the left The hall has seating
capac itv for 500, but in case OF "lush chars
and seats may be brought in for 200 more 1t is
lighted by six long windows on each side, and
there are windows also at each end. The win
dows are Of focked glass with stained border
liohts. Galleries run around the hall on both
sides and at one end. The stage is all ready to
receive the scenery and drop curtain IL Is ~
feet deep and about 10 feet vide at the opening
of the proscenum The stage Is built INTO the haii
a. part OF it, and is symmetrical and beauthul IN
its construction. The hall has been irescoed by
Schumacher Brothers of Portland; the work has
not tccn oycidonc, but is very neat modest ana
appropriate. The walls arc painted IN light PINK
and the ceiling in pea green, with fine ornamental
tiops The settees are from the mandatory OF
Jos. Bachelor & Son of West Watereille The
building is heated by three furnaces, from &. "A.
Philins 4 Co.'S establishment. Neat gas fixtures
extend out from the galleries, containing thirty
three burners these besides an array of foot-hshts
Gas is furnished by the gas-nachne put INTO the
basement by j. =. Wyman of Augusta. 80 our
Wateryillc neishbors had TO come to Augusta Tor
light We hope the Mail won't turn round anu
say that it was gas they came for. The machine
is one Of the kind that Mr.. Wyman designs for
eighty lights 1t does its work easily, and when
VIC assure our readers that the hall brilliant
" illuminated on the orcning evening, with
clear and steady light, we do but express what was
felt by all present.. THIS is the first experiment
made Of this new illuminating agency IN town,
and the people were Of course anxious as to the re-
suit TIE test was in every way satisfactory, and
the nervous and unauthorized feeling that there
was any danger Of an explosion, was put to rest by
Prof Elder and other scientific men making an
examination Of the method in which the gas is
made, and the material used in generating it. Mr..
Greenwood ard Mr.. Small were both present to
put tie machine in running order.
Connected with the hall is large coat room,
dressing foom cooking room containing range,
work ROOM and other conyeniences for evees, ies-
rivals and other entertainments. Everything is
lust a. neat and convenient as ole could desire
about the whole building. Concert troops and
frst-class exhibitions that have heretofore given
Wateiville the soby Oh account Of the lack OF
suitable hall, VIII 60 so no longer. The hall IL
highly crcdtable to the place, and s in the line OF
its present rapid progress. May the next public
enterprsc be turned in the direction OF FIST class
hotel.
The painters and carpenters were hurried up,
ard the hall was dedicated on Monday evening" by
public reading by the talented artist. Mrs. Scott
Siddons l. was the first in the course Of three
entertainments given under the auspices of St.
Omer Commandery Of X. T., live, working Or
ganization, having public spirit ard enterprise,
which it finds means and ways to utilize. We no.
tice among the working members such men as
Nathaniel Meader, Esq, Col. l. S. Bangs and
Geo. w. Dcrr, formerly of this city. The attend
ance Of as an intelligent audience as we ever saw
together, on the first evening, filling every seat
showed that the citizens are proud of their hall
and that row the opportunity is offered them, they
will sustain entertainments of high character.