Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-02-19
CENTENNIAL HALL
A REVIEW OF THE NEW EDIFICE
The Odd Fellows Future Home

1873 and began year later. The excaya-
ton for the baScm' Mt story was accomplish
ed by the voluntary labor of the members OF
Frostburg Lodge, and the foundation laid a
short while thereafter. The work was shell
tered for the ensuing winter preparatory to
an early and vigorous resumption in the
spring of 1915. This period arriving, opcr-
atoms again commenced and progI csscd
with great celebrity until the bricklavcrs
turned over the work TO the carpenters,
who, with the painters, are now adding the
finishing touches to the upper stories. The
lower story is still incomplete, owing to
more pressing demands for the use of the
halls.
The main foundation walls arc based up
on heavy stone layer 4! feet wide, and
rise to 8 feet hci@ht, forming a basement
story under the entire building. The par
tition walls, also of stone, are 3 feet thick,
and divide the basement into a store room
24X3S feet, and afford cellar each for the
three store rooms on the first floor, also 4
large boiler room for heating purposes.
The last named room is occupied by a hor-
iZontal 26-flue steam bol.er, from which the
building is heated, furnished and put in by
Mr.. Thomas III. Paul, proprietor of the
Frostburg Iron Works, and to which fire.
qucnt attention is directed hereafter through
necessary references to its appurtcnanccs.
The stone for the foundation walls was
,l,,,t, I,,,4 49,,
pany-A. c. Greene, Esq, Agent, and the
Consolidation Coal Conlpany-Jamcs b
Thomas, Esq, Superintendent.
The first story is divided into three store
rooms, each with a frontage Of % feet by II
depth of 4S deep. The two end rooms,
however, have width of :}3 feet in the
rear owing to rcccsscs occas!oncd by stair
ways leading from the front to TIE upper
stories. These rooms will he ready for DC
curancy April LIST. next, and will possess
all the attractions and convCnicnCcs for
business, such as open fronts, ample ven
tilation, light, heat, etc.
The starways referred TO lead from tie
front to the upper stories. The cast ED
entrance provides access TO the stage and
stage-rooms exclusively; the west end en-,
trance to all other portions OF the cdiiicc
Under the stage Il room 12X24 feet las
been provided for the special use Of TIE
conductors and Performers of entertain
mentS.
We pass through tie west end entrance
consisting Of folding panel ,!oors-lcad co..
olcd and sandcd--l2 feet wide and opening
outward. We immediately pass up; stair
way of same width and 10 feet ascension,
and stand upon the landing just without
the Public Hail. In front and to Tie i,f;
Of the second stairway is the ticket Office.
And just here, also, while purcllns ng our
ticket we VAIN oursct 10y the r..C,iator-an
institution which seems to meet Us through
out at the right place Ifthc crowd at the
office is dense or c..morouS, However, we
hasten into the Public Hall to our right
through double, pane. doors, 8 feet wide
This room is 4SX.i4 feet and a feet high.
-Four huge iron columns, surnountel with
CoriEthian capitals, support the spacious
gallery and the uppermast floor From the
entrance and both sides the gallery inclnes
toward the centre, and It's y front of den
tai work and oak pancling, stretching
around and over the dress circle affords Il
pleasing view from all quarters Of the hall.
The dress circle is occupied by 100 chairs
and the parquet by $50 The gallery is
supplied with 40 pcws, the entire audtori-
UNI thus atlording seating capacity for 700
persons. Eight circle head eight pane
windows, II feet high, admits daylight, and
&c gas burners, besides stage lights, illum-
mate the room at night. Both the floor
and stage are warmed by elegant radiators
placed at regular intervals along the walls.
The orchestra is allotted small scmi-cir-
cular depression Of inches in front of the
stage, and is enclosed by a neat, solid wal
nut railing IS inches high. The stage
front, feet high, IL uniform with the beau
tiful oak and walnut wainscoting reaching
the windows all round the room. An i'm
portant but almost imperccptible feature
marks the inclination of the floor toward
the stage, it being II inches higher at the
door. The view from the floor is further
facilitated in similar construction of the
stage, which, defects from the wall gently
downward exposing the entire area to the
audience.
AT the intersection of the walls with the
stage on each side small stairways lead to
the stage. This is spacious platform, %
feet wide in front and .. feet deep. The
graceful Plaster of Paris arch which stretch
cs over the recess is supported by strong
columns sumounted with Cornthian cap
itals of the same material Beyond this
the painter, Mr.. Z S Fassctt, has hung the
threshold on each side with luminous rep
reservations of royal-hued curtains, whose
profusc and flowing folds are looped with
golden cords and tassels To these he has
added other pretty stationary side views,
including shrubbery, flowers, etc
1t would BIZ impossible for us to describe
minutey tie scenes Nh F. has left upon
the canvas at this hall To be appreciated
they must be seen. We merely name them
here:
Parlor Scene, Forest Scene,
Cont " Str.nt