The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-04-15
Maryland Centennial Building.

The Maryland State Centennial Build
ing will occupy very prominent and
beautiful position IN the northwestern
part and overlook nearly the whole Of
the exposition grounds. 1t is located on
State avenue, on which buildings have
been erected and are 10 the course Of
erection by the following States in the
order given: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indi
ana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts
and Delaware. Adjoining the last named
comes Maryland and next Tennessee, the
latter being the last of the States located
in the line on this side Of the avenue.
Directly opposite is the New York State
building, aud also that of California.
Owing to the meagre appropriation Of our
State, and the consequent limited amount
at the disposal of the commissioners for a
building, they could not attemp to vie
with some of the extravagant ediiices Of
other States, which cost from $4,000 to
$4,000. Yet they hope that with the
modest sum of 81 900, nearly one-half the
entire appropriation, they will be able to
give the people of Maryland something
which in appearance and good taste shall
rank with the others more pretentious and
costly. The building in plan is cruciform,
consisting of centre 81 feet 6 inches by
60 feet, and wing on each side of 80
feet by 81 feet @ inches. The angles Of
the cross are filed in with wide verandahs
1880 feet each. The entire wing is %
feet high in the clear, and forms the hall
in which will be exhibited the mineral,
mining interests, the fish, fowl aud pro-
duce of the State. They will be contained
in appropriate cases. In the rear of the
hall will also be space devoted to the
fishing interests of the State, embracing
complete models TO scale of the fsh-catch-
ing house by Geo. A, Frederick, architect,
in Druid Hill park; also of complete
fishing raft, with houses, stables, &C., as
used in the shad fisheries of the Susque-
hanna.
Tho side wings are II feet high. la
the wing entered from the main hall on
the left are the press room, 16x30 feet,
intended for the use Of newspaper cor
respondents of the southern States gener
ally; the comm issioners' room, 15x2O feet,
and private room for the same l0xl5
feet. In the opposite wing are ladies' and
a gentlemen's retiring room, each l6xl9
feet, in connection with which are rooms
for stewardess and porter, and distinct
and private dressing rooms with necessary
conveniences.
The interior will be furnished in a
pleasing style. The entire building will
be of wood, the exterior of very ornate
character produced by wide overhanging
cornices and an abundance of well-design
ed and effective ornamental sawed work
turned and carved finals and panelled
geometris and flowing tracery, in which
are introduced shields bearing the mono
gram of the State, as also the appropriate
dates, 1776 and 1876. In the centre
pediment in large characters is the word
maryland" Each pediment will be
surmounted by large flagstaff, the cen
tire one for the United States flag, thosC
on the side for penants with Maryland
upon them. The exterior works of the
building will be brilliantly decorated in
color. The colors will be those contained
in the shield or coat-of-arms of the State
viz: gold, silver, red and black, all har
moniously and appropriately blended Mr.
George A. Frederick, of Baltimore, hai
the honor of being the architect aof thu
Maryland Centennial building. Mcssrs
S. II. and F. Adams are the contractors
and will complete it by the LIST of May