The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-09
Gl.e 8utland Daily Globs
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 0 1876
Historic Buildings in PHILADELPHIA

Historic Buildings In Philadelphia
The Quaker City is rich in historic ed
fees, ~ d as it may be of interest to our
readers who intend visiting the exhibition,
we publish the following from the Phil
adelpha Times:
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
This most important Of The venerable and
stately edllice of lhe city IS as well the TO-
Gus OF municipal public trusts and depart
mems of justice as the grand centre OF ma
tlOnal historical interest. Strangers may
as well know that 1t is on Chestnut street,
and, with its branches and main wings,
covers the entire block on that street be-
tween Fifth and Sixth streets The hall
wherein the declaration was signed is In
the frs, story, fronting on Chestnut street,
and was for a time the regular place of
meeting for the second continental con-
gress. Its appearance to-day is much the
same as on July 4, l776, the articles of fur
niturc which now adorn it being the iden-
tical pieces used on that occasion. Since
the restoration of the hall there have been
collected and hung upon its walls the por-
trait paintings of the signcrs Of the dec
leralion. The majority of these were de-
noted by the descendants of their illastiious
originals, but many were secured only by
purchase. On the opposite side of the cor
rider is the chamber formerly occupied by
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and
in which the convention sat that framed
the federal constitution. II ls now devoted
to the national museum in which are eX
posed many interesting relics of the old
colonial days. Among these may be seen
the original charter of the city of Phil
adelphia, Vests painting Of the memorable
treaty with the Indians, paintings of Wash
ilgtOn and other illuslIious persons, and
many old newspapers, pamphlets and mag
azines interesting because Of their antiquity
and the patriotic sympathies which gave
them birth. The erection of the State
House was due to the necessities of the
province of Pennsylvania. The assembly
had had no permanent place of meeting;
neither was there proper accommodation
for the necessary courts and public offices.
Accordingly in 1923 10000 were appro-
priated Tor the building of State House,
and the main building was begun in 1882
In March, 1873, two buildings for Offices
were constructed. In 174l the building
was completed. In 1850 a rear building
was constructed and belfry placed there
on tor.the accommodation OF large bell.
In securing the kind of bell required the
city was put TO considerable bother. One
weighing 1000 pounds was received from
England, but on the first trial cracked in
two. IL was rec4st, however, by two Fhil-
adepha mechanics, named Pass and Stow,
and was assigned the distinction of pro-
claiming elderly throughout the land
In 1895 this bell was cracked second time
while being tolled in memory of Chief JUS
tiCe Marshall Since then it has occupied
a position OF honor on the first floor of the
State House, where il now rests on hand
some wooden pedestal. In 1916 the State
of Penusi lvalia sold the State House and
its apurlenauces 10 the city of Philadel-
were tretIrd" od-il7t ihgi i should he used
aud hove since been ustd by county clerks
and officers The upper stories OF The same
WINS were given INTO possession OF c)un-
dis after The consolidation of the city IN
1854. During the battle of Germantown
Tho State House was used az n hospital and
prison by the British forces, and was the
scene at times OF disgusting inhumanltles.
At the conner Of Sixth and Chestnut streets
NOW stand old Congress hall and the
county court house. Prior to the revolu-
lion Ills locality was covered with long
rows OF sheds. used by the Indians as treaty
hcat uuaricro. Congress ball was bullt In
1857. and was occupied for the sessions OF
the first Congress Of the Cnited states un-
der the constitution. In 1t washington
was inaunuiat,d fuT his second term ana
John Adams vas inaugurated president.
Az the c. r0er OF Fin and Chestnut streets
Terminating the right wlrg OF the STATE
House, stands old city hall. II was once
,ccupicl by he supreme court OF me tnl-
-. ! 1.xrI .thf llu a