The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-11-24
From the annapolis Gazette.
THE STATE CAPITOL AT ANNAPOLIS


This is the ediice it is said, to which the youth
of Annapolis looks with longing eyes and aspires
for legislative honors. 1t is the goal Of his ambi-
ton, but few gratifed and many have lived
and died in the vain hope of having the "HonOr-
able prefxed to their names.
The last Legislature appropriated $4,000 for
the purpose of repairing the State House building,
but that will be insufficient for all the neces-
sary improvements. For several months work
men have been busiIy engaged renovating and re-
| modelling Many judicious alterations have been
| made, which will add greatly to the appearance
and comfort of the several rooms The ventilation
and heating, which has been for years a source of
great annoyance to members, causing sickness and
even death, have been much improved. Large
stacks, % feet square, up from the cellar to Ii
feet above the roof for ventilation, with sufficient
apertures in the various apartments. Two large
boilers in the cellar with registers in the Senate
and House of Delegates halls on the first floor, and
coils, covered from sight by brOnzed castiron on
the side and marble slabs at the top in the window
recesses on the second floor, heat the building
The cellars have been enlarged and the building
underpinned. New flooring on both stories new
doors and newly plastered and frescoed walls and
ceilings are among the more prominent improve
ments and which add much to the appearance
New cornices in heavy walnut have been put in,
the old style in the cornces in the Senate Cham
Der being preserved. The old paintings of Wash
ington resigning his commission, of Charles Car
roll of Carrollton, Samuel Chase, William Paca
and Thomas Stone; ALSO portrait of the ''hero
of the Cowpens," John Eager Howard, will be re-
placed in the Senate Chamber
Among the improvements in the Senate Cham
Der the ceiling will be higher; the old broad fire.
place closed up, and two blind windows on the
north side opened. The old gallery at the south
end has been removed, and this entirely changes
the appearance of the chamber. OF late years this
gallery was seldom occupied.
The Executive Chamber, the Court of Appeals
| room and committee rooms have all been remod-
elled and will be refurnished. The Court of APP
peals room is very handsome and pleasing to the
eye The armory room is to be converted into
committee room. The Judges bench in the court
room and the furniture generally will be in heavy
black walnut highly ornamented.
The rooms for the assembling of the Legislature
in January next will be ready in time for occu-
pancy.
After the adoption of the Constitution in 1864,
which gave Baltimore city eighteen members, the
Hall of the House of Delegates enlarged and
the gallery was removed.
The exterior of the building needs painting land
money might be judiciously expended for that ur-
pose, and, we doubt not, that the Legislature will
cheerfully make suitable appropriation to fit it
| up in style credtable to the State.
The following facts in connection with this
building will, doubtless be interesting to most of
our readers:
In the year 1894 the seat of government, which
had been at the city of st. Mary from the earliest
formation Of the province, was by act of assem-
| bly, removed to Annapolis, then called the Clown
Land at Proctois." In 1895 it known and
| distinguished by the name Of Annapolis.
In the year 1869, the General Assembly appro-
priated the sum of 81 500 sterling, to be applied
| to the building of the present State House. The
building of which was superintended bysuch men
oc oil Jah obn oil
William Paca Charles Carroll Barrister, LancelCt
| Jacques and Charles Wallace, the majority of
| whom were empowered to contract with wOrkmen,
| and to purchase materials; and were also author
| lied to draw the Treasurer of the Western and
| Eastern Shores for whatever further sums might
be required to complete the building. Such an
| unlimited power would be dangerous to be placed
in the hands of men at the present day of corrup-
ton The total cost of the building we are unable
| to state. The old State House was accordingly
demolished and the present beautiful structure
erected ON its site.
The foundation stone of this edifice was laid on
the 2Sth of March, 1772, by Gov. Eden. On his
| striking the stone with malet, which was at
that time customary on such occasions, according
to tradition, there was severe clap of thunder,
although a cloud was not to be seen, the day be-
ing clear and beautifully serene. In 1873 this
building covered with copper roof, and in
1775 this roof was blown off during the equnoctial
gale; the market house was blown down, and the
water is said to have risen three feet perpendicu
lar above the common tide during the storm. The
rising of the water to such height has frequently
occurred since that time.
The dome was not added to the main building
until after the revolution, and is, by every one,
much admired for its symmetry.
The stucco work of the interior of the dome was
made from plaster brought from St. Mary's county.
The architect of this building was Mr.. Joseph
Clarke. Mr. Thomas Dana, who executed the
stuccO and fresco work ON the interior of the DOME
fell from the scaffold just he had finished the
centre piece and was killed.