The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-22
KNIGHTS OF pYTHIAs.
Description of Their New Hall on Con-
gress Street.

The future headquarters for the knightly
brothers OF the Pythian order in this city will
be in the new Kimball block on Congress
street where handsome and commodious
rooms have been fitted up.
AT the head of the first fight of stairs is a
square hanging lantern with X. of P. cut IN
the glass. The lantern is supported by rods of
polished brass, the frame work being of the
same material. To the left of the entrance is
the library room and also the office of the
secretary OF the Grand Lodge of the State.
Around the walls of the library are hung the
charters of all the city lodges and of the
Grand Lodge. Two safes, each weighing
300 pounds,are placed opposite the door. They
We're manufactured expressly for the purpose
% which they will be put by Morris & Ireland.
Inside they are fitted up, one with compart-
ments for all the lodges of the city, and the
other to receive the papers of the Grand
Lodge. The outside of both are handsomely
decorated with the X. of P. emblems. The
library is 16x2O.
Passing through a door on the Congress
street side of the library room the visitor is
ushered into the small hall or armory as it is
designed t. be when the building is completely
filled up. At present it will be used as
smaller hall during work time. The
armory is 16x37 and when finished will con-
tain boxes for the reception of uniforms.
In the center of the right side of the armory
is the door leading to the room where candi-
dates are to be prepared for the initiatory eere-
monies. The preparation room" is about y
Ieet square. The inner ante-room, 20 feet
square, is between the room already described
and the outer ante. room which is 16x2O. From
the outer ante-room door leads to the coat
room, 12x14, and closets. Returning again to
the armory, through the rooms already visited
we pass to the paraphernalia room, l2x20,
which has been fitted up by Mr.. Moses C.
Merrill of 247 Spring street. The cabinets
handsomely finished and ornamented with
carvings are OF black walnut, and Mr. Merrill
has clearly made his work "a labor of love-
FROM this room we pass to the hail. which is
30x60. When it was decided to remove from
the old hall the knights felt that their hall
and Its surroundings should, as far as possible
partake of the classical spirit of the order it.
self, and 1t was decided to finish the hall in
the style OF architecture of the days of
DI loy, the tyrant of Syracuse, and Mr..
Schumacher was called in and decorated the
hall In the Grecian-Doric style. The brown
ground work. by gas light fades away and the
columns stand out in bold relief. The gas
fixtures supplied by Hollinsg & Co., of Boston
are very tasteful. From the main chandelier
II lights are attached, and there are also two
desk and four pedestal lights The hanging
nxtures III the center of the hall are made Of
broad bands, one above the other with rods
forming the angles of a pyramid The bands
are covered with engraved emblems of the
order, the whole being made of polished
brass.
The carpet was ordered expressly for the hall
byW. E. Kilbourn. 1t is in scarlet and black
with a delicate leaf running through it. The
furniture manufactured by Walter Corey & Co
is OF ancient patterns, heavy and deep, but cor
responding perfectly with the walls and fix
lures. The organ is not yet received, and
smaller instrument loaned by w. NJ Furbush
q Son occupies the place where it will stand.
The arrangements for heating the building
were made by Smith & Abbott and are all thai
can be desired.
Over all of the rooms described is the large
banquet hall, 40 feet, and the kitchen at the
back 20 feet square. From the room of the
building magnificent view of the harbor is to
be obtained
Charles III. Kimball was the architect and
George f. Luscomb had charge of the paint
ing.
The order in this city is now over 600 strong.