Daily Republican., 1880-09-10
NEW oAsrLrs rnIDE.
The New Hall Of tho I. d. o. r. and
the A. r. A. MA Description of
the BaiKuisE-Tho tOsainE Dsdi.

the eBuiKaisE-Tho G0saiRE Dsdi
cation.
Special correspon denee to the Republican.
New CAsrLs, Sept. 8.-New CAatl
scarce has a citizen but who looks will
pride upon thu new hall OF the Ode
Fellows and Masons, and now wher
the building Is completed and evsry
thing ready for the dsdioation snch in
terest is taken In the structure as the
town has not before been able u get up
The new hall stands on lot lying u
| the Northeastern corner Of Vine ant
Delaware streets, which was bought /,
1878 by 81. Johns Lodge, No. 8, A. Y
A. NJ. aud Washington Lodge, No. s, |
O. o. F., for $4,000, and right beside i
on the same lot Ia the very anoien
strusture occupied BY the Pos; office
Thus do extremes meet.
Mr.. William Herbert, the most pro
gressive man in New Castle, vas made
chairman of the Building Committee,
which Was formed as follows soon after
tho purchase Of the lot: VIM. Herbert,
NJ. N. Wier, B =. Dsakyns, Benjamin
D. Groves and Ira Lunt. This commit
tee, with its go-shead chairman, vent
at the thing with vigor and financial
matters were straightened up while old
fogiss were still saying that the hall
would swamp both lodges in money
matters. In 1879 Mr.. Theodore P.
Chandler Of Philadelphia, who prepar-
ed the plans for Mt. Salem church aAd
the new Court House, designed the
building and speedily proposals were
advertised for. Harry Lape of Will
minston was awarded the contract at
VIC, ,585, on August Goth.
Ground was broken August llth, and
Mr.. Lape at onoe commenced work. On
Sept. 10Th the corner stone laying took
place, two stones being laid with the
ceremonies Of the Orders. Addresses
were delivered on the part Of the
Masons BY Rev. A. N. Keigwin, Of the
West Presbyterian Church, and Rev.
D. C. Ridgway, of New Castle, on the
part of the Odd Fellows by DR.. J. Troup
Maxwell and Henry Bcksl, of Will
mington.
Mr.. Lape has pushed the work rap
idly and the new hall is now about
completed. The contractor has "build-
cd well," and 1t Is not to be wondered
at, that New Castle rubs its hands in
satisfaction as 1t stands on the piazza
Of the old court house, soon TO bs q
court house no more, and oOntemplates
this very handsome structure, which
will more than atone for the loss Of the
county seat.
Stand In front Of the building, and
look at It. 1t appears substantial and
massive, but for all that very hand
some aud attractive. The front is Of
pressed brick, and around the oornices,
the windows and the top Of the walls
are buff Ohio stone trimmings. The
entrance door Is framed in an archway
Of stone. All up the front Of the
building an appropriate ornament, and
in the centre Of the third story are
carved on stone tAblst she emblems of
masonry and thEso links and y. I. l..
OF the Odd Fellows, with "erected
l879." Around the roof runs gal
vanized iron cornioe, and galvanized
iron cupola Of beautiful design springs
high into the air.
The first story Of the hall will have
two large rooms for stores, each Of
which will have large plate glass win.
dovs. The second story is being fitted
up as an auditorium. The entrance
stairway to this runs between the
stores. The auditorium ia we'll light.
ed room, and has an ample stage in the
rear, Gtted up with drop curtains and
footlights; the room is nicely furnished.
Already 1t has been engaged for per-
formanoes. A minstrel troupe will be
here Sept. 18th, and in October the
folks are to have "Unole Toms Cabin"
At the head Of the stair case as you
enter is the inscription:
BUILT 1879.