Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-24
The Old State House.

What Shall Be Done With It-A Differ
 ence of Opinion Expressed by Prom
 fnent Citizens.
 The special Common Geuncil committee on the Old State House held meeting in room 10, City Hall, last evening, Alderman Sheldon presiding.
 Alderman c. L. Baldwin appeared and stated that he thought the Old State House should be preserved. He said when closely scrutinized it would not bear inspection, yet he thought 8 small sum would put it in good repair. He thought the building would be needed sometime for public library, and if it was torn down it would necessitate the erection of a costly public building at some future time
 Dr. J. P. Phillips said that he had given this matter great deal of consideration, and he had reached the conclusion that the build. ing should be sold at auction and removed from the Green, which would give the city more room for public park. If the city wanted lot for library, or any other pur- pose, they should go somewhere and pur- chase it rather than to put up such buildings on the Green. It is mistaken economy, said the doctor, to use this beautiful spot for such purpose He thought there was nothing that the city could do to improve the appear ance of the Green so much as to remove that building. Strangers would appreciate it, and everybody, in the speakers opinion, would be pleased with the change.
 Mir. Van Name, librarian of Yale College was the next speaker. He thought that the building with small outlay for repairs would be made available for a public library for ten or perhaps twenty years to come. In reply to Dr. Phillips MT. Van Name said that he thought an advantage would be gained to the city in utilizing this building in the matter of expense. He also said, in reply to Dr. Phillips, that he thought the removal of the building would improve the appearance of the college grounds.
 Charles Thompson said the building would no doubt stand thirty or perhaps fifty years. He said the partitions all stone and the outer walls were of stone. The outer veneer ing of marble did not affect the strength of the building in any degree. This was added after the building was erected.
 In reply to Alderman Sheldon he said it would be cheaper to repair the building than to remove it. He did not know who would l remove it for the material. He said the rooms were plastered directly on the walls, and there might be some question whether it would answer the purpose of a library on ac- count of the dampness that gathered. Mir. Parish, superintendent of the public
 
 was occupied by the Young Mems Institute he had made up his mind that 1t was very bad place for 8 library. If there one hundred thousand dollars available for a pub lie library he would say that the old State House was not a suitable place for it, on ac- count of the dampness. Another objection was it's isolation from the public streets of the city. Yet he was not prepared to say that it could not be utilized for other purposes. He would prefer that the old building should be removed and a handsome fountain be placed on the spot, with another, perhaps, on the lower Green. If it could be put in shape, however, without too large an expenditure of nssney, he would be glad to see 1t rsmain.
 Ruel F. Cowles said that he thought as much of the beauty of that old Green any one, yet he not in favor of the removal of the State House. It is not suitable for an armory and hardly suitable for a library. He thought it was just the spot for societies who depended upon the charities of the people, and it was good place for the Historical So- ciety If the charitable societies could have rooms free from rent 1t would benefit every one.
 Alderman Sheldon said that it must be un- derstood that the Society of Industrial Art had lease on the building for ten years, and only three years of this time had expired. The Corporation Counsel had given an opin- ion that the lease was good one, hence the society could not be removed unless a com
 
 Benjamin Moves said the proposition made by MT. Cow1es was such demanded serious consideration. MT. Moves then gave his tory of the occupancy of the building by the city and town officers and the erection of the City Hall He said when the City Hall was built no room was made for public meetings, and had this been done it would save the city half million of dollars, in debt which the city was now carrying on Air Line railroad bonds. He thought the | proper thing to do was to put its exterior in respectable condition. He would then appropriate the first floor to a public | library where persons could be furnished | books and for the purposes suggested by MT. | Cowles. The second story he would convert | into public hall by removing all the walls. | He thought that public hall in that building | would do more to educate the public mind | than any other purpose to which it could be l devoted.
 Dr. Phillips said, from inquiry of parties who were competent to judge, it would be | cheaper to tear the old State House down and | erect new building rather than to attempt | to alter it over
 The committee adjourned without deciding | upon their report and will hold another meet ing.