The Portland daily press., 1881-02-03

sessions here until 1881. 1t seems odd to us,
but 1t is true that as late as 1892 spirituous
liquors were sold in the court house. In that
year the court of sessions ordered the sheriff
70 70 forbid 1t during the sitting of the court or
the legislature"
lafayette, in June 1926, an awning was spread
from the front coving of the State house to the
elm trees in front and platform at the en-
trance was built of two steps in height and on
LII tlls after brief rest inside the General held
ms reception. After the removal of the seat
OF the State government to Augusta the CITY
became owner of the old State house, and it
was used for municipal purposes To make
way Tor the erection of the new city building
IL was moved to the east corner of Congress
ana Market streets, and was occupied for city
purposes. The lower story was the poll ce
once 1t went down in the great fire of 1866.
After the chaste old brick court house
mad served the county AZ years, the courts and
county officers began to feel Strai ightened for
room and to think of increasing accommoda-
tlons at the same time the city government
were in a like condtion-the city officers
having their rooms in detached buildings In
1910 tie city government concluded an ar
rangement with the county, which owned
this lot to take long lease of it and to erect a
building which would furnish all needed
accommodations for the public offices for the
CITY, ample room for the courts and county
ounces, and at the same time sufficient apart
executive government, on the same spot where
tney first organized in 1920, if at any time thew
should please to return to Portland.
;, Ihe county lot was at that time occupied by
tne Drlck Court house of 1876; the old State
Rouse OF 1920, the stone Jail of 1897 and the
jail Keepers house of 1799 In March, 1853
the county authorities leased to the city this
loc at nominal rent, for a term of 900 years
WI WIN all the buildings thereon. As consider
IaC'on, the city was to provide suitable accom-
fnp rfC i l-ft.-
during the construction of the building and
curing The terms of the lease, free of charge,
ihis lease was executed and a plan was drawn
Oh building of brick to cost about $50, 900 dur
ing. the mayoralty of VIM. Willis. The next
city council altered the design, enlarged the
plan, provided for dome, and changed the
matefiai for the principal front, from brick to
Aloert sand stone from Nova Scotia. AS
part OF the arrangement for the enlarged struc-
ture, the county purchased an additional piece
OF land on the southwest side, of the heirs Of
Judge Emery, oa which for many years he
mad one-stOry law office. For the Emery lot
tne county paid 81 900. The new and enlarged
plan was perfected under the mayoralty of
Jeaed'ah Jewett, and the building was COM
pieted under his administration. The archi-
teet was James FL. Rand of Boston, The
building was completed in 1862, at the cost to
the city of about $3.50 900.
L now come to the sad story of the destruc-
tion OF the spacious and beautiful city build
III
Is an unpleasant theme to dwell upon. During
that dreadful night of the 4th and 9TH of July'
loob, the ruin was accomplished. 1t was
hoped thatsthe force of the fire had passed by.
and that the structure was safe. 1t was this
nope and belief that was its destruction There
was misunderstanding between those who
desired to guard and protectit There was no
one on the roof to report the danger-if any
one had been there they had left too soon.
The burning cinders from the Natural History
building above and on the opposite side of the
street were blown by the strong wind against
the dome, and Slid down on the copper sheath,
ing, until sufficient mass had collected at
the base to melt the copper and fire the wood
work beneath. The devouring element had
contrived to seek vulnerable spot and found
1t here. The dome was first DESTROYED and
u, Inen the roof, and finally the whole interior
Inc only public records were those of the
Probate office, which was great misfortune
OF itself The re-erection or restoration of
tne building was SO recent that it has not
rlpened into history. 1t is perhaps sufficient
70 say that the restoration was completed in
1867. at a cost of 1857 900 and in the words of
the prophet, "the glory of this latter home
snail be greater than of the former"
At the close of Mr.. Goods paper Hon. Geo.
+. Talbot delivered an admirable address on
the corporate members of the society DR.. Wood
spoke in behalf the Natural History Society,
Joseph Williamson of Belfast read an excel
lent paper on the "Past Historians of Maine,"
and Gen. S. j. Anderson welcomed the society
in behalf of the Board of Trade.