Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-08-14
The Old State House.


An A&pOStuEht1On-A Picture OF the Old
Days of it's Glory.
An extract from a letter from a prominent
citizen to friend on the old State House
question is as follows
I have read with pleasure the articles in
the JOURNAL ANB COURIER against the remov-
al of the old State House They are from
'level headed people. [ am surprised to
see any of our "town- born citizens'' in favor
of demolishing the structure. I regret to see
my ideal of a man. one who was held up to
us boys as the ideal boy of the city, Hon. Fl.
B. Harrison, in favor of tearing down the
old Stete House. I wish I had the gifts of
some men for writing; [ wouldSpicture to the
present inhabitants of the city the State
House as it was in my boyhood days, when
the Governors Foot Guard, the cadets under
Captain Belts and other military companies
had their airings there No trouble about
dampness in those days, for then muskets,
etc., shone the first Monday in May,
which was training day." as brightly as if
fresh from a third story Grays' or Union
Armory in these days. I would picture the
venerable old John Scarritt, Town Clerk and
his tall, stately successor, Major General Al
fred H. Terry's father, father of noble son,
| who has shed lustre upon his city and State ;
also, there were General r. S. Human and
other notable gentlemen, who occupied offices
in the old building, and who, believe if
they were living, would reject with scorn the
| idea of dampness or danger of the building
tumbling down. Let any building be used
as the State House has been and see if it
| WIT ,o
| of those maple trees and let the Almiehty's
sun Into it, clean it out, remove the rotten
lumber, treat it as any man would his own
| house and you will soon find all dampness
and unsavory smell of decay disappear en-
| tirely.
There are the graves of our great grand
| fathers and other relations; let not these be
| again ruthlessly torn open The sstogn
| born," whose ancestors came here, some one
| and even two hundred years ago, feel quite
| differently from those who have removed
| here from other towns and States
[ would not wish to detract one iota from
| the thrift, enterprise and immense benefit
| those who have removed here from other
places have done for the city of their adop-
| ton. No, we welcome them, and wish in
| addition to them, there were thousand
times more just such ones, but they cannot
| old landmarks that we, who were born
here, and our fathers and grandfathers
before us feel and we beg that these old
landmarks may be preserved especially
when not detriment to the growth, exten
| sion and prosperity of the city. Old build.
ings ought to be removed where new ones
can be built for accommodation of trade
and commerce. Old bridges should be re-
| moved to make room for more modern
| structures that will accommodate the moving
| public; but here ls an old landmark, the re
| moyal of which will not accommodate trade
or commerce, Or facilitate the moving pub
| lie, but will hide the back doors of build.
ings to be built with their backs to the
| Green, and can be utilized for the improve
| ment of the minds of our increasing popula-
ton for as public library, a place for
| the delivery of public lectures, reading
| rooms and merchants exchange. The next
move probably will be Gf the State House is
removed) to remove the churches and have
no buildings on the Green. Place your
soldiers monument at the head of Hill
house avenue. No doubt plot would be
| given for such a purpose: If not, let one be
| bought, and then erect monument which
| will stand for all time to commemorate the
noble deeds, the great sacrifices the s'boys
| in blue" made for their country