The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-12-21

details convey. perhaps, but vague idea
of the outward appearance of the struc-
ture. 1t looks solid and substantial, just
rs building of the kind should.
The basement is divided by brick par
tition, corresponding with and support
ing those on the nam floor, into II rooms.
besides the hallway. These will be used
/ as store-rooms, etc.
The first, or main, floor has hallway
nearly the entire length of the building,
with large staircase hall in front and a
small one in the rear. The first room on
the right of the entrance Is for the grand
jury. 1t is 15x20 feet in size. Next to
that is the petit jury's room, 12x15 feet /;
adjoining this room 12Xl5, and beyond
this in the southeast corner of the struc-
tore, still another room of the same
dimensions as that last mentioned. These
two rooms have been rented by Mcssrs.
Stewart & Wild as offices. At the end
of the hall is a room 10Xl3 feet. On the
left Is a suit of rooms for the use of the
county clerk or Judge of probate. They
consist, first, of an office 12Xl2 feet, i'm
the northeast corner, and adjoining this
and connected with it second room.
15XlG feet. Then come the vaults. Be-
You'd them is another suit, of Oflices-to
be occupied by either the county clerk or
Judge of probatc-the first 15X17 and the
sec nd l0Xl3 feet. The vaults are for
the use of the officers between whose Off
ces they stand. Their walls are of brick,
two feet in thickness, with an air-space
all around. The top and bottom are
made more secure and stronger by the
use of II large quantity of railroad iron,
laid, like the brick, in cement. The floors
] of M Of anh
vault is provided with double iron doors,
the outer ones having combination locks.
The halls are wainscotted to the height
of 3 IL feet with tulip wood, and the
walls are tinted. The woodwork is part
ly painted in colors and partly stained
with cherry finish. The stairway is fin
ished in cherry and birch.
An easy flight of platform stairs leads
to the court room itself. In the tower is a
library room. 12xl2 feet. The court
room is entered through double doors,
opening either way. Its dimensions are
43x46 feet and 20 feet high. Extending
across the building in the rear of the
court room is the back hall. out of which
opens the Judges room, the witness room
and the consultation room, each 12Xl4
feet in size. Twenty-eight seats, each
feet long, standing on inclined floors on
either side the aisle, are provided for
spectators. They are folding settees,
finished in birch and maple. The bar,
including the judges desk, which sits in
front of an arched recess, is 20X27 feet.
The bar rail is of cherry, with mahogny
finish. On the right of the bar are the
iury's seats, the prisoners dock and the
sheritl's desk. On the left of the bar are
the seats for the grand jury. These, like
tbnSn for tha nntit inry ctapI IN an in.
clined platform and both sets of seats
are surrounded by cherry balustrades.
The woodwork of the room is all cherry
and ash, theformer with mahogany finish
The court room is handsomely frescoed
in subdued colors. The windows are
furnished with Venetian blinds. Alto
gether,it is an exceedingly pleasant, COM
Portable room. we'll suited in every way
to the use for which it was intended
Indeed, there is nothing about the build
ing that can fairly be criticised, consider
ing the money the commissioners had at
their disposal. There may be better court
houses in the State-which we doubt
but there are none which cost less twice
the money that are as good. The COM
missioners, the building committee, the
architects and the builders are to be con-
graduated upon the success of theil
efforts.
AS previously stated, the plans were
drawn by Clinton Smith, and Smith 4
Allen were the contractors. Geo. W
Bennett of Manchester, who had previ
ously done very creditable work in town
was the frescoer. Allan Calhoun of Mid
dlebury put in the plumbing; and Geo
Hathorn, also of Middlebury, did the
roofing.