The daily gazette., 1883-10-04
the nEMoDFLED INSTITUTE.

THE REMODFLED INSTITUTE.
Tho Rem markable Changes Made to This
Old Building Reeently-What the Build
Ing Looks Like on the Inside.
For some months past workmen have been
engaged in making alterations and improve
Tnents in the auditorium of the Institute
Hall. The changes are now completed and
the building now presents an entirely diff
ferent appearance on the second and third
floors and would hardly be recognized by
persons visiting them who had not been ap-
praised of the changes being made.
On the first floor nothing has been touched
and the visitor does not notice
anything unusual until he ascended the
stairs leading to the second floor. Turning
to the right, instead of coming to bare
wall Us before, the visitor finds himself In
large open hallway Is feet wide, running
the full length of the building, north and
south, from this hallway, an open stairway
leads to third floor This space was chopped
off of the large hall, and gives the directors
an extra room besides sufIlcientspace for the
enclosed water closets and stationary wash
stands, which stand to tho south of the en-
| trance to the auditorium.
All the rooms, five In number, fronting on
Market street open on this hall. Three are
already occupied. The others, Nos. and
5, will be fitted up and are for rent No. 4
will be used as a sort of accommodation
| room for snail bodies who may wish to have
a temporary meeting place, and also in case
of balls in the halls as gentlemen s toilet.
On the third floor, by the improvement,
| large room has been added at the southern
end of the building. which will also be for
rent. The rooms formerly in this part of the
| building have been enlarged, and that at
the northeast end has been given
| the advantage of the Is feet over
the large hall. Water closets and stationary
wash stands have also Leen placed on this
| floor, a convenience heretofore unknown.
But the most remarkable change of all is
to the auditorium, which heretofore was
| hardly better than barn. A description OF
| this Iemodeled room will not convey by any
means the remarkably cosey appearance that
| has been added by the change. But an
attempt at description will not prove amss.
| The entrance to the hall is from the large
| open hallway, instead of from the stair land
ing. The old floor has been planned of and
| o new and tight floor laid. The taking off
of Is feet at the east end of the hall now
makes 1t a most convenient shape and
about T6 feet square. The old stage and
| ungainly dressing rooms which stood at the
west end OF the old room have been changed
to the south end. The stage is about the
\ earno size Of the OLD one put the dressing
rooms are built to the ceiling, which
It is believed will materially i'm
prove the acoustic properties. The
stage is supplied with movable foot
lights and is also provided with the most
improved border-llghts. Over the dressing
| room at the west end of the stage has been
bu 1t a property room of good proportions,
where scenery, flies and drop curtains will
be stored. The space over the east end
dressing room goes to make up room on
the third floor.
From the dressing room at the
west end of the stage door
leads into u small room which can be
used for almost any purpose. To this room
it attached water closets and washstands
and will be one Of the most complete dress.
ing-room for ladies during balls or recep-
tions that could be desired, as the stage
dressing-r0om In connection with the small
room to the west will afford ample accom-
modations for very large party of ladies.
The old gallery at the north of the hall
has not been changed other than being
newly painted, the side walls of the reno
deled hall have been repainted in very neat
manner, but the ceiling is a master. piece Of
frescoing. The designs are original and are
| so complicated, yet with all bearing out a
| decided figure that an attempt at descibing
its beauties would almost be impossible.
| All the eolors of the rainbow are blended In
| such harmonious manner that the effect
| is perfect.
The contractors who aided so much in
making this ancient building one of the
most desirable places in which to give con
certs, lectures, balls, etc, are carpenter
ing, James Mitchell, plumbing, Stewart s.
Jones; plain painting, Cardwell & Wall;
frescoing, N. +. Goldberg.
The work of cleaning the place is now in
progress and everything will be as neat and
clean as a new pin by Wednesday next
when the building will be formerly opened
with a concert by the Trinity Choir and
Philharmonic Orchestra. The stockholders
will each receive ticket and the remaining
will be sold so cents each.
The seating capacity of the hall is be-
tween 600 and 700 and so postive are the
directors of the hall that the alteration has
done away with the old echoes In the room
that they have decided to put the severest
test upon 1t, that of giving an instrumental
and vocal concert. If there is anything that
will test the acoustic properties
of ? building it Is an orchestra, but The di.
rectors are positive thai the trouble in this
connection has been done away with, and
frequent tests have been made during the
progress OF the alterations, all of which
have proved successful.
The old benches will be used In the audi
torium until a future date, when they will
be substituted for portable chair like that
in use in the Eew hall at New Castle will bl
put in.