The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-17

izing standing room one thousand persons can
be accommodated in the hail. The "monitor
top style OF constructing the ceiling admits
OF ample and effective means of ventilation
and enhances the acoustic properties of the
hall. Four chandeliers supplemented by side
burners will furnish light, and steam will be
the heating agent. The finish will be ash, and
the walls and ceiling will be appropriately
decorated. The ticket office Is on the left
toward the northerly end of the corridor, and
entrance to the hall and gallery on ticketed
occasions is had by spacious stairways at that
point. Wide doorways toward the front of the
hall swing into the corridor at the landing of
the main stairway and add to the means OF
exit. The building is substantial brick edifice,
OF modest but tasteful architecture, its red
walls relieved by granite trimmings. All the
partitions are of solid wood packing. 1t is
expected to be finished and ready for occu-
pancy in the spring. The cost of the structure
is estimated at about S40,000 The architect
and builder is Mr.. George II. Guernsey of
Montpelier, whose handiwork il seen in the
stores and dwellings of this village and in
public structures la other parts of the state.
For this fine edifice, which will supply to
this community, besides line OF stores and
offices OF exceptional attractiveness, an elegant
opera house, Montpelier is indebted to the
enterprise, the courage, and one might almost
say audacity, of our esteemed fellow-citzen,
Mr.. Asa Blanchard. At the proper time this
community should, as 1t undoubtedly will,
express in some public manner its apppecia-
tion Of Mr.. Banchard's public spirit.
THE SKATING RINK.
Current mention has occasionally been made
of the building which Mr.. D. A. Guptil is
erecting on South Main street on the property
bought by him of Mr. T. w. Wood. The build
ing has front Of fifty feet a length OF one
hundred and fifty feet and, including basement,
1t is three stories high. It is frame structure
the walls made solid by five inch wood pack
ing and when completed will be veneered with
brick. The roof is trussed and will be covered
with patent iron roofing. No pains have been
spared to make this part Of the structure en-
tirely secure against any strain to which it
may be subjected and we believe it Is no ex-
aggeration to say that a railway car might be
driven over it with perfect safety The base
ment is a light, high and airy room, easily
accessible at the front and rear, and is such
space as could proftably be devoted to some
light manufacturing. 1t is valuable room and
will be in demand for some useful purpose.
On the skating floor at the 'front.' on each side
of the main central entrance are reception
rooms-on the left for ladies', for gentlemen on
the right-each having toilet rooms and to be
furnished with due regard to the comfort and
convenience of the customers Of the rink.
Above these rooms is a refreshment hall twenty
by fifty feet opening out upon the galleries
and reached by the stairways leading to the
latter. Supplementary kitchen arrangeme ents
are provided in the basement Beyond these
rooms is the skating hall, splendid room
one hundred and thirty feet long, fifty feet
wide and eighteen feet high. Extending
around three sides Of the hall Just below the
| second story windows and commanding fine
| view OF the floor are galleries securely built
| and capable Of eating several hundred persons.
| To suitable distance above the floor the walls
| will be sheathed with ash and lathed and
plastered above this sheathing. The ceiling
will be sheathed and, together with the walls,
| ttx.Na arI kaI la a.
will all be finished in manner and with a
completeness that will disarm the critic and
grnmbler. Although designed primarily for a
skating rink, the term is a misnomer as re-
| CARDS this building in it's entirety. 1t Is de-
signed and will be used for other purposes
than skating. 1t is carefully planned, sub
stantialy-built structure that will surpass in
permanency and in the details of finish many
OF the business buildings of the village As a
| place for festive occasions, for holding musical
| or political conventions, mass meetings or any
| gatherings calling together q multitude of peo-
pie, the hall will be great public acquisition.
Montpelier is geographical center and new
lines of railway have made it something of a
state railway center. Its great want long
deplored has been good public hall With
Guptil's rink and Banchard's opera hall COM
pleted, the village will have facilities fully
adequate in capacity and completeness to an
swer every demand, and these will not only
attract to the place entertainments and gather
ings which the lack Of hall facilities has KEEP
away but will command the support OF many
persons who had a reasonable and constitu
tional prejudice against our venerable bu
hardly venerated village hall even after IT.
new birth and rechristening as Capital Hall
Mr.. Blanchard and Mr.. Guptil are performing
a genuine public service, one that will inur'
greatly to the benefit Of this community, an(
the merit Of the performance is not lessenet
by the fact that they have had the hardihooc
to undertake their respective enterprises with
out the stimulus Of public applause or an en-
couragipg financial gratuity. Honor to whom
honor