Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-02-20
Opening of Recreation Hall.

p. II. Barnum'S Magnificent Amusement
Building Dedicated with Charity
Ball for the Benefit of the Hospital
Fund-A Br1lIiGnt Society Event.
BRDaEpoRT, Feb. 19.-Phineas T. Bar
NUNS latest novelty and magnificent gift to
the city of Bridgeport, his great amusement
building known as Recreation Hail. was
thrown open to the citizens of Bridgeport
and the public this evening. The grand event
which took place was the charity ball for the
benefit of the hospital fund, which was at
tended by the largest audience that ever
graced any public building in the city of
Bridgeport.
Recreation Hall Is ZIG feet long by II feet
front. On the first floor are four bowling
alleys, each lis feet long; two shooting gal
Ieries 10 feet long; hat and cloak room;
and two stores with carriage repository in
the rear, 146 feet long and 40 feet wide.
The second floor is the skating rink which is
room containing three pool and three billiard
tables of the J. M. Brunswick & Bake COM
pany manufacture and dancing room 70
feet square On the north side of the skating
rink are five hundred opera chairs with gal
lery containing three hundred more.
The large hall was handsomely decorated
with bunting and flags of all nations, with
the coat of arms of every State in the Union
adjoining the walls, while eleven electric lights
added charming brilliancy to the scene.
Promptly at O'Clock the full Wheeler &
Wilson grand orchestra of eighteen pieces,
Professor S. c. Rosenberg leader, opened the
concert programme, which was Immediately
followed by the grand march led by Hon.
Phineas T. Barnum and Mrs. D. N. Morgan
in black velvet en- train. DIR. J. De We're
Warner and wife in wine-colored silk en- train
with valenciennes lace front came next.
followed by seventy-seven couples all in full
dress The costumes of the ladies were the
handsomest ever seen in Bridgeport and COM
pletely outshone the Bachelors ball given at
the Atlantic Hotel last winter. Among the
ladies present were Mrs. Henry A. Bishops in
q light blue silk en- train, low neck and short
sleeves; Mrs. F. M. Wilson in white nuns
yelling; Miss Josie Lyon in pink silk; Mrs.
Frank Keifer in light. brown silk en- train;
Mrs. Charles Sanford in pink brocaded silk;
Miss Mygatt, New Milford. in pale pink
silk en- train, trimmed with valenciennes
lace; Mrs. l.. N. Van Keursn in
light blue silk; Mrs. William II.
Stew enson in black silk; Mrs. Edwin
Parker in a garnet velvet en- train, with blue
satin front embroidered; Mrs. Charles
WiIlett in light blue velvet; Mrs. Frank
Hurd in wine colored silk en- train, with rich
brocaded silk front; Mrs l., Shepard in pale
blue satin with brocaded silk front; Miss
Carrie Lupton, of Stratford. in light blue
brocaded silk en- train; Mrs. D. M. Read in
black silk Mrs. Willard Raymond in white
satin en- train low, neck, trimmed with valen-
ciennes lace; Mrs. Charles Fl. Miller, of New
Haven, in black satin with lace trimmings.
Among the gentlemen present we noticed
Judge Granger. Judge A. B. Reers, DIR. Rob
ert Hubbard, Rev. E. W. Maxcy, DIR. George
F. Lewis, D. w. Nissan, 81. G. Coggswell,
Clapp Spooner, W. B. Hall, G. W. Barker,
William Mason, Hon. John D. Candee, Will
liam T. Hubbell, Hanford Plumb, W. Coe.
Horace WiImot, J. W. Atkinson, David M.
Read, j. A. House, ". Perry, E. Morgan,
W. B. Middlebrooks, Charles 81. Miller of
New Haven, John Hollister of Litchfeld,
Conn, and j. A. Church. of Hartford.
The supper was furnished by Hanford &
Nichols the well-known caterers of Bridge
port. The following gentlemen were upon
the different committees.
Floor committee. NJ. Hawley, chairman; L. N.
Van Keuren. F. NJ. Wilson, M. B. Beardsey Jonathan
Godfrey Henry A. Bishop, Glover E. Sanford, W. e.
Seeley, VIM Ii. Stevenson.
Reception conmittee-Hon. D. N. Morgan, chair
N. Wheeler, on W D. Bishop, Hon.A 8. Treet, Hon.
W. q. Noble Hon. E. B. Goodeell DR.. I.De Yer Warner,
Il. r. PARROT, D. W. Kissam, J. W. Know1ton, J. D.
Frary, JACOB Keifer, W. h Rockwell, Henry Atwater.