The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-15

The main room, or hall proper, IL %
feet inches long by AZ feet wide. The
gallery. the back of which is the front
wall of the building, projects slightly
over the rear of the main room, but not
to such extent as to take from the beauty
of the room. The seats in the gallery
stand on raised platforms; consequently
persons sitting in the rear seats have a
good view of the stage. The front line
of the gallery is concave at the center
and rounded at the ends. The stage Is
10 feet deep. A lecture platform, in front
of the prOscenium opening. projects Z
feet inches beyond the main stage, and
is % feet inches wide. Steps at either
side lead to the floor. At the left of the
proscenium is the door to the stage. The
proscenium opening is Is feet high by
% 1-2 feet wide.
All the inside woodwork is of ash and
cherry. The audience room is hand
somely and deliberately frescoed. 1t is
lighted by one of |. p. Frink's patent
reflectors, of forty burners, in the center
of the ceiling, and by side lights. The
foot-lights of the stage are of approved
design, equal to any in use. In the CEN
ter of either side of the room are five
windows with transoms. The three cen
ter windows are practically one, with
segment top covering them all. There
are also two more windows, one each
side near the ends of the room, also with
transoms. The transoms have colored
glass centers set in loaded sash, with
borders of plain colored glass.
There is also a large segment-topped
window in the center of the front. light
ing the gallery, which is further lighted
by windows at the sides of this center
and on the sides of the building. The
windows will be fitted with inside blinds.
The seats for the floor and gallery are
made by Baker, Pratt & Co. of New
y ork. Each sitting IS Independent of
the others. The seat frame is iron; the
seat and back of five-ply veneer, moulded
into shape. The seats raise and fold out
of the way making it easy TO pass through
the rows. Under each seat is hat rack
The seats themselves are 20 inches wide,
the widest and most comfortable size
made. Those in the gallery are screwed TO
the floor. Those for the main floor are
fastened together in sets and can be
moved out of the way when the room is
to be used for dancing.
Gas is furnished by Springfield gas
machine. using gasoline. A man stand
ing behind the stage can control all the
lights, shutting them off or turning them
on as may be necessary. The rooms are
heated by steam apparatus of the best kind.
The drop curtain for the stage has
just been completed by Samuel Brooker,
scenic artist of the Leland opera house,
Albany, n. Y. 1t is scene in the Gulf
of Venice, reproduced from a painting by
Stanfield, an English artist. In the fore
ground are the waters of the gulf in the
center buildings rising, like those OF
Venice itself. out of the sea, and behind
them high hills. The effect is excellent.
We have endeavored to convey some
notion of the towns new building, but il
is impossible fully to describe it in the
space at our disposal. 1t may fairly be
called a success, architecturally and
practically. 1t is a credit to the build
ers, the committee and the town, in point
of appearance; and will. we are sure. be
found admirably suited to the uses fol
which it was built.
The plans were prepared by Clinton
Smith, of the tirm,of Smith & Allen, who
as stated, did the work. Geo. w
Bennett of Manchester had charge of the
decorating, and Allan Calhoun put in the
heating and lighting apparatus. Al
these parties have reason to feel proud
of their work.