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

Two buildings which will add materially to
the appearance Of Montpelier, architecturally,
supply stores and offices unrivalled for con-
venience, capacity and attractiveness furnish
the means of invigorating and heathful amuse-
ment and give to the village two public halls
entirely adequate for any occasion or emer-
gency, state or local, have progressed far enough
in construction to give good idea OF what the
completed structures will be. The first OF
these is
BLANCHARD's BUILDING.
on the site of the old Caldwell place. on
South Main street near the head Of State. The
foundations we're laid year ago. The erec-
ton OF the superstructure began last spring.
The building is ninety-six feet and eight inches
square and four stories high. Access to the
halls and offices on the upper floors is from the
center. On each side OF the main entrance are
stores, having front Of twenty-three feet and
widening back OF the main stairway to twenty
seven feet. Each of these stores is furnished
with an ice closet eight by ten feet and are es-
pecially adapted to the grocers' trade. The end
stores have a front of twenty feet and three
inches All are twelve feet in the clear, have
depth OF ninety-six feet and eight inches, are
lighted ut both ends and have plate glass fronts.
They will be finished in ash but the special
fittings will be adapted to the wants of the bus
ness for which they may be leased. AS will
be seen from this description, these stores are
exceedingly capacious. They will supply what
and their location in the heart of the business
portion OF the town will render them very de-
sirable Tor any OF the staple branches OF trade
On each of the second and third floors are four
suites of offices along the 'front.' each suite COM
prising main office twenty-one feet square by
eleven feet high, with spacious consultation
room. These offices are entered from a corri-
dor extending the length Of the building and
reached from the main entrance. The ar
rangements and conveniences for heating as
well for all other nsr essities should meet the
appreciation of the most exacting tenant. Oc.
cupying the front of the fourth floor is a hall
fiity-two feet long by thirty-one feet wide,
with spacious ante-ro0m at each end reached
by flight of stairs from each end OF the cJrri-
dor. These offices, halls and ante-rooms are
not only all light, airy, cheerful and convene mt
internally, but externally the prospect of
the streets and surroundings of Montpelier
is pleasant and diversified But the dis
tinguishiDg feature OF this building is the
OPERA HALL
which occupies that portion OF the three stories
above the ground floor that is not devoted to
the offices, hall and ante-rooms described above.
The dimensions OF this hall are, a width of
sixty-one feet and eight inches by a length Of
seventy-three feet from the stage curtain. The
Stage, ct the southerly end of the hail. is sixty
one feet and eight inches in length by thirty
one feet in width, being only about twelve feet
shorter and three feet narrower than the stage Of
the Howard opera house at Burlington. Ample
and convenient arrangements are made for
dressing rooms, and the office in the south
westerly corner of the building connects with
the stage and can be used In that connection il
required. An entrance and stairway at the
southeasterly corner furnishes access to the
stage and the avenue by which the baggage
and trappings will go In There is also an en-
trance by way of the front from the corridor on
the second floor. At the rear Of the hall is a
call larU mi IN "A nv hAf 1f1Qa shsaA do
from the stage, describing the line of an ellipse,
thus giving the seats as the rear Is approache ed
more abrupt elevation aud enabling the oc-
cupants to get n clear view OF the stage over
the heads of those sitting in front. The seat
six hundred opera chairs, arranged ON a curve
having the same radius as the gallery 'front.'
will be placed upon the floor. The seating Ca
pacity Is therefore eight hundred, and by util-