Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-21
THE OLD STATE HOUSE.
Plan For Its Preservation - The
Views of ssViat0r'' on This Public
Oueatfon

A Plan For Its Preservation - The
Views of ssViator'' on This Public
Question.
| To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The question of the preservation or de-
| struction of the old State House, which led
| to so active discussion among our citizens a
| year or more since, has again been revived in
| an indirect form by the new question, Can
we find worthy uses and purposes to which
this venerable building can be devoted? I
| desire to contribute a few thoughts to the
| consideration of this question.
| 1. The building is of very great size, con-
| tanning many halls and apartments, and is of
| immense strength and solidity, of such solid
| materials, indeed, that it would cost thou.
sands of dollars to pull it down and remove
| it, as is shown by the fact that it cost 5000
| to cut doorway ten feet square between two
rooms.
2. Such building could not now be erect
| cd for less than one hundred thousand dol
| lars.
8. Ia it an economical policy for the city
of New Haven in such times these to pull
down building of great size, of great
| cost to reproduce and capable of being used
| for so many worthy and varied objectsa
A. There are already four uses to which
| portions of tho building are devoted.
First. The museum of industrial art, which
| only needs the cooperation of our citizens to
| be made of grent benefit to the city. The
South Kensington museum in London, whose
object is the same, has been worth many
| millions to British manufactures and trade
and art.
Second. The Historical society and It's col
leetions. What would Now Haven be with
out q history, and were 10 like 80 many of
the mushroom cities Of tho Westi No colony
or State city in Our country has II grander
history than Now Haven OF that history
with al It's precious and sacred memories the
Historical society Is the earnest and faithful
guardian and its collections are tho priceless
records and relics
Third. In the basement the Boys club has
been comfortably housed for some years, n
noble charity by which some of our beneyo-
lent citizens have sought to elevate and res
cue the waits and strays among our growing
youth, to win them to morality, duty and
thoughtfulness and fit them for the high re-
sponsibilities of American citizens,
Fourth. Another portion of the basement
ia occupied by the superintendent of parks
and his assistants and is almost indispsnsa-
BILE to the proper storage of tools and ma
terials TO enable the Green and other public
parks to be properly cared for. This saves
the city considerable amount in rent.
But two new and important uses are now
under discussion.
1. That of public library. The city has
the offer from some of its citizens of the be-
ginning and foundation of public library
not years hence when times are better but
now, tomorrow, today, to be at once placed
in this building in halls excelIently adapted
to it, and ready at once for large growth and
abundant usefulness. This is the true way
to begin library; to begin with books and
not with erecting costly building, which
has ruined and wrecked the hopes of many
disappointed community.
2. The Grand Army of the Republic de-
sires the use of the old Representatives hall.
What worthier use can there be for that
portion of the building than thisl AS the
Historical society are the conservators of our
history SO the Grand Army of the Republic
are the conservators of the national patri-
otism. 1t is to us in our generation what the
Society of tho Cincinnati was in the days of
Washington. Are we in these peaceful years
forgetting the terrible hours when these our
| friends and brethren, our delegates and re-
presentatives, went down into the imminent
| deadly breach of danger and death
| and saved our national existence, our
beautiful, peaceful homes, our grand imperial
Union of States, our rightful place
in the history of the worlda All these are
| their reward, their gift to U.S. We can never
repay them. Can you repay the man who
saves you from the horrors of shipwreck or
from burning building at the risk OF his
own life? No. But for our sakes as for
theirs we can help them to keep alive tne
| fires of patriotism on the affairs OF our coun-
| try and to hand down to other generations