Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-10
WASHINGTON HALL
An Ornament to Omaha and a Credit
TO Danish Citizcns.

TO Dan1Sn OtttZcns.
Washington hall, the new structure just
built for the Danish society, was opened last
evening with fitting ceremonies. Over five
hundred persons were in attendance in holl
day attire and the event was in every way
a brilliant one and in perfect keeping with
the dedication of such magnificent struct
urc. II is without doubt the finest hall In
the city and is elegant to the minutest de
tall. The building is located on Eighteenth
street near Harney, is four stories high, and
has been in course of erection over n year.
Four years ago the lot on which it stands
was bought for 81, 500 and little over year
ago the north half of it was sold for $50, 900,
giving the association a snug little sum
toward a building fund Twenty thousand
dollars more was subscribed and the re-
suit is the present structure, the pride
of every Danish citizen, and an
ornament to the city. The founders wished
to show their allegiance to their adopted
country and could not have done so more
gracefully than by giving their new hall the
name borne by the father of that country
Washington.
On the second floor of the building are the
dining hall and the rooms in which the asso-
citation will hold its meetings. On the third
floor is the hall proper. 1t has a large and
beautiful stage and possesses every con-
venience. On three sides is handsome
balcony with a bronze railing. From the
center of the ceiling is suspended the hand
soonest chandelier in the city. The floor is
admirably adapted for dancing. Last even
ing the hall was beautifully decorated, huge
festoons of evergreens swung from the
center of the ceiling to the balcony. From
the lower part of the balcony were
hung festoons of red, white and
blue tissue paper, beautifully intertwined.
The stage was bower of tropical plants,
while the background was ornamented with
the American and Danish banners. The lat
ter were also suspended from the walls at
intervals. Over the stage was the illumi.
mated motto, "Enlghed Gi0r Stark," Union
Gives Strength).
The building and society committees were
given seats on the stage, and the formalities
of delivering the hall to the association were
gone through with Mr.. William Neve,
for that body, and j. Chf'stopherson, presi-
dent of the society, receivedsit, and baptized
1t by throwing glass of wine on the floor.
Speeches followed by Mr.. Olson, the Danish
consul, and Mr. II. Schouboe.
The presentation of magnificent banner
to the society. by ladies followed
girls attired in white With red saches
attending Mrs. Theilgaard who made the
presentation speech. MIR. p. Sorenson Boren
ing speeches which were loudly applauded as
were indeed all the efforts made. At inter
walls Prof. Hoffman's orchestra dlscoursed
the sweetest of music and the entire company
SANG DaulSu songs. AlteT tue speeches 1Ol-
lowing the banner presentation the grand
march to supper was made and the great
company filed down stairs to the banquet
hall which was splendidly decorated for the
purpose Wine flowed like water, there be-
ing quart bottle to each couple. After n
brief speech of welcome by Mr.. Neve, the
company fell to and the merrlest Of times
At the close, toasts were responded to by
the president H. Schoube, Consul Olsen,
John Christopherson and H. Theilgaard. The
company then returned to the hall above
where seventeen numbers were danced.