The Portland daily press., 1889-04-04
]. Knowlton
THE sPiRE SAID TO BE UNSAFE.
Hearing in Regard to the Congress
Square Church Tower.

and Aldermen granted hearing to all par
ties interested in the petition Of Mr.. Joseph
Walker, who asked that the board give no
tice Of hearing in regard to the tower and
spire Of the Congress square church, which
the petitioner deems to be in an unsafe con-
dition, and threatening his person and prop
erty with imminent danger. Moreover, Mr.
Walker petitioned the honorable body to
take such immediate action in the matter as
they deemed it required With the excep-
tion of Aldermen Shaw and Rand the full
board was In attendance. Mayor Melcher
briefly presented the case to the board. City
Clerk Burgess read the petition ana the or
der in accordance with which the hearing
was granted, and then NJ. p. Frank, Esq, in
behalf of the Congress square church parish
presented his side of the case. He said that
the church society which he represented, and
which consisted of large number of re-
spectacle citizens of Portland was accused
of maintaining nuisance. Indirectly such
an accusation reflected upon members Of the
society, which, it would be admitted, are re-
spectacle people. 1t was not the disposi-
tion or the purpose Of any member of the
Congress square parish to maintain nuis-
ance or in any way to endanger anybody's
person or property. Mr.. Frank stated that
the petitioner was opposed to the erection of
the church in the beginning, and since it
was erected there had been some feeling
The society has, at times, been forbidden to
erect a stage over the petitioners premises.
to repair the church, and at one time he re-
fused to allow the society to erect stage
over his property to make repairs to the
tower. The tower, said Mr.. Frank is not
threatening immediate danger, and can be
strengthened so as to be absolutely safe. At
a recent meeting the parish voted to make
the very repairs suggested by the committee
who examined the tower and decided it to be
in an unsafe condition.
The tower was designed by a reliable ar
chitect, Mr.. Geo. NJ. Harding. and no inn
mediate danger need be apprehended. Mr..
Frank asked that the hearing be continued
and said that repairs satisfactory to the in
spector of buildings would be made. He
thought the board should not allow the First
Universalist Society to be advertised as
maintaining nuisance.
Hon. Joseph w. Symonds appeared for Mr..
Walker. He said he had no intention of
throwing any discredit upon anybody, and
that he would c0nfine himself to the question
before the board. Mr.. Joseph Walker said
MIR. Symonds represents that he believes the
tower If the First Universalist Church to be
house next to the church, and that the spire
threatens him with imminent danger. The
petitioner had come to ask the i'm
mediate action of the board in
the matter. II there has been any old quar-
rel, that is all past. We are here to consider
whether the tower is or Is not dangerous.
Mr.. Symonds read the opinion of the in-
spect0r OF buildings, of Mr.. Redlon, who
stated that the tower is unsafe, and Of Mr..
Fassett, the architect, and Mr.. Sylvester, the
builder, that the tower, will soon need ex-
tensive repairs to make IL safe. He asked
that the petitioner be heard without delay,
and said that he was prepared with experts
to show the condition Of the tower He
said there was no reason why a structure
like that should be continued for an hour.
Let the society keep 1t perfect and the mo-
ment 1t isn't perfect take it down.
Mr.. Frank-We will begin work on the
tower tomorrow. All we want Is permis-
sion 60 commence this work.
Mayor Melcher-It is to be regretted that
this matter was brought before this board in
such public manner. 1t should have been
settled outside. 1t is now for the board to
decide whether the hearing shall or shall not
be continued.
Mr.. Trefethen OF the parish committee
We will make whatever repairs are neces-
sary and will maka them satisfactory to the
leading architects, Messrs. Fassett and
TOmpson and Messrs. Stevens and Cobb.
Whatever these gentlemen say is necessary
to repair the tower we are willing to do. We
want to make the tower and splre perfectly
safe.
Alderman Thompson introduced the fol-
lowing order which was passed by a vote of
four to one, Alderman Hobbs voting in the
negative:
Ordered That the hearing be continued cne
week upon the assurance that the members Of
the parish of the First Universalist church society
take immediate steps to secure or remove the
spire of the church.
The hearing then closed. An order was
passed that notice be served upon the parish
committee of hearing to be held April 10,
at p. In.
The board received an invitation to be
present at the competition drill of the Port
land Light Infantry and Montgomery
Guards, and on motion of Alderman Hobbs
the invitation was accepted and thanks re.
turned.
The board then adjourned.