The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-04-03

side carrying the rounded form to nearly
two thirds it's dimensions. The deep
frieze between the circular windows Of
the third story and the cornice of the
dome have been reserved for special treat
ment. The massive square tower to the
right on the Main street front will con-
tain the entrance to the rooms devoted to
scientific and historical purposes. The
balance of the ground floor will con-
tain two large and spacious stores, one of
which has principal entrance directly
on the corner and side entrance toward
the rear of the building. From these
stores will be derived revenue sufficient
to pay the running expenses of the build
ing The material of which the building
is to be constructed will be red sand
stone, laid up in rock faced work for the
first story. Above the first story, the
ornamental belts, the clustered columns
with their capitals and bases, the Orna-
mental freZe referred to, the quoins and
arches will be composed of dark buff ter
ra Gotta modelled from special designs of
the architects. The historic frieZe, which
will contain figures of about half life
size, has been divided into five panels.
The first, with its group of Indians in the
foreground, a canoe, the warrior on
horseback, with shield and spear, will
represent Bridgeport during the year
1890 The next panel will show the ear
ly settlers retaining the virgin soil,
hunters returning from the forest, farm
ers ploughing the field and the dawning
life of civilization. This second panel
indicates the period of 1860. The third
and central panel will show Bridgeport
in the wear 1910, when schooners were
port and when whaling vessels could Oft
en- be seen in the harbor. The fourth
panel will represent Bridgeport during
the year 1861. Volunteers have answer
ed the call to arms and BridgepOrt's quo
ia of brave boys are assembled ready to
march to the scene of action. The hfth
and last panel will show Bridgeport in
1870 beginning her career of prosperous
manufacturing industry. In the dis
lance will be seen the Howe sewing ma
chine factories; in the foreground, the
harbor with its docks and trains pass
ing. The medallions between the panels
will each contain portraits of representa-
tive men of the various periods mention
ed. This frieZe is designed to be model
led in bold relief, so as to be easily DIS
tinguishable from the street and the most
skillful workers in terra Gotta in the
country will be employed to make it as
perfect work of art as possible. The
slanting portions of the roof, the cover
ing of the great dome and of the square
tower will be in red unglaZed tile. The
upper portion of the dome, also the up
per portion of the tower, will be covered
with copper. The eagle on the apex OF
the dome will be of copper, gilded with
gold leaf and will be six feet from tip to
tip of wings. The round tower looming
up in the background is designed for an
observatory. The spherical shaped roof,
with its slit or opening running over from
side to side, will be constructed of steel
covered with copper and will be made re-
volving. Special care will be used in
the construction of this astronomical
feature of the building. The main en-
trance will be fanked on either side by
two massive columns, deliberately carved,
as will also be the front of the arch
reaching as high as the line of the store
windows. The staircase hall will be fire
proof, will contain no plaster, but Will
have the walls lined with buff colored
pressed brick. The division wall between
the flights of stairs, reaching from floor
to floor, will be built of the same pressed
brick and will be perforated by arches
and ornamental terra Gotta columns.
With the exception of a room reserved
for the medical society and a somewhat
larger room for business purposes, the en-
tire floor space will be devoted to the ex-
hibits of the two societies, the dividing
line being an open screen of columns and
arches, allowing the public free acress to
any part of the floor. In the southeast
ern corner and directly under the observ
atory will be located large fire proof
vault for the storage of valuable relics
and curiosities. At the head of the stair
case on the third floor is a long, wide
hall or gallery lit by sky lights from
above, the floor of which can be largely
devoted to exhibits and the walls of
which can be adorned as picture gall
lery. In the east wing of the building
will also be large room which can be
devoted to exhibits and, in the great
dome, will be placed the auditorium for
lecture purposes. The size of this audi
forum can be immensely increased by
sliding doors, which, when thrown open,
will give the public direct view of the
speaker, either from the main hall or
from the eastern exhibition room, practi-
cally using the entire floor when needed
for special occasions. The building will
have the following inscription across the
front, ''The Barnum Institute of Science
and History" 1t will be heated by
steam and have all the latest modern i'm
provements in the way of sanitary plumb
ing. That the veteran Snowman does
nothing by halves is shown by the gift of
this magnificent building, which, like
his show, will be the best and will be
viewed by every one with admiration
A. S. NJ.
Thomas Lennon has been reelected
president of the Bridgeport Topographic
cal union.
The Bethesda mission have turned