Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-06
NBW OPERA HOUSE
10 bs Erected Soon At The
Soldiers Home, 1eeus.
Gardiner Architects Plans adopted
-'-Buldjg 10 be 4 Handsom. Ono.
Charles sanford of Dexter, ~ Terribly
Burned saturday. Died Sunday.
Especial to the KgsxEREc Jouxs.I.

Especial to the KEssEBEc JoURsAL.l
PORTLAND, Oct. 5.-Gen. Luthe, Ste
phenson, Jr., Go o5ernor Of the eastern
branch Of the National Home, was in the
city yesterday in consultation with Gen.
Francis Fssenden, the local manager,
relative to the designs for the new SIS 600
opera house which the national board Of
managers has decided to erect at Togus
Nearly all Of the leading architects of the
State presented designs and there were
some handsome ones in the lot. By the
decision Of The gentlemen present the plan.
of Mr.. + Lewis Of Gardiner were
accepted. rhe Journal representatives.
secures the following b.ief description of
the building ss shown By Mr.. Lesiss
drawings. The extreme dimensions Of the
building are ll5xl04 feet. The buildir
IS entered b. main entrance II
feet wide aad within a fe~ inches
Of the leyel Of the approaching side
walk, ard By q large entrance on each
eide Of the builling. These entrances open
into corridor or lobby, seven feet
vide and running entirely around
the main auditorium with which il
cInnects by seven large exits, two in
each side lobby and three il the main vesti
bule. At each side Of the main entrance
and on level with the vestibule Il ,or are
toilet and waiting rooms, one for ladies and
he other for gentlemen, each l6xl2 feet n
dimensions and Of triangular shape. Pass
ing down two six inch steps the orchestra
chairs are reached This part Of the room
graded from the rear to the front and |
contains 5o4 orchestra seats. Outside Of
his is a graded orchestra circle. con
tanning 276 seats, each row Of seats beir !
one foot higher than those in front. The |
arrangement ss roomy and sill compact as
he most remote sea. IN the entire house is
guly 50 f. Il from the front of the stage. |
The orchestra pit is aunk one foot below
the orchestra floor. Ga each side Of the /
main entrance are broad flights Of stairs
leading to the gallery which is graded simi-
isr TO the orc lestrA circle and seats 372
This completes grand total seating ca
pscity Of ll52. This is by no means the
capacity of the building however, as there
IS standing room in the rear of the orchestrs
circle and the gallery sUft ;ient to accom-
modste 800 more, masking total
amount nesriy equal to the present populs-
ton Of the camp. Around the entire gal
lery is a cOtIitor six feet vide connecting
with the gallery by six exits. In the front
end Of the gallery are five rooms of good
,lZe which can be used as sleeping rooms
for the members of the troupe or for other
purposes. IL is in the siZ5 Of the stage and
It's "a lipments, however, that the building
will * el. There are only two stages in
.ae Uurled States that viii surpsss it in
width, one at The Boston Theatre, four feet
wider and one at the Opera house in Phils-
leiphis which is seven feet wider. The
'tsge Of the rev opera hOu,e will be S3
4 ct wide and 80 feet deep. The pro.cen-
um opening viii be 33 feet wide by 20 6
'eet high. Ths height from the orchestra
Dor to the ceiling is Sc feet, that from the
tage 4 ior 70 the H. gallery POI feet and
he height from the stage # ,or TO the grid {
ron 40 feet On the right hand sids Of I
he sisKe is the band room, Is 2I22 feet, ,
he stage entrance ard two dressing rooms :
IN level wi h the stage floor, each 9xi2 |
eet il dime tensions. On the opposite de =
# the stage sthe green room l2 l-2xl5 2 +
seg in dimen,i1rs. star dressing room 9i9 !
set, twO other dressing rooms, 9xl2 fee ,
md lsdies toilet. AT either end i
4 the stage are property rooms, each 8 t
eet square. On each side of the stag /
heIe sTe stsirwsJs leading to f)ors on a q
evel with the gallery floors with which r
hey sre conn cted by Corridors. sI29 feet, /
L 4 which Can be used ss exits in case of I
metgency On these floors are two dress c
ns rooms. 9xl31 and 9x29 on esch side. {
They are COM &c ed BY walk in the rear [
I the sage A big door feet vide and T
6 feet high on the Iighi of the stage admits I
I the Introduction of the baggage and t
cenery. This completes the stage srrsDge I
nent which Is as good as any in the coun-
ry. At the stage sre two big yentilator 1
hafts. THE rsriitiors between the sud-
orup4 sid corridors are hollow to the
oof, where they open. In these at inter
ais veutlsiiag registers will be placed ,
ear The floor of b tn the auditorium snd
slery. These with big ventiIstor in the r
entire of the ceiling will carry all the i'm d
ure air into The roof where it is taken ou I
trough the large ventilators. The system
4 ventilation is similar to that now in use
n the Bangor opers house and is one
f the best. The building will be +
eated entirely by indirect steam
upplied from boiler house, l51 by 81
eet in dimensions, directly in the rear
here will be basement under she entire
and under the stage the necessary
machinery to work the traps and other
Ccess II, $ to q first clss, theatre. The |
ront elev alton is = hsndso ne piece of work
! the old colonial style Of architecture.
he entrance is .urmounted by q semi
irculsr panel in bsss-relef 12 feet in {
ianeter and emblemstic of Victory. On
itber side are t0rers. and entire effect is =
Iost excellent. The designi1g architect,
fr. Lewis, has planned jdst the building
nat was nt eded. sad is to be congratulated
n the excellent Judgment ard good taste
f which the desisus are witnesses. itwili I
2 placed north of the road leading to the
ii lersi spriBg house, and will be hand
ONE addition 10 the fine bulldogs which
onstiiute the Home.