Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-28
NORTH HAVEN ANNALS.

which is perhaps best expressed in it's con- titution: ''The object of this Association shall be, first, to procure the erection of Monument to the memory of all deceased soldiers and sailors or this town who served in the War Of the ReDei- lon. Second, to secure the proper observance as the peculiar rea ''tions we sustain toward each other"
 In accordance with the above the asso- citation appointed a' committee to appear before the annual town meeting in Octo- Der, 1885, to ask for an appropriation of one and one-half mills on the dollar. On the preceding grand list, as provided by statute, for the erection of soldiers monu- ments, etc., the committee met with handsome reception by the town meeting, and among other business the following vote was passed:
 "voted-That the sum of one and one-half mills on the dollar on the grand list of the town appropriated from the treasury of the town "toward the erection of a public monument in memory, &c, &c.," CD.
 Having received this encouragement the association felt itself specially called into action. The sum of $3, 900 was named as needed amount to be raised. Of this, nearly two thirds was to come from pri- vate subscription. It had long been known that the late Captain H. H. Stiles had de- vised $500 to assist in erecting a monu- ment whenever the time seemed ready. That time seemed to have arrived; the vet erans set about their work with alacrity, and the long dreamed of but long deferred tribute appeared near at hand. The fnan- cial responses were liberal and the amount was assured.
 The first mutterings of opposition to the movement manifested themselves into a pe- tition for special town meeting to repeal the appropriation. This meeting was held November 3, 1885, but failed to carry it's point. The reasons alleged were that 8 public building was needed and would better serve as memorial than gra5e monument. On this issue the commu&ty became divided. A portion of the local clergy unaccountably entered the lists, and ignoring the existence of the vet eran element antagonized the origi- nal plans. But one thought was made prominent and that was the necessity for town building. Under the spacious were appealed to, to reverse their previous
  by this logic. To their everlasting credit they desire it said, they remained true to the belief shat no building or pile of build ings under the whole heaven as fitly con- memorates and emphasizes the patriotism of the union soldier before the world, as the simple granite shaft surmounted by the well-known warrior figure.
 The winter passed in more or less agita- ton of the matter. The veterans pressed the canvass for funds and as it began to be seen that unless prompt steps were taken the spring would witness the beginning of the monument. Another special town meeting was petitioned for and held February 3, 1886. This gathering was largely attended and with the following results.
 served in the late war, and for the uses of the town, we, the legal voters and citizens of the 9f mo5 fbs f d6 6e hall hall, at a cost to the town not exceeding 1000 and that the sum of one and one-half mills on the dollar on the grand list as last completed be here by appropriated from the treasury of the towr towards the payment of the cost of said hall. over and above the aforesaid appropriation, % De defrayed by, five annual payments from the treasury of the town, unless the town shall oth Voted-That the vote passed at the meeting o October 5 1885, appropriating one and one hall mills on the grand list of the town for the cree tion of a soldiers monument, be rescinded Q)
 These resolutions were the death blow tt l the monument. The veterans did not vio lently assail the public building project | they were suddenly left in hopeless mi nority. It was felt they could better af | ford to wait the unerring verdict of tim than force bitter partisan fight on tn community. Public opinion influenced b. need rather than by patriotism, they rec | ognized as stubborn foe, and so retreat | ed, defeated and humiliated.
 At the meeting mentioned above. building committee were appointed to con | tract at once for the erectionof a publi hall. It was made up as follows. Romanta T. Linsley,
 Willis B. Hemingway, SSelectmen. Frederic E. Jacobs,
 Rev. W. T. Reynolds, Citizens. Isaac E. Mansfield,
 Solomon F. Linsley,
 Sheldon B. Thorpe, SEx-Solders. | Dr. Robert B. Goodyear
 Organization of this body was effected a once. A lot was purchased from thu | Cowles estate, plans for building adopt | ed and the ground broken May 10, 1886 It had been voted by the town the yea previous to celebrate the one hundredtl | anniversary of it's incorporation the nex October, and hence the appropriateness o1 l dedicating the new hall at the same time The contract for erection was awarded
 to Solomon r. Linsley. The work wa
 driven forward during the summer witt all possible speed, but as early as Octobe it was foreseen the building could not b. completed in season for the centennia
 ceremonies. Attention was then turned t
 finishing such portions of it as would b. l 1,,nct r,ooJa1 of hot 0ooooi0n A In
 concert to be given as the inauguration o the joyful occasion seemed to call especial l ly for hall privileges, and consequentl I the second floor was first completed. ! MEMORIAL HALL.
 The building is of brick manufacture | by I. L. Stiles & Son and is 43 feet iron
 by 75 feet deep. A projection of 12 fee in front, semi-circular in style and oarrie
 to the top of the structure, contains tw,
 winding staircases which meet in the yes tibule on the second floor. On the frs
 floor wide hall extends from the entranc | to the court room in the rear. On eithe
 side of this are located the various office
 of the town officials. On the right tn
 Bradley Library association has it's qua,
 ters, occupying one-fourth of the lowe
 1ioor. Directly opposite is first the tow
 clerks office and vault and then the select
 mems room A narrow passage connect
 the two apartments. The vault for rec
 ords is heavy piece of masonry built fror
 the foundation and provided with moder
 methods of protection from fire. For som
 reason it's real danger apparently lies in a 1 opposite direction, there not being suffcien
 ventilation to counteract the dampness c
 the heavy walls. So far this receptacl
 has been useless, it not being thought prr
 dent yet to lodge the heavy volumes of th
 land records therein. Beneath this vau
 are constructed two cells for the duranc
 of local criminals.
 The rear half of the building is devote
 to large apartment more definitely know
 as the ''court room"or the "grange room
 Here the Patrons of Husbandry have the
 headquarters. A side entrance admits nt
 only to the main floor, but to the bas
 ment and rear of stage in the hall abov,
 The entire arrangement of the buildin
 has been found very convenient under u
 test of practical use.
 The second floor furnishes one of u
 p1easantest halls found in country publ
 buildings. The entire area is made avail
 ble. The roof is finished to the peak an
 supported by huge trusses. The stage
 conveniently arranged and mounted vii
 suitable scenery. Settees of approve
 pattern offer seating accommodations, ar a light and commodious gallery is pr
 vided for the patrons of such places. TT
 inside finish is entirely of hard pine ar
 whitewood. The cost was not far fro
 5000.
 There is wide divergence of opinion