The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-11
BEETHOVEN HALL.
Another Old Landmark to Give Way
to Progress.

to Progress.
Some Reminiscences of the OIden Days
The Early Home of the Odd Fellows
and Good Templars.
With the erection of the new block on
Congress st. by the Brown estate, to be
occupied by Hooper. Son & leighton,
there will go out of existence another
of the old historical buildings of Port
land known as Beethoven hall.
AS near as can be ascertained from
some of Portland's oldest citizens the
building was erected by Noah Harding
in the early part of the century.
M. Harding was a Portland trader.
who accumulated large property,
much of it in real estate. Hon. William
W.Thomas remembers that dancing
school was held in the hall, as far back
Mr.. Samuel Waterhouse has similar
recollection. For many years it was
used for this purpose, the stores un-
derneath changing tenants from time to
time. Hon. Marquis f King has memo
randa that later it was used for tt me
for museum of stuffed animals.
In 1910, at the time of the great Miller
lite excitement, the hall was used for the
Millerite meetings. One of our Oldest
citizens remembers that at one of these
meetings there was speaker came from
HalIowell known as the Roaring Earth
ouake,n He was really a man of edu-
cation and Of no mean ability. An old
lady who. sat by the door in her excite
ment rose and said she "saw the Messiah
coming in through the keyhole." Not
a doubt of it," sung out the Rowing
Earthquake, "he was seen nine days
ago coming across Cape Cod on snow
Shoes
The Beethoven Musical Society used
the hall for long time both under that
name and as the Sacred Music Society.
An auecdote is related that one of the
leading female singers had many admir-
ers. One night one of them said lin re-
ply to remark laughingly made by
her that she wished she had a carriage
to take her home), well, next meeting
I'll give you ride home if you'll ride
with me-" "Done" she replied. When
the time came the gentleman secured a
handoart, put on drivers striped frock,
hid the handcart behind tree in front
of the hall, and awaited Developments.
The rehearsal over, out came the lady
surrounded by friends. II thought he
wouldn't keep his PROMISE" she said.
HE promised to give me ride home,
and he hasn't kept his word" Yes, he
has, said the gentleman, stepping from
behind the tree and placing the hand
cart before her; will you ride" I will"
she said, with merry laugh, and sat
down on the body of the cart. The
gentleman lifted the thills and started.
Where the United States now stands
stood the Cumberland House, and a
group of bloods" were standing in front
of it, Not wishing to hear their jeers
the gentleman started OH the dead run
down Middle ST., the lady bouncing up
and down IN the cart and shaking with
laughter. Down the street they went
at sprinter's pace until they reached
the lady's home ON Waite St.-the con-
tinuation of Middle St.-while the gentle
man proceeded to his home on Hancock
ST., the mouse where Longfellow was
born. A short time ago the gentleman
met the lady (who had become the wife
Of one of our most prominent citizens.
and their paths in life had somewhat
diverged) and said to her "Do you re-
member the handcar5 ride from old
Beethoven hall years ago.. Her face
lighted up with the old smile as she re-
piled, at is one of my pleasantest recol-
lectons."
After the Order of Odd Fellows start
ed their lodge MEETINGS were held in
Beethoven hall. From thence the Order
moved to Union St., still later to Rossini
hail, SO called, on Exchange ST., and
later still to their present quarters in
harrington block. For quite a. while
the hall was used by the Good Templars.
In times after the Good Templars left
Walter Brown, the celebrated oarsman.
had saloon here, and when the room
was fixed up for photograph gallery
all kinds of queer contrivances were
Io"Hu un"ei iyihS 'ho HoorlnS dhu a
tremendous quantity of corks. For a
number of years past Hon. NJ. f. King
has used the hall for his Photographic
gallery.
In regard to the two stores underneath
at least one Of them has been used (be-
fore they were occupied by Ira F. Clark
& Go. and Fessenden's news stand J AS
provision store. The late A.P. Morgan
for years occupied one, and Deacon
Drake, who lived for years on the