The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-20
COURT At ALFRED.
Held This Spring in a Fine Re.
modelled Building.
HOW THE LAWYERS GATHER IN
THE OLD SHIRE TOWN.

Many Come by Team as in the Old Cir
cult Days-The Beginning of the Term
| Resembles Family Reunion DE
scription of the New County Building 9
| The Organization of the Court-short
| Session in Prospect.
| ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Alfred, Me-, May 19.-Sinoa 1907, the
old court house in this the shire town Of
the ancient county of York, has stood
overlooking the comfortable houses which
line the streets of the beautiful village of
Alfred. Many men whose legal attain
ments have won for them fame which has
reached far bey ond the con-
fines of county and state have
argued cases here and the court
room has rung with their eloquence.
| So when at the last session of the legisla-
| ture determined effort was made to have
the county seat changed to Biddsfor,l or
! Saoo, it was matter Of patriotism or
| local pride as we'll as self interest with
the people Of this section of the town to
see that it was not deprived ofIits ancient
distinction. They rallied in suoh num-
bers and made such gallant fight, that
the old building sitting in it's grove of
trees by the village streets, is still the
county building and Alfred is still the
county town. But the structure did not
meet the needs of these days. 1t was
without modern conveniences, it was
too small to properly accommo-
date the courts and many of its rooms
| were inconveniently arranged. To remedy
these defects the county authorities set
vigorously to work and to such good pur-
pose that the shades of departed legal
luminaries, could they return to hold
ghostly mock session here, would scarce
recognize the old temple of justice in its
new garb. The exterior has
not been greatly changed except by an
addition 40 by 26 feet with gable roof to
make room for some of the interior alter
ations. The building is wooden struc-
ture with two brick wings made fire
proof to the better preserve the FAMOUS or
deeds and the ancient court records. Be-
yond a general finishing up, the
| changes in these wings have not been ex-
tensive but the interior OF the main build
ing has been SO alUered that little of 1t is
accordance with plans furnished by Mr..
g. Fl. Fassett, the Portland architect,
and under the supervision of the county
commissioners. NJ essrs. Andrews, Ham
SOON and Purington, and the architect.
The building is now one Of the best ap-
pointed and most commodious county
buildings in the state. Opening on the
broad corridor, which extends from front
to rear of the main building, are on the
right, grand jury room, 10 by "a feet,
coat room, county attorneys room and
ladies' room. On the other side of the
| corridor are rooms for the sheriff and
witnesses, and the office Of the county
commissioners. All these rooms are
large and well lighted. Three. staircases
give a5cess to the upper story. One in
the corridor OF the main building, to the
judges and lawyers rooms, the law
library and the private entrances to the
| court room. The others in the wings
W
of the court room set apart for the use of
the public. The court room occupies all
| the front of the building, having been
enlarged by the removal Of an old stair
| way. 1t Is a handsome room, frescoed in
excellent taste and covered by steel CELL
ing. The judges chair is in a wainsootted
| above, one Of the panels of which is in
| the form of door, so that the judge may
| enter the room behind his desk. The
court room is 40 by so feet and is lighted
by eight large windows and glazed door
opening upon the portico at the front of
the building. At the rear Of the court
room are the rooms for the judge, the at
torneys and the library, the library room
being arranged in lhree alooves, enlarg-
ing the area for shelving and making the
apartment one of pleasing appearance.
Besides thess, there is jury room open
ing from the court room. The interior
woodwork of the building is in white
finished and the decorations are in good
taste and well executed. The furniture
is in keeping with the buildings. The
building is equipped with plumbing of
the latest design and is we'll supplied
with closets and lavatories To make this
possible, it was necessary to drive q we'll
near the building. Water from this well
is pumped by wind mill into a large
tank in the upper story. 1t was also
necessary to construct one thousand feet
of sewer. The building is heated by
steam.
The people of the old shire town and the
rest OF the county now have building to
which they may point with pardonable
pride as second to none of its kind in this
state. The building was originally built
in 1907 and remodelled in 1862. In max
ing these latest ohsnges, the Joiner work
was done by Robert L. Webber of Leba-
| non; the masonry by W. !. Philpot of
Sanford; plumbing, including ten water
closets, ten lavatories and the steam heat
ing system by G. S. Ham Of Biddeford;
inside painting by Selden F. Gibson of
Biddeford outside painting by Fred o.