Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-22
ARCHITECT SECURED.
New City Building for Water
vile Is Now Assured.
Architect George G. Adams of Law
renee, Mass, Will Make the Plans.
The Building Commission Empowered to Go
Ahead With the Work.

Watervile, July 2l.-tSpeciaD. Monday
evening a special melting of the city
council was held for the purpose of hear
| ing the report of the new CITY building
commission and to act upon the commit
| tees suggestions relative to the WAYS and
means of the building. The council met
| in separtc boards at 1.45 o'clock.
In the board of aldermen. Mr. Ransted
| offered an order calling for a Joint con-
vention of both boards. which was passed
| and sent down to the council chamber
| and passed in concurrence
| In joint convention. Mayor Webb pre-
sided. and he stated that the meeting
| mad been called at the Request of the CITY
| building commission as the time had now
arrived when some definite action should
| be taken by the city. council in the way of
| authorizing the commission to act fur
| Their in the matter of building a municipal
| Quilting. III was now necessary to make
| contract with the architect who would
| make the plans and TO instruct the com
mission regarding the disposition of the
Ola buildings now occupying the City hall
| lot.
| Mayor Webb said the commission had
| investigated the matter of the extension
/ OF the city's credit and had ascertained
| that the city had vet S24 600 Ieeway he
| fore reaching the limit set by the law or
the per cent. limit. In the contract for
| the architect. the fee of } per cent has
been usual. but the mayor thought that Il
| llttle better figure than that might be
| made by the commission. 1t would re-
| qulfe ABOUT to complete the working
plans and prepare for the contractor who
snail construct the building. Much could
| be done 10 advance the work by the city
| gong ahead at once and moving the old
| buildings and uncoTering the ledge in
preparation for the removing of the
| same.
The mayor read the report of the do
| iies OF me commission to date, which
| had succeeded through Alderman Lin
coin in securing the Proctor property
| next north of the City hall lot on Front
| same at the stipulated price of $500 The
floor OF the hall is recommended to be
an adjustable one, raised and lower by a
ohe-horse power water or electric motor.
requiring about two and a half hours
| time and the services of a ianitor. The
old buildings should be moved at once ana
the city should remove the earth over the
ledge.
The commission recommends George c.
Adams of Lawrence, Mass. as Il com
tent architect. to furnish the building. to
sell at auction the cid buildings, to hire
some hall for public purposes. to move
the right of way" to the north side of
the Proctor lot and to arrange for all
the building.
Architect Adams was introduced by
Mayor Webb. Mr.. Adams had with him
elevations in coors also plans of the
three floors which he had made to sub
nit to the commission. These plans. like
an other first plans submitted by archi-
tects We're the productions of the archi-
teCt own ideas and not the plan of the
building as it will be when completed
The commission suggest many changes
that would render the plans submitted as
only general and only conveying n slight
idea of the municipal building will be
when completed.
The plan of the Common and Front
street elevations is unfinished en-
trance on the Front street side being
visible, and the proposed basement en-
frances under the STEPS of the main en-
trance on Common street are also omitted
The first floor vii contain continuous
corridor running east and west. with en-
frances on Front street and the driveway
on the west If the right of way is
moved to the north of the Proctor lot
and an additional six feet is to be made %
of the building. This will be added to the
corridors and not to the rooms ana max
ing the columns stand in the center of
the corridor when according to the pres
ent plans they do ont
Mr.. Adams detailed to the council the
location of the different city departments
in the building. mentioning the change
to be made in the basement AT the sug-
gestion OF the commission. The plan of |
the basement floor will be almost en-
tirely changed from that exhibited, Mon |
day night.
In place of the city prison being on the
south side of the basement as displayed
by the plans published it is proposed to |
move that department to the west end |
next to the west driveway making the
entrance to that part easier and of |
course more desirable Then ii is pro-
posed to bring the liquor agency out to |
the place laid out formerly for the city |
prison.
In the basement will be located the de-
partments above mentioned. the city |
marshaIs office, city engineer, street
commissioner. iantor's room. boiler room
rooms for militia officers and drill hall |
Tor the militia company. aSX6S feet. The
entrance to the armory is from Front
street.
The first floor from the street has an
approach by a 17-foot stairway, with J
i4-1oot entrance at either end of the
main corridor. On this floor are situated
the offices of the mayor. treasurer. col
lector city clerk. board of education and
of schools.
In the rear of those Just mentioned are
the chambers for the aldermen and com
mon council, with capacious committee
rooms for each. The two chambers are
each 32N34 feet in size. The two cham
berS may be made into one large room
for joint conventions by means Of rising
doors. and the members may remain in
their seats.
A stairway nine fet wide leads to the
hall auditorium on the third floor The
floor of the hall is 5ox67 outside the or
c aae !rho rail The seating capacity is
boxes at either end of the stage The
stage will be 40 feet deep. SO feet between
points. The greenroom and dressing room
Will be under the stage. The incines of
the floor when raised will be about four
feet in the distance from the stage to the
On this same floor in the front and on
the right and left will be located the
public library. on the east judges room.
clerk of courts office. attorneys room.
and a large court room suitable for SEES
sons of the superior court.
The roof. instead of being as now
shown by the present. plans. will be
broken by dormer windows. There will
be several sem-balcony projections on
the Front street elevation. The building,
when completed will look vastly different :
from the plans displayed.
The material for the building will be
gray brick for the first story buff brick
for the remainder Of the walls. with i
trimmings of brown stone, limestone and
iron. The roof will be slated. "A tower
will rise over the Common street entrance s
and contain an illuminated clock with a |
fire alarm attachment ,
At the conclusion of Mr. Adams de-
scription of the proposed building the
convention dissolved. In board of mayor :
and aldermen it was ordered that the
mayor and treasurer he authorized to me-
gotiate a loan of $500 for one year at )
for has !