The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-30
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
The Famous Old Building to Be
Reconstructed.

But here is an interesting fact. One
of the investigators found the old stone
steps that were trod by the greatest
Americans doing humble duty as a
hcarthstonc in Chickies Pa. They have
been there 30 years. and their restora-
ton TO greatness reads like a fairy tale
In searching for material two antique
lamps. with glass sides and wrought
iron tops, were also found. Six OF these
were won't to hang between tho win
dows and doors Of the Chestnut street
side of the statehouse ON days of great
popular rejoicing. -Four others win be
modelled from the original pair and all
swung together.
Few changes will be made I'm the
tower staircase. A restoration will be
effected of the ceiling and holdings to
their original style and color. The
square tagging OF the main hall on the
first floor will be replaced by tiles sim
liar TO those in the closet under The
tower staircase.
The portraits that hang I'm the cham
ber OF the Declaration will all be re-
moved To the eastern wing building.
Two doors that once opened through
the east wall of this historic room will
be reopened. They have been closed
and boarded over for years. The old
hreplaces on each side of the presi-
! dents dais yet remain, though bricked
in and walled over. These will he re-
stored with great care. The tile floor
ing will be removed and replaced with
broad boards of that period.
The supreme court room or west
/ chamber of the first floor Of the state
| house will be cleared OF all deposits i'm
| the National museum. and these relies
will be transferred To the west wing
building. Originally this chamber was
separated from the entrance hall by an
| open colonnade. and this Will he repro
duced The doorways that once opened
| out from this room on the northeast
! and southwest will be restored The
! freplaces in the west wall are now be-
! Iieved TO have been inserted at a date
subsequent to the period OF first con-
struction.
The original wing buildings were con-
nected with the state house by inter-
vening arcades. The alterations made
! i'm this century left indications OF the
| original style of construction. and the
wings will be recast into their original
| form and semblance by lowering the
roofs and the insertion of windows
! like those i'm the statehouse. The divi-
I
| same as i'm the original construction.
The new arcades will be rooted in
| slate. with steel ceilings. The arcades
I covered staircases. leading to the sec
ond stories OF the wing buildings. and
| these will be reproduced. Fireplaces
| will be restored TO the wing buildings.
I with wooden mantels and tiled floors.
Ceilings will be painted gray and their
walls a colonial buff. Through the
arches of the arcades an attractive
view of the square. or statehouse yard,
will be visible.
In the hall of representatives seats
| for ia members viii be arranged i'm
three successive tiers, In semicrcular
form. The old spectators gallery on the
north side will be restored.
Ii is easy TO class now what Is going
to be done this fall by the people at
work on the statehouse row. But stop
and think of the preparatory effort
gone through 1t was no easy matter
to return To colonial conditions exact
ly Nearly a century and "a quarter can
eliminate all traces from points and
memory of building. and the fine sue
cess of those who thought ii out is an
index which points to tremendous work.
Two years ago city councils declared.
through Dfodd persuasion OF MI. hey-
ser that the building commission would
not have the power To destroy any of
the buildings i'm State Housesrow. and
that restoration To the architectural
conditions of 1776 should receive atten-
tion. Committees on city property were
instructed to see what steps were nee
essary to bring about such a restora-
ton. Mr.. Warwick asked Mr.. Keyser
TO prepare a statement of the measures
which. in his judgment. were necessary
to this step.
Then came the work. The best anti
quaries Of the country knew the task
was one of unllagging labor, but one