The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-10
PRICELESS VALUE,
Treasures Rich and
Rare in Antiquarian
Building.
MANY FIRST EDITIONS THERE.
Students of History Find
Invaluable Aid in
the Volumes.
MANY FIRST EDITIONS THERE.

The building of the American An
tiuuarian Society, while not old enough
10 be called historic in itself, contains
treasures Of manuscripts and rare
books that are of priceless value,
Priceless because they could not be
replaced, and among the extensive col
lection are first editions that make the
eyes of the antiquarian glisten with
delight. The interior of the red brick
building that stands on the corner of
Main and Highland streets is familiar
to all Worcester people, and needs no
description.
When once inside the heavy doors,
one is suddenly transported from the
outside world into region OF the past
The very air is laden with that sug-
gestive musty smell that is as the
lover of first editions A quiet calm
pervades the building and there is
nothing to disturb the student in MS
researches and Investigations.
When one surveys the immense col
lection of the relics of antiquity, the
thought at once comes to him, what a
loss to the community and to the an
tiquarian world at large it would pc
IL the building should get on f1re ana
burn down with it's precious contents.
That is a subject that has invited the
greatest care on the part of the guar
dams of the building. From the early
history Of the society down to the pres
ent time, the possibility of fire has been
carefully considered. For long time
there was neither heat or lighting APP
paratus in the building, the warming
being done by means of pipes from the
old court house. There was no light
Of any kind allowed and that neces-
STATED the rooms being closed at an
early hour in the winter months.
Now there is a furnace in the build
ing, but it is watched with eXtraordi-
nary care. Gas is also used in the
halls and departments, but all the at
tendants realize what any carelessness
would mean, and govern themselves
accordingly. No smoking, of course, is
allowed on the premises, and all of the
employees are careful and watchful
from the time of opening until the
doors are locked up for the night. A
Waterman makes the rounds late in
the evening and 1t is his duty to see
that everything is all right. Scattered
through the building are all the various
kinds of fire appliances that would be
amply sufficient to put out any blaze
in it incipiency. The building is not
fire proof in the sense of being con-
structed entirely of -combustible
materials. The wooden floors and wood
work are infiamable, but the idea Is not
to have any fire get started. A great
protection to the building is the fact
that no other buildings are near to it
except the new court house, and that
structure is to be considered practically
fire proof. It's llWltien is favorable,
having but one side exposed to any
other edifice. Some of the most val
liable of the books and manuscripts are
kept in large safe and these would be
preserved even if the building took fire.
Edmund Nj. Barton. whose name has
been associated with that of the Ameri-
can Society of Antiquity for many
years, has no fear of fire. He believes
that all possible precautions against
fire are taken. There is nothing to fear
from the carelessness of any of the
persons connected with the society, and
the admirable system of fire hose and
fire buckets would be ample to ex-
tiuguish slight blaze. There is little
doubt that If by any possibility fire
should start, there are always attend
ants about the halls and offices to pre-
vent the blaze becoming serious.
Mr. Barton is one of the most enter
tanning of takers when he can be in
duced to converse on his favorite sub
jects of history and various ancient
records relative to the early times of
the Massachusetts colony. He takes
a just pride in the treasures of the So
cietY over which he has kept guard for
marly years. He loves the associations
and memories connected with the care