The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-08
FIFTH MAINE BUILDING.
Improvements in the Hsndsome House
at Peaks Island.

Members of the Fifth Maine Rsei-
mental Association will be interested In
the latest improvement upon their beauti-
full Memorial building at Peaks island.
Tho structure was built several years ago,
bat now Is museum OF the Civil war,
and up 20 last fall had no suitable dining
room. A small room, OF the great hall
In the centre Of the remarkable building,
was used as a dining room BY small
parties who went there. and the great
hall itself, resembling nothing SO much
as baronial hall OF old, was used to seat
and feed the regimental gatherings when
all the members were there
This spoiled, In q sense, the beauty oil
the room, and took away its fascination
for the curious who delighted to go there
and see the curiosities picked up from the
battlenelds OF the South. Baked beams
and exploded cannon shells do not har-
monize any better than the fragrance Of
coffee doe. with the battle SCARED weapons
that have let gallons Of blue southern
blood. And 80 n dining room was de-
clared necessary, and General Manning
and Corporal Thomas Ward Of Lewiston,
were asked to get their heads together
and devise one.
On the farther side, next to the open
sea, the bui ding stood up ten or fourteen
feet upon posts, and these posts were sur.
rounded on the outside by piazza, and
wicker work Of Stats Hero then was the
only feasible place for the new dining
room. And here the work OF building
was begun. The wicker work was taken
out, and the posts changed over and the
dining room built under the piazza, and
the south end OF the building. All that
can be seen from the piazza can he seen
from the new dining room below The
south side of Il is dllsd with glass win.
dows, and the SON beats into them In
way to warm the bones of the veterans,
and make glad their hearts.
| In the rear Of the dining room is a large
kitchen which Is a pleasure 20 any cook,
because of its good ventilation, and It's
lsngth and breadth 1t has stove, a
large cooking table. and other con-
yenieuces. Tbs new dining room will
accommodate seventy -four people, and
N ore on a squeeze. The old dining room
Is to be made into "a sleeping room and
General Manning has sent two beds and
other furnishings for it. They are eleg ant
| tip beds. so that in the day time they can
| be set up against the wall, and used for
| day furniture.
| The old kitchen was also turned into a
| bedroom. The dining room is S6x20 feet
and S l-9 feet clear in height, while the
new kitchen is l7x22 and is also high and
roomy. There are six large windows In
the dining room, and into these shine the
sun all day long, 30 that next summer
when the veterans dine, or when they eat
their supper, they will have the sun all
the time. Good curtains are hung in the
windows
In the basement is also the ladies' toilet
room. and other conveniences. on the
dining room Is u bedroom i0xl0 feet
| which is large enough for two of the
brethren In times OF IA crowd.
And the total cost OF these things to the
association has bsen but S45o MIR. Ward
| has paid out 1912 As About 800 is still
needed to completes the payment.