The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-11
HIGH STEEPLES
OF RICHMOND
St. Pau|'s, With an Eminence of ZIP
Feet, is the Highest.
The CITY HALL TOWER.
Magnificent View From the Porchcs
Oh Top-iIigh Stecplcs, Being Very
Dangerous, Are no Longer
Built in this City.
npTscplSf

Eleven hundred and forty-one. This is
approximately the combined height of the
six highest steeples in Richmond. This
is about the height of the great l1iitcl
tower at Paris and slightly over twice
the height OF the Washington monument
at Washington.
Richmond certainly cannot make pre-
tensions on the height of her buildings
or her steeples even, Tor many Northern
buildings without superstructures nearly
attain the height OF our highest steeple.
But 2I2 feet is Of no mean height and one
at least has no immediate reason to wish
for higher. When one slances at the
City Hall tower and considers that Mount
Rogers is about thirty times higher than
The tower. one can appreciate the gran
deur of nature.
SPIRE OF ST. IAuLS.
The spire Of ST. Pauls Episcopal
church. al Ninth and Grace streets. rises
2l2 feet above the ground and this height
overlooks everything in the city. ST.
Paul-s church is probably the most arts
cic and he au1iful in Richmond. In design
IT is classic Corinthian, and its structu-
raj beauty combined with its associations
draws a number of curious visitors, and
many rough sketches of the building
have been taken away rs neuentces
II
of repair and needed another coat Of
paint. two men climbed to the top TO
make preparations for their job. One
would like to obtain Il view Of the city
from such an e,nnence, but the danger
IS appalling. and consequently u mere
pleasure-trip 10 the top of one OF these
eteeplcs has not yet beer rslted
The Broad-Sreet Methodist steeple,
with height OF 20a feet. ranks next. This
church, Of which Rev. DR.. w. B. Beau
champ is pastor, is situated at Tenth and
Eroad streets. and is simple Corinthian
an design.
On "Wednesday last a small black mass
was noticed away up at the top of the
steeple, and speculations as 10 what it
could be We're rife. People soon noticed
however, that ropes We're dangling from
the top. .and finally when the creature
began 10 stir on IFS perch it was dis
covered 10 be a man. He was preparing
10 paint the steepie.
The Grace-Street Presbyterian church
al Fourth and Grace streets, is of simple
Gothic design Its spire reaches the
Eleigllt- of $50 feet. and is The fourth
highest in the city.
The First Presbyterian church, at Grace
and Madison streets, is one of the Oldest
and handsomest structures in the city
Rev DIR. Il. T.. Kerr has been pastor of
this church for is years, and his conGre-
cation recently expressed hope that he
would remain for many years longer.
THla stoeple of this church fans the
breeze at 1I5 feet above the ground.
ONLY STEETLE WITH CLOCKS.
The Park-Placc Methodist church, with
a height of 1G5 feet. comes next in the
order. This church is simple Gothic in
design and Is a very handsome structure.
II Is noticeable in the fact that ii is the
only church stecple in the city with
clocks, which are Illuminated at night.
The Scycnth-Street Christian church. Of
smpte Gothic design with height OF las
feet comes next, With the Trinity Metho-
dist church, Al Twentieth and Broad
streets. one foot lower.
The Holy Trinity church. on Laurel
Street between Laurel and Floyd avenue,
has height OF, only about 100 feet, but
In its simple Frcnch-Gothic style is
very beautiful structure. and is probably
the only one of its kind in the city.
All Saints Episcopal church, now in
construction, will be q Very handsome
cditicc. but like Holy Trinity will be
lTrcnch-Gothic in desi gn, and will have
q tower.
These stceples are no longer deemed
necessary adornments of a church and
on account OF the great expense in their
construction and the keeping OF Them in
aepair, they are now little used. Then.
too, they are by no means sure in foun-
dation. and in heavy wind are liable
70 topplc. as did that of the Second Bap-
fist church some time ago.
THE CITY HALL TOWER.
The City Hall tower reaches The height
of 900 feet and is thus the third highest
sn the city. The tower is visited daily
by numbers who climb the l5o steps to
enjoy the magnificent view obtained from
sts summit. From there the thorough
fares, fleming With 4 busy people and
marked with all the hustle OF a progress
sive era. lie stretched to the north, south,
east and west. in full view of the eye.
One has but 70 turn and in the distance
the historic James. rejecting all the
spleadors Of sunset Sky is seen wind
dng its way onward to the sea, at last
losing Itself on the dim horizon.
For historic reme,nbrances there is the
Capitol; hut a s an evidence OF prosperity
and progress, AIS an eXempliGcation of the
spiendor of the present day architectu-
raj construction there is the City Hall.