Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-15
DELAWARE'S CENTENNIAL BUILDING.


Story of How the riremen of Wilmington
Raised the Money.
Former City Treasurer Joseph X.
Adams having presented to the Water
Witch Fire Co. the key to the Della
ware, or Firemen's Building, at the
Centennial Exposition, which was
held IN Philadelphia in 1876, much
interest has been aroused concerning
the building, especially among the
younger element and recent arrivals in
the State. The older tiremen. are
familiar with the matter and it has been
discussed at some of the local engines
houses during the past few days, the
subject having been revived by the pre-
sentation OF the key. Haiknes1 Maya
zine gives the following history OF the
building, under the caption 1.-The
Magnanimous Firemen and the Del
ware State Building:''
: "Firemen, the world over, are noted
for their unselfish devotion to the pro-
lection of life and property. During
all the years of peace, and these are far
in excess Of the years of war, they are
our bravest defenders from our greatest
enemy, the fire. fend. When this loyal
love of our fellow beings men, women
and ohildren-fin expression IN any
public.s spirited movement it exhibits
telling force.
"Our city OF Wilmington. for instance.
is very enterprising, and the people OF
our State, in their way, very generous;
and yet, although we are part of the
glorious union of States, one of the
original thirteen, and next door neigh
Dor to the great Centennial City OF
Brotherly Love, whose citizens, by the
thousands, come down and view our
beautiful Brandywiue, and, sometimes,
trade little in our stores and take a
share of our annual $50, 900, 600 worth
OF manufactured products; although
New Jersey, between whom and our
selves there is a neighborly emulation
in peaches, sweet potatoes and fish,
was to have building, and Ohio, Con.
necticut, Massach usetts and many others
OF our noble sisters, we, kirsmen Of the
Rodneys, Redfords, Claytons and Sauls-
burys, We, townsfolk of the du Points,
Harlans and Bayards, even we, that
build railroads, hotels, opera houses and
beautiful church editioes, yes, even We
had, after mature consultation and
elaboration, folded our hands supinely,
and concluded that the Blue Hen y
Ohiphous SuOulu nub, at tub only OeU-
tennial Anniversary OF the United States
ever to be- witnessed By ourselves, have
even u roost to perch upon, or flagstaff
to crow from.
'Then, fremen to the rescue! Water
Witches to the front! Warm up Friend
ships Reliances, We depe nd upon you
Delaware, remember your ancient,
dusky progenitors who trod this sacred
soil, but, be not, like them, PREACHER.
Gus. Phnpixes, arise from your ashes I
Washingtons, honor the name you bear |!
Weccacoes join in solid phalapx I!
flames Oh! flames Seize the aus.
picious movement, and be evermore
famous So they did, they the brave,
one and all. TIE Water Witches had
q meeting, the issue OF which was
committee, who bewitohed all the
others. The Firemen's Centennial As.
ISOLATION was formed, with George Nc
Call, Washington and Fire Chief,
president: William Blake, Famous
man, vice. president; the Friendly,
Samuel Baylis, secretary, and Water
Witch, with iliustrbus of
American patriotism for more than 100
years dams, treasurer. This man
Adams, Joseph X. Adams, and the
well-known chief of tiremen, Mccall,
have stood in the heat and conflict of
the grand struggle to raise funds. Sup
ported by their fellows and the Centen-
nial Commissioners, Messrs. Comegys,
Riddle and others. they have peree-
vered until the people of the whole
State, and particularly the ladies, who
always admire the successful aud brave,
and appreciate home of their own,
acknowledge the obligation of gratitude
for the beautiful building.
The structure Ia out of which &C.
companies the article), is rather after
the Swiss Gothic order of architecture,
with it's peculiar barge boards, pedi-
ments, dormers and gables. The di-
meusions are 54x34 feet on plap, two
stories high; the first being II feet in
the clear, the second IA feet, 6 inches
in the highest part the ceiling in this
story being the roof, with all its vari-
GUS timbers dressed and ohamfered so
as to SHOW the peculiar construction of
its hips. The first floor is divided by
o hallway 10 feet wide, running the en-
tire width of the building on the
right of this hall are the gentlemen &
apartments and on the left the ladies'.
These apartments consist of large recep-
tion rooms, Mushrooms and private
rooms, fitted up and furnished in a
most convenient manner, for the use
and entire comfort of the visitor to the
Centennial. On the second floor are
four large rooms, for the use OF the
State Commission, the firemen g com
mittee and for the living apartments Of
the janitor of the building. The roof
is covered with felt and plastic slate,
trimmed with final and ridge crestings.
forming, In all, rather picturesque
building. and much better adapted for
the purposes than pavilion would
have been. In the front and centre
arises an ootagon tower, which is AZ
feet to the top of its coned roof. This
is surmounted by flag pole capped
with the well.known Blue Hen IS
Chicken and flying Delaware's State
colors.
We ought not to fail to mention that
the gallant rooster on the top Of the
flagstaff was kindly loaned by that
illustrious patriot, Eli Crozier, a man
OF well-known Centennial fervor; that
the contractors are the well.known
skilled mechanics, Messrs. EstranRe
Gould, James France, and William s,
watt, and that the friends of the
project feel especially thankful to 4.
L. kice, Jr., architect, for making
such original plans and forwarding
such negotiations as have secured a
unique building at an economic price,
and for great deal of attention and
assistance that q less publio-spirited
architect would not have given.
r r3I5l
Baron Won KetteIer's Body.
Bremenhaven, Germany. Aug! o.
The G6rman Htnamer Palafia wh AZ