Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-05-17
COLUMBIA HALL.
For Whom and By Whom 1t Was Built-Ori.
gin Of the Name.

gin OF the Name.
Oiy says that some doubt has existed
As to whether the city or Columbia
Engine Co. owned Columbia Hall
until he made a thorough search Of
the records and found that the title
vested in the city. Nobody for a mo-
ment, acquainted with circumstances,
doubted that fact, and, be it noted, our
little neighbor is considerable OFF, on
some Of his statements and differences
The hall was built by City Council
elected for that purpose on that single
issue. The inception of the plan fol
building city hall sprang from a
meeting OF half Il dozen members of
the U. f. Of +. u, who had assembled
in Woods old brewery, corner of
Columbia and Sixth streets, to imbibe
that wonderful product, Woods
cream-ale," and incidentally com
ment upon passing events, a daily
paper not then being published in the
area of the whole State, the then Ter.
ritory of Washing ton. At that meet
ing were present Frank Henry, A. c.
Smith, Geo. House and Ed. Giddings,
all employed in clerical work in the
Surveyor Generals Office, and all of
whom are now passed from earth, the
writer and several others, all members
Of the ancient order of U. f. OF f. L..
and of the fire department.
The topic Of conversation that day
was the town election then in progress,
and the futile efforts that had been
made to secure from the board of
aldermen adequate accommodation for
the fire department. Some one sug.
gested that had it been thought of in
time, a Council might have been
selected that would favorably consider
a proposition to make this improve
ment; and another thought that it
might yet be done, although the polls
had been open, with a single ticket
composed OF the old board, that had
been voted for half the allotted time
provided for the annual choice of Of
ficers. The view met with favor and
ticket was Immediately chosen, for
Councilmen (there was no Mayor in
those days, the President of the Coun.
Gil acting as executive officer) consist
Ing OF Francis Henry, S. w. Percival,
Geo. A. Barnes, Robert Frost and John
Miller Murphy. 1t was printed and
circulated as embodying an expression
favorable to town hall, and suitable
place for housing the fire engine and
apparatus and providing comfortable
room for meetings of the companies.
This set every member of the " ancient
order" and the engine and hook and
ladder companies out on canvas for
votes and the result was that the
I" hall ticket" was elected by an over.
whelming majority.
1t was not at first the intention to
build town building to cost over four
or five thousand dollars, but plans
were submitted by Rabbeson & Sey-
mour for the present structure, to cost
Sc $500. and the building made such a
fine appearance on paper, that the fire.
men were, to man, strenuously in
favor OF their adoption. A conserva-
tive element on the Council, however,
favored cheaper building, whereupon
a subscription paper was started to
make up the difference, and with such
friends as Capt. ID. B. Finch, Chas. f.
Williams, Chas. Burmeister, and
others to head the list with 500 each,
the sum OF 81 500 was easily raised.
Then an effort was made TO bind
the contractors to complete" the
building for the contract price by con-
else specifications, which the contract
ors, Rabbeson & Seymour, declined to
sign, knowing that they had major
ity on the board favorable to the loose
verbal agreement that everything
would be made satisfactory" Hence