Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-11

Tho trustees of the New Castle County
Workhouse, at their meeting Tuesday |
afternoon, decided to begin all rebuild
lag at once that is absolutely necessary
20 make the institution fill the mission /
sor which it was erected.
The east wing, which is generally
known as the administration depart
ment or main entrance, in which the \
residence of Warden Meserve and the I
Offices we're locntod at the time OF the |
fire, is to be fitted up in its original |
shape for living quarters and ot1cee.
As a matter of fact, this work was
begun Yesterday. Trustees authorized
the warden to purctlas5 the lumber and
other necessary material and the work
, is to be done by the prisoners under
the supervision Of Guard Black. Deputy
Warden Leonard Crawford, VINO is n
practical mechanic, will lay out tho
|, work. What cannot be done by the,
isoners will be done by mechanics
i tagged for the purpose.
Nn iron roof is to be placed on the
cen re and ths wo ,den water taAksf
which were destroyed in the ire, are,
to be replaced by iron ones. Bids are
to be asked for this work.
Immediately after the fire u tenn.
porary roof was placed on the south
wing by the prisoners and guards, ana
the work Was SO we'll done thatit has
been decided by the trustees not to dis
turb it until spring, as twill serve
the purpose very we'll until that timer
when a permanent roof can be nut on
to better advantage than at. this. time.
The east wing, which was gutted ny
the fire, will remain in its present
shape for short time The walks have
been examined aud found to tie IN good
condition and it is believed they cGh
be saved. The burned structure will
be rebuilt after the other work is pro-
vided for and in all probability will be
used for cells, except one large room,
which will be the diningreom, as
formerly.
Willis no definite action has heen
taken, the members Of the board are
about of the opinion that the workshop
should-be isolated from the main build
ing and it is likely that it will be built
between. the east-ahd south wings and
a sufficient distance from the main
building to prevent repetition Of the
recent disaster. The two buildings will,
most likely. in the event OF this. plan
being carried out, be connected by an
underground ttinnel similar to that
which connects the powerfiouse and tho
main building.
The restoration Of the north wing to
its original condition. st once is i'm
perative, as the prison is not only
without Offices, but Warden Meserve
and his family are without q home.
Ever since the fire Warden Meserve and
his deputy, Leonard Crawford, have
been taking turn about in sleeping IN
4 the prison section at night, an i'm,
4 proyised bed in the corridor being used
for the purpose. Mrs. MeseFve anc
bou haan talFinu THAR h0mf
with friends, but spend much of ths
daytime at the workhouse TIL,
warden's home was badly wrecked by
"A the fire. but Che Offices, on the opposite
u side of the entrance corridor, did no
sustain such great damage and Tues
day one of the Offices was in such con
dition that it could be used by tn
trustees as a meeting place Oempara
\ lively little repairing will be necessar.
in tina part OF the north wing. On. tn
east side of tho wing there is much 4
be done and new roof is to be put on
1t should be ready for occupancy II
two or three weeks.
The south wing, which has been Il
use ever since the fire, having 'bee
provided with good temporary roof
n is devoted to different purposes. TIL
/ women's cells are on the upper floors
| while on the ground and hasemen
floors are the kitchen, bakery, laundry
bathrooms psntfy, refrigerators, officers
diningroom, &c.
The centre, upon which temporar
roof has been placed, was used Tuesda
night for the first time as diningroor
N for prisoners and it will be devoted
IN that purpose until more suitabl
IA place is fitted up. 1t is roUny an
FIX affords ample opportunity for feedin
"A the prisoners together, instead Of
n their cells, as has been the plan ey'
"A since the fire, the conditions renderin
w it impossible to feed the prisoners
any other manner. The workhou:
officials and attaches are pleased wit
Il the change, and it is believed Il
prisoners are also, judging from u
manner in which they ate their fir
meal there. ~
The insurance has about been a,
iusted and the trustees feel warrants
in proceeding without delay with Il
work which has been mapped out, ar
by the time that is finished VIII
remains to be done to complete u
restoration can, it is believed, be begt
at once, Although cramped for roor
the institution can exist and perfDr
its functions until the damaged portiS
is repaired, provided there is not {
abnormal influx Of prisoners, which
not expected. However, even in tn
emergency by little more doublli
up atf can be accommodated tel
porarily. Ii is apparent, however, tn
the rebuilding must be done at on
and the trustees hope to be able to co
with the situation in any ernergenc
While more than three-ffths of t
institution is in use, and part of th
is only in temporary shape, the urge
need of the remainder is felt by
interested. In fact, this feeling
shared by many of the prisoners, W
will be glad of an opportunity to ass
in the restoration.
The ashes left by the fire We
scarcely cool when the work of uonve
ing chaos into order was begun a
even the bad weather did not prove
hindrance to the wor k. After
debris had been cleaned up the W ,rk
roofing the centre and north and ou
wings was begun and although - v
.i..cult task it was accomplished
satisfactory manner with the Lelp
hand. By Saturday night tho ro
were completed all but the tar and d
work was done on Sunday by Ward
Meserve, his assistants and a numt
of prisoners, notwithstanding the II
that it was raining, showing and bic
ing and the weather was cold at
time. This work, however,. saved
interior of the buildings from danf
as result pf the storm and prot
exceedingly timetr;,-as the weather
been hitler cold in that exposed 10