Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-09-27
NEW BUILDINGS
With Changes and Improve
ments at Soldiers Home.
Fine New Barracks to Be BuiIt--New
Canteen and a Hotel.
New Fire Station and Other Changes
Big Crew at Work.

II would naturally be supposed that
with the several cOmmodious barracks
buildings, and the other places when
serve as sleeping quarters for the vet
Grams at the National Home, ali the
men might be easily taken care of, but
this is hardly the fact. The present
membership of the Home is something
like 2S00 men, of which number there is
an average OF 500 out on furlough all
of the time, so that there are always
about 220O or 2300 men in camp.
The result is that the camp is in a
crowded condition about all the time.
Frequently there are more men IN
camp than there are accommodations
for, and the overflow has to be made
comfortable for the night on cot beds
1t was but {, few years ago that the
large barracks on Rockland avenue. ac-
commodating 200 men. was built, for tbs
express purpose of relieving this crowd
ed condition. but it still exists, and
now another barracks is to be built
larger than any in camp.
The new building has been under con-
sderation for some time, but nothing
definite could be said about it until
now. 1t will be located on Rockland
avenue, just south of the last barracks
built, and Will he very similar in style
to that building, but larger, accommo-
dating 300 men. 1t will be 25Ox4S feet
on the ground, with an octogonal center
portion 50 feet deep. John Calvi,
Sevens of Portland. is the architect and
the building contract is held by L. II
johnson & Co, of the same city. The
building will be thoroughly modern il
every particular, as is It's neighbor, AM
work upon it will be commenced a
once.
But this is only one of the project:
that are under way at the Home
and with the work going on in th'
building line, and that which will sooI
be commenced, the coming winter vii
be the busiest ever seen on the reser
walton. In conversation with Jour
nal reporter, yesterday morning, re
garding the building which has beer
mapped out for the winter, Gov. Allel
said that the work which was beini
done, in repairing, and would be don
In building, during the winter wonl
call for an outlay of fully s50,000.
Then there is the new canteen, whicl
is to replace the old one which has don
duty so long, and upon which worl
will be commenced at once. The nev
building is from designs by Stevens
and will be located at the rear of tn
opera house. The contract for thi
structure, also, is held by Johnson (
Co.
The old canteen is destined to expert
ence n radical change in its mode o
existence. 1t will be moved from it
present site to II position alongside o
the Electric ear station, and under tn
eye of Architect Stevens of Portland
be so transformed that it will blossom
out as n hotel.
An important change which is soon t
be made is the establishment of a fir
station house near the laundry. Work
men are now getting it along as fast a
possible. The Home fire departmen
has two two-wheeled chemical engines
and these will occupy the main floor O
the new building. A hose tower ha
been built at the west end of the builG
ing. The second floor will be fitted .
quarters for the members of the fire de
partment, and also for the civilians an
members of the Engineers department
The printing Office. which is. by tn
way. one of the busy places about tn
Home. is destined to make z change fo
the better in the near future. At pres
ent il is located in the basement of tn
headquarters building, but a new offic
is being fitted up in the basement of til
library building. which will be niue
larger. better lighted. as well as NOR
dgnifled in appearance.
Work on the addition to the ives
side of the northeast wing of the hos
pital is progressing well, and the ne
guard barracks is fast assuming def
mite shape. Another place to come i
for alteration from the carpenters.
the Home store. which is to be raise
and new sides put under it.
In addition to all this there are man
minor changes going on about til
camp. Such as painting, repairs o
piping. etc, which all cost money an
require labor. so that there is a bi
gang of workmen there now, and wi
be. all winter.
A good piece of work which has bee
done this season was the building of
county road across the east side of tt
Home grounds. the work on which wa
done by the government. 1t was dor
on condition that il should be accepte
as the county road, and the roa
through the Home grounds be abaI
doned and become a private way. tt
road was completed in June and is
handsome 4 piece of road as can
found in many miles. 1t is about ol
mile in length, and runs north ar
south. from a point near the Clal
estate on the Rockland road. to Il
Hallowell road, near the Gardiner roa
The road was approved some time az
by the county commissioners, and Il
final acceptance of the new road al
abandonment of the old one is expect,
withinea short time