Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-24
INSIDE THE HALL.
A Tour Of Inspection of Ne"
City Building.
What ihs Building is for and How it
is Arranged.
WaterviIIe is Proud of 1t and Wants
All to See 1t.

on Common street, where it shows up
finely from Main street and Will never
be overlooked by any stranger.
In front of the building is what has
been commonly called the Common but
what will probably be known hereafter
as the City Hall park. This is 2 good
sized plot of land, thickly studded with
splendid old trecs--maples and eilns.
Common street passes on either side of
the park, connecting Main and Front
streets and the new City hall occupies
The corner of Common and Front
streets.
The park will be ultimately arranged
according to plans prepared by proteS-
sional landscape gardeners and VIII De
MADE a very beautiful spot in the very
heart of the city.
The building itself is of the classic
style of architecture. built of pressed
brick With Pottsdam and Portage sand
stone trimmings. The basement IS
built of sandstone in the random asher
style There are three entrances, one
on the west end, the main entrace 10
The hall. one on the south side, the main
entrance to the Offices Of the city Oft
cials ana the third on the east end, the
entrance to the police station. Then
there are several smaller entrances to
The basement, conveniently located.
b The huilding runs east and west, fac
ing the south.
Tho building is 73x125 feet in size
with three stories and 4 basement. the
latter being practically 4 fourth story
az there is bit very little of it under
ground. On the street floor are offices
for the mayor, treasurer. collector, city
clerk. overseer of the poor, munlclpai
Judge. superintendent of schools and
I.oard of Education and rooms for the
aldermen ard councilmen.
The second floor above the street Is
devoted to the hall, which will seat 10
people. At the entrace to the nall
there are parlor, toilet and cloak room
for the ladies': Il smoking room, cloak
room and toilet for the gentlemen
In tie basement are the offices Of the
city marshal, street commissioner
municipal and superior court rooms,
private office for the judge. jury room
which will also be used by the Board OF
Registration, city electricians work
room ana store room. police guard
room. cell room and boiler room.
The first thing to attract the visitor 5
attention on approaching the building
at the south side will be the massive
and beautiful entrace Heavy granite
sters lead up on either side or this to
the outside landing a short distance
from the ground. The wallis OF this are
of sandstone. the steps massive affairs
az finely cut granite and the railing Is
of wrought iron of a most beautlfui
DESIGN. The ratings alone Tor the
three principal entrances to the build
ing cost something like 1920 ana the
manufacturers declared them 10 De
among tho frest bits Of iron work the!
over turned out The 1oor Of the outer
landing is of artificial stone like the
main corridor OF the building. THIS Is
called a landing for want Of better
naInc but it IS really short flight OF
granite steps of unusually massive con
struCtion
on facing about to enter the build
ing the visitor is greeted by bit OF
work that is d never ending delight
The entrance is recessed. a heaEy low
wide arch Of brick laid in fanclful de-
signs with sides of sandstone forming
the roof. All the finish of the outei
1rstibule is of quartered oak. pan
nclIed and finely polished. Passing
through the heavy outside doors one
comes to the inner vestibule. also mn
ished in quartered oak. panneied Ike
that of the outer vesubule. Anolhel
set of heavy doors opens into the man
corridor of the building. The door!
are of solid Quartered oak with antique
brass fixtures and heavy plat" glaS:
upper pannels.
The main corridor is Il feet wide
and runs directly through the building
from east to west, the entrance 40 IN
hail being at the west with another e
the east the main entrance coming Il
nj the middle of the main corridor bN
shorter one of the same width rom IN
south.
The corridors are wainscotted witt
nonncIcd chartered oak. the wall
above the wainscotting being tinted
and decorated. The floor of the cor
ridors is made of Clipped marble lait
in cement and highly polished, maklnt
il look like one solid piece of beautiful
marble. The base boards are of mar
bic of a beautiful tint, highly polished
Turning to the right after entering
the main corridor the first door en-
countered is that OF the mayors office
This consists of n large room with :
big window looking out on the parl
and a smaller room for n private of
flee These are among the pleasantes
rooms in the building. The floors are
of hard wood and the finish in quar-
tered oak like all that on this floor
The next room on the right and il
the southeast corner of the building il
the office of the judge of the municipal
court. This room has windows facing
both the park and Front street and i
very fine. The finish is the same al
that of the mayors Office.
Going back to the entrance and turn
ing to the left the first office is that o
the treasurer and collector. This is o
about the same size as the mayor
large office and is almost a twin to II
This has an entrance TO the vaul
which extends from the floor of tn
basement up through the floor of thi
room to the ceiling. 1t was put il
with the foundation of the building ant
is of the most substantial character
being as near fire proof as it is posi-
BILE to make it. The door is the hes
made by the Mosler Safe Co. A pas
sage way leads by the side of the vaul
into the next room to the left of TIL
entrance and toward the west end o
the building. This room is assigned [,