The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-08-20
STOVES MEMORIAL
GIFT OF III. &. 1KELEY DIED.
ICATED TOD1Y.
Large Gathering in the fountain
Town. Secretary Shaw Orator
of the Day. Description of the
Building.


has presented to the town Of his boy
hood is in every way worthy of the
generous donor and the splendid town
which it adorns. The structure is of
deep red brick with granite trimmings
and is a fine specimen of colonial
architecture. 1t is two stories in
height with basement and its ground
dimensions are 4SxSS feet. A strik-
ing feature of the building is the
porch which extends little more
than third of the way across the
center Of the front. The porch root
is supported by four massive columns
each twenty-five feet in height.
These, with the six pilasters, lend
an almost Undesirable charm to the
whole front of the structure. The
ground dimensions of the porch are
11x32 feet and it is reached from the
street level by six granite steps reach
ing its entire length.
From this porch vestibule is en-
tered and this leads 20 the entrance
hall and corridors. Pilasters support
ing overhead beams, all finished in
plaster and tastefully decorated, add
much to the appearance of the hall
and corridors from which all rooms
on this floor open.
On the right of the entrance is the
room designed for the postoffice and
off from this is room to be used
as rural free delivery headquarters.
AT the left of the entrance is room
| for the use of the selectmen and other
town officers, At the rear of this,
across the corridor, is the town clerk S
Office and library rooms. The reading
room with its great fire place is very
| pleasant apartment and opening from
| it is stack room of ample dimen-
sions. At the end of the corridor at
the left of the main entrance is men,
orial hall, splendid room 19x45 feet
in size. This is finished in mahogany
and on the clouded marble wains-
coting which extends around are
carved the names of Stoves soldiers,
including those who enlisted from the
town, and native sons who entered the
ranks from other places. This hall
will be occupied by the G. A. r. Post
of Stowe.
The second floor is devoted entirely
to the opera house and a prettier or
better fitted auditorium would be
difficult to find. This floor is reached
by winding staircase at one end Of
the building. In the upper staircase
hall is the ticket office and two cloak
rooms and three entrances lead to the
auditorium. This is 45x51 feet and
the stage is 20x31 feet, with four con-
veniently fitted dressing rooms Above
the entrance hall is gallery and the
seating capacity of the hall is about
500. This and every part of the build
ing except the memorial hall is fin
ished in birch with maple floors and
the decorations everywhere are in
keeping with the general excellence
of the structure. The basement is
devoted to a large dining room with
kitchen and serving room, boiler
room, coal bunkers, store room and
the village lookup, consisting OF two
cells. The building is heated by
steam and lighted by gas, a special
plant being provided for its manufac-
ture.
The story of how II. O. Akeley, the
Stowe boy who became we'll known
citizen of Minneapolis, was led to
make this splendid gift to his native
town has often been told. The sub
| ject of soldiers monument was
under discussion, and H. G. Thomas
of Stowe wrote Mr.. Akeley concern
ing the project. He replied that to
his mind something could be devised
that would be useful to the living as
we'll as a memorial to the dead, and
the soldiers memorial is the outcome
The two-fold purpose of this building
could not be better expressed than by
these two Inscriptions which adorn its
front, In Memoriam,' and PRO
Bono Publieo. 4"
The plans for the building were by
Il. A. Walker, the Montpelier archi-
tect and the structure was erected
under his instruction. The plans
were made two years ago, in the fall
of 1901 ground was broken and the
building was commenced in the spring
of 1909. The first master builder
was J. G.. Kempton of Newton, Mass.
who was succeeded by H. M. Houston
of Barre. Mr.. Thomas has been sup
erintendent of construction from the
beginning.