Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-01-09


and kerosene lamps and candles have
given way to electric lights, and all
these changes have taken place here
within comparatively few years.
AS evidence of Qaick ening in the
public life of our municipality and
of the public spirit which invades the
minds of its inhabitants, we need
mention no more than the occasion
of less than year ago when the vii
lage voted to build an opera
house and public hall. For some
years there had been a slight agita-
ton in favor of such a building. but
the opposition had been too strong
for the promoters. Last spring the
plan took definite shape and a village
meeting was called to take a vote as
to whether the village should build
an opera house at cost of $4,000.
Twenty -four hours before the meet
ing canvass of the voters disclosed
the fact that the proposition would
be voted down, because there were
still many voters who did not wish to
incur debt on the part of the village.
A subscription paper was then put in
circulation and within twenty four
hours the equivalent of $4,000 had been
pledged outright as gift to the vii
lage in case the vote should be to
build. The lot valued at 5000 was
given by the syndicate whish owned
it. The Thespians pledged them
selves to equip the stage with scenery
at an expense of $500. One firm
agreed to paint the building inside
and out free of charge aud more than
$4,000 was pledged in cash. With such
public spirit any village with the aid
of natural advantages can thrive and
prosper. Because of it Barton Land
ing now has an opera house which
is an object of justifiable pride to
Dreams cjunty.
The building was designed by Mr..
Eastman of st. Johnsbury and Mr..
contract was given to Mr.. W. K.
Annis of Albany. The entire struc-
ture is well and thoroughly built, and
the honesty with which Mr.. Annis is
doing his work is matter of much
favorable comment. The building
shows two stories high from the front
or h0
Under the rear of the building is a
sub basement 40x45 feet and seven
feet high. The main basement, which
is ander the entire building, is 45x9O
and nine feet high. This has been
partitloned off for band room 36x30
feet, a hose room 22x4O, a lookup
12x22, store room for electrical sup
plies 15x38, and for F. @. Stoddard's
bakery business 22x52 feet. The
second story from the street, seven
feet above the sidewalk, is the
auditorium, over which extends the
balcony. This floor, which is 45x90,
will be divided into stage, auditorium
and lobby. The stage will be twenty
four feet deep and will take curtain
twenty-five feet long. Scenery will
be raised above the stage when not in
use. On each wing of the stage, but
on level with the balcony, is a
dressing room 7x21 feet. The main
all will be 45x52 feet with an excel
lont dopo;on A0or of soutbor,, ,oioo
In the lobby, which is 12x45, are the
stairs leading to each side of the
balcony. The entrance to the lobby
from the street will be through doors
eight feet wide. The balcony is sup
ported by iron rods from the heavy
timbers in the roof of the building. |
The main hall is lighted by eight |
1892 inch four-lighted twin windows. |
The balcony is lighted by ten 16x31 |
iEch four-ighted single windows |
on the sides and as many smaller
windows on the end. The building is
finished inside with matched and |
beaded spruce and plastered with |
plastering, a new fireproof |
product. 1t will have a seating
capacity of between seven and eight |
hundred and will be fitted with com |
rortaoie opera chairs taken from the
dlsmantled Howe opera honsa at CT
Johrsbury. The entire BUILDING is
we'll lighted with electric lights and
is warmed by furnace.
One feature above all others which
deserves especial mention is it's easv
access from the street. It's main floor
S but few feet above the street and
is reached by wide stairs which are
wholly outside the building. In case
of fire or panic the hall can be
cleared in very few moments by
this exit alone, but there are two
others at the rear of the building
leading from both sides of the bal
oony, both sides of the stage and both
sides of the hall. Actors and speak