Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-06-02
RESTORE SENATE CHAMBER
PREPARING TO START THE
WORK AT ONCE.
The States Building Commission
Expects to Complete The
Work Soon.

Governor Warfield is making every
effort to have the work of restoring
the old historic Senate Chamber at the
State Honse completed by October 10.
This date has been settled upon as the
day upon which the body of Admiral
John Paul Jones will be placed in the
new crypt at the Naval Academy. and
it is the day daY known as Peggy Ste
wart Day.
In connection with this restoration
some time since the Governor appoint
ed an advisory commission TO consider
this subject. This commission is com
posed of representatives from the Mary
land Historical Society and the several
patriotic associations, all of which are
taking considerable interest in the
subject The Governors appointees
were as follows: John s. Cuttings
Clayton q. Hall, DIR. j. ID. Iglehart,
Josias Pennington, John Writ Randall,
George III. Shafer. DeCourcy W.
Thorn, j. Appleton Wilson.
This commission organized some
time since with Governor Warfield as
chairman and Mr.. Thorn as secretary.
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Pennington were
requested TO consider and report upon
the feast biiity of carrying ont this
scheme, and they made the following
report at the meeting of the commits
sion held on May IL:
Baltimore. May IL.
Mr.. DeCourcy w. Thorn, Secretary;
Dear Sir--Since the last meeting of
the Commission above referred to Mr.
J. A. Wilson and myself have consid-
cred carefully the suggestions before
us, and all data obtainable mp to the
present time touching upon the resto-
ration of this room.
We have spent day at Annapolis.
and carefully examined the remnants
of the old gallery which are now in
the Land Office. We also made ex-
aminations in the room in question,
and certain parts of the building in
close connection with same. We had
parts of the panel back and ,jambs on
both sides of the room taken down.
and, from examination of the brick
work behind same we find it is now
as it was originally built, which is
conclusive evidence that the windows
were always recessed and the jambs
continuing to the floor with panel
backs.
The niche back of the rostrum is
also in such shape that it is evidently
the original work. From the infor-
nation obtained, the drawings have
been prepared showing the niche and
the gallery as proposed for restoration.
We also had estimates made for carry
ing out this work. Yours very truly,
JOSIAS PENNINGTON,
J. APPLETON WILSON.
The estimate to restore the old ros
trum and niche, with the platform
where the speakers chair and desk
were placed, changing the window
trims, sash and wood work of the in
terror of the room. constructing the
chimney breast and fireplace, painting
and decorating the room. was abopt
81, 900. AS the ceiling of the room is
in bad shape, and in order to make
the room freproof, suitable for a
proper museum for relics of our early
history. it il proposed TO remove the
present old wood construction above
the ceiling of the room and the floor,
using steel beams and fireproof con-
struction, repairing the brick work,
the old plaster, etc., at cost OF
about IS, 600 in addition, making prob
able cost of complete restoration, as
far as possible, $4,000.
This report was unanimously adopt
ed with the recommendation to the
building commission requesting that
| il be carried out. The building COM
mission met here this week and this
report was considered. The General
| Assembly of Maryland in 1863 appro-
| priated e7500 Tor the erection of q
State House. The old building was
completed in 1918. The dome was not
| completed until after the Revolution,
| in 1898. Considerable changes were
II IL. khn fevfY hYrfl in
| 1858, consisting of moving the old
stairway, constructing a cellar, chang
| ing the House of Delegates and Install
| ing q heating apparatus. In 1876 fur
| ther considerable changes were made,
removing the interior finish of the
Senate chamber, the old rostrum, the
old gallery, the chimney breast and
| fireplace, changing all the windows
and the construction of the ceiling.
| In 1886 further changes and additions
were made, leaving. the building as it
was found in 1890.
The building at that time was inad
equate for the accommodation of the
| General Assembly, and a building
| commission was appointed, chiefly
| through the efforts of Hon. Spencer
| q. Jones, to construct an addition to
l the old building for the accommoda-
| ton of the General Assembly, con-
| sisting of the new Senate chamber,
| House of Delegates and committee
| room, the original old house to re-
| main for the accommodation of the
| executive offices, the Court of Ap-
| peals. having been removed to the new
| building. After a careful considera-
| tion of various schemes for q new
| building or partial reconstruction, the
| Commission employed Messrs. Bald
| win & Pennington to construct an
| annex to the building at the rear Of
| the old original house, to contain ac-
/ commodations authorized by the leg
| islature. All of the old work on the
| original State House has been retain.
| ed as far as possible.
At the meeting of the last Legisla.
/ ture, in 1902, the new annex was only
partially completed. The appropria-
| tions were made for its completion.
| The work has progressed. and will be
ready for the Legislature of 1905 1906.
i This work was started under the ad-
| ministration of Governor John Walter
| Smith, who took considerable interest,
and gave to it much personal atten-
/ ton. The state is fortunate in having
| the present Governor SO much inter
ested in carrying ont this work, his
| efforts all receiving the heary cooper
alton and support of the entire Com
mission.
Il