The Somerset reporter., 1906-01-25
SkOwbegan's Municipal Building
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other plan, for building - feet front
and Us deep, would Il any Of the lots
except the Brown Chase lots 10th
plans showed offices on the street floor
for the srlectmen, road commissioner
aud school department, also a municipal
court room, police headquarters and
lookup There was slso another large
room Oh the first floor which could be
used for the more important municipal
court trials, hearings before the select
men where the attendance was too large
for the office OF the board and also for
small town meetings. This lower floor
is designed with reference to the possi
bility OF change to city government
which might occur at some time in the
future and slight change would pro.
vide rooms for the board Of aldermen
and city council. The plans show two
stairways 10 the auditorium on the
second floor with a half story Of mez-
canine floor midway the ascent, where
are located the foyer, ticket office, re-
tiriDg rooms, etc. and from which access
is had by two wide entrances TO the
main auditorium and stairways ascend
to the gallery. Including the gallery.
seats are provided for 1900 people The
plans for the Browns Oh ase lot give a
stage measurement of q feet from cur.
tain line to back wall and the other set
of plans give rs feet for this dimension
In comparison with other theaters it
would seem that Is feet for depth of
stage is the minimum and 80 would be
desirable Other stage measurements
do not differ essentially in the plans
submitted.
Mr.. Butterfeld gave the cost of a
building for the Brown-Chase lot az
sec, 600, and built according to the other
plan, of less frontage and greater depth,
as $55. 600. In answer to inquiry he
gave his opinion that if the seating ca
pacity was reduced to 1000 people the
building could be shortened about ten
feet and saving of $4,000 would be
made in the total cost. The estimate
given includes everything above the
price of the lot to prepare the building
ready for the opening night.
general discussion followed partici-
pated in by A. G. Blunt. r. w Brown.
l.. l.. Morrison, ". H. Fuller, f. F.
Fairbrcther, K. f. Greenwood, &. A.
Ross, Isaac Dyer, z. w. Marble and
others The question of seating cap
acity was taken up some expressing the
belief that 1000 was ample and Others
maintaining that 1900 WAS none too large.
NO one seemed to contend that the So
600 to be saved by a reduction of the
capacity to 1000 was to be considered if
the larger number of seats were really
needed. Sentiment in favor of securing
lot of ample size was applauded. A
proposition to take a vote on the prefer
ence of those present with regard to
the lots now under confederation was
voted down.
Printed tables were submitted show
ing many of the essential facts with re-
gard to the auditoriums in other Maine
towns and cities The committee felt
the need of information as to seating
capacity, stage measurements, etc of
other public audience rooms and, after
the facts had been asse m bled and tabulat-
ed, it was thought best to print them that
every citizen might see just what other
places were provided with and thus
avoid the mistakes that have been made
elsewhere ard take advantage of the
best points which have been developed
in theatrical construction Another
table showed statistics of the lots now
under consideration and was intended
to enable the public to compare them
to the best advantage as to size, price,
material to be exoavated, etc Copies of
these tables may be had of any member
of the committee or on application at
this office.
1t was not expected that the hearing
would settle any important point in the
matter. The conference was not sought
for that purpose The committee did
not think it advisable to make thier final
recommendation as to location at this
hearing and were not prepared to do 80.
The question OF whether a municipal
building is to he built or not ia to be de
cided at the annual meeting, March IA,
but those present at the hearing seemed
to have no doubt but that it would be
decided affirmatively. No discussion
was raised on that point.