The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-24
WANT THE OLD
MARKLT HOUSE
SAVED TO CITY

Copies OF a memorial 10 the city council
20 be presented by the Rhode Island His
toricsl society are being widely circulated
and the petition is received many sigma
lures.
The movement Is in behalf OF the pres
ervation OF the historic Market House, E"
the cornerstone OF which was laid by
Nicholas Brown on June s. l773
The following is the text OF the mem
orial:
THE petition OF the Board OF Trade
20 allow the demolition OF this building.
and TO erect upon its site a modern Of
fice buildings with rooms therein which
IL can use for It's own quarters II ts
noped will not be granted; but on the
counrary IL Is desired that Providence
will take steps, when the present leases
lexpire. to make the building freproof. and
restore IL TO the condition Il was in be
fore the eastern projection was built.
when that is done new hreproof stair
eases should be built OF stvle consist
ent with the architecture OF the building
and the interior rearranged 10 ~ the
building for such public uses as may be
decided upon
1T might be again leased 10 the Board
OF Trade but II is hoped that it's ultimate
luse will be similar TO that 10 which the
have been put by the citizens OF Boston
land OF Massachusetts,.
'1t IL believed that the Rhode Island
historical society would be willing 10
undertake the trust OF administering the
building and collecting and preserving
such relics as could be gathered therein
90 illustrate the history OF the state from
Its first settlement through all time
Massachusetts. In the 6Os. allowed the
John Hancock homestead to be sold to
be sold 10 private parties and be torn
down. when IL might have itself pur-
chased and preserved II. and It's citizens
ave never ceased TO regret the sacrifice
IL has preserved Faneuil hall, the old
state house, the old South church, and
the Bulfinch front and dome OF the pres /
state house, and made each or them nre-
proof 10 insure them against destruction
New York preserves IT'S city hall. Phila- |
delphia its independence hall. and the I
whole country approves and appreciates
the patriotic motives which prompted /
these acts OF reverence TO the memory 1
OF the founders OF our nation.
lis Providence less patriotic, does " /
hold its founders with less reverence. ana
Is II ready TO sweep cut OF existence one /
of the very few relics IL possesses OF his
toric value? A few years ago the SONS /
and Daughters OF the American ~}sevolu- /
fion placed on IT'S walls a bronze tablet TO 1
commemorate the burning of tea which |
took place near that spot nfW III Nhc /
belief that II would find there perina- !
nent abiding place. Shall II. also. be
ruthlessly removed and dlssociated from |
the uiding which was a silent witness
20 the deed II commentaries?
There are sits enough in the centre OF
the city near this spot where the Boaro
OF Trade can find home for itself if y
must move from this bu -.ng but let not
its necessity for LANCER or more mod
ern quarters be deemed sufficient rea-
son for laying sacrilegious hands on SO
worthy a building-bulloed over cen
tury and quarter ago. and which we
should consider II our duty and our prlvi-
lege TO put I'm condition TO preserve Tor
centuries TO come"
1t is signed by William Ames EDWIN
Rarrows. Isaac & Bates, q. Albert
Blumer. Arthur l.. Brown, Sydney X.
Burieigh. Edward F. Child, Howard L.
Clark. Precott O. Clarke, Louis II. Com
stock. Stephen o Edwards. Theodore |
Francis Green. Albert Harkness. Wilfred |
H. Munro. Englehart c. stby, john [.
Pegram. william Carey Poland. Dexter |
b. Potter. Henry ID. Sharpe, aired
* tone and many others.