Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-01-22
HANGING THE ORNATE DOORS
A HANDSOME DESIGN Fur THE
ANNEX ENTRANCE.
Colonial Features of The New Doors
Harmonic With Those of The
Old State House
Building.

The work of hanging the beautiful
ornate doors at the entrance of the
new State House annex was begun
today. The doors arrived last night
from New York afsd were unpacked
this morning, and the work 81 hanging
them was begun. The work Will oo-
cupy several days and is not expected
to be completed before the last of this
week
These doors for the historic Mary
land State Capitol were designed by
the architects, Baldwin and Penning-
ton, and last October were on exhibit
tion in the studio of John /. Williams,
Inc., the bronze founders of New York
City. All architects, artists, sculp-
tors and builders who saw them were
enthusiasts in their praise.
The design is colonial, to harmonize
with the period of the architecture of
the main portion of the building.
Prominent in the centre of the doors
are the diverse and reverse of the Seal
OF Maryland. The data for the in
scriptions was supplied by the Mary
and Historical Society. The sseal re-
productions are executed in very high
relief. the heraldic coloring being
accurately shown in the modelling.
The panel work is also in high relief,
but less pronouncedly undercut than
the central mcdallions.
The two folds of the door swing on
pivots at top and bottom and in spite
of the fact that each weighs 5000
pounds, each can be moved easily
with one finger. The doors are cast
from United States standard bronze.
The color is the natural golden hue
. l.. LII
died as if somewhat weathered. The
doors are 10 feet inches high by 2
feet inches wide. They weigh, in
ali. 1900 pounds. Each fold was
east in one piece, and 20 successfully
cast door of this great size bring
ing out with it the utmost clearness,
the fine detail of the modelling in
the ornamentation is Indicative of
the greatest skill in foundry prac-
tice.
The Maryland State House has the
unique distinction of being the only
state capitol erected before the Revo-
luton and still used for its original
purpose. 1t was built in 1878, except
the dome, which was not finished un-
til 1898. 1t was on the site of for
mer State House built nearly CEN
tury before. To meet the growing
requirements of the state administra-
tions. various changes and additions
were mada in connection with the old
house during the past century. In
| 1876 the most radical of these were
carried out, which resulted in cont
pletely removing all the inside finish
of the old original Senate chamber.
This was accomplished against the
urgent protests of many persons and
the various patriotic societies. The
feeling was so strong that efforts
were made before each of the succeed
| ing legislatures looking to the resto-
ration of this old Senate chamber to
its original design.
1t was in this room that so many of
the events took splace in connection
with the formation of the Republic.
| Here General Washington on the 3D.
of December. 1888, resigned his com
mission as commander-in-chie of the
| American Army. This incident is
| shown in the Trumbull painting,
| which hangs in the rotunda of the
| Capitol at Washington. Here also was
| the treaty of peace with Great Britain
| ratified January IL, 17S4, and on
September II. 1896, delegates from six
states met in this room and arranged
for calling the Federal Constitution
Convention of that year.
Owing to the limited accommoda-
tions and insufficient committee
rooms. the Legislature of 1902 APP
pointed special building commits
sion to construct an annex TO the
State House, which should contain
sufficient and modern accommodate
/ tions for ths executive officers and