Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-07-02

ence hall should have been made ready for the oc-
cupany Of the Provincial assembly and the gov
errors council virtually at the exact time when
the colonies OF Great Britain In America began
to feel their growing strength sufficiently to In
duce them to insist more than ever before upon
1.-The right to be specially mindful of their own In
terests 1t was only quarter OF century after
| the .old Liberty Bell" was cast by patriotic ar
tsans In this city that It was used to gather the
people to hear the proclamation. by order Of the
continental congress- of the absolute political sep
aration Of the 10 colonies from the mother coun
|.try The state house sheltered not only the,
continental congress during many critical ses-
sons but also the supreme council Of the feder-
alton Of the United States the constitutional con-
vention Of 1857 the supreme court OF the United
States and the provincial and state legislature
Of Pennsylvania In that long period OF the con-
ception, birth and infancy Of the western repdb-
Nc Every man OF any distinction whatever In
that great epoch. from, Andrew Hamilton and
Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette and Pulaski,
passed through It's portals It Is the silent surviv
Ing witness Of stupendous past SO stupendous
indeed that hardly anything Is more wonderful
than the absolute simplicity Of the austere stage
setting Of those dramatic actions which indirectly
transformed the whole political world.
Y William PENIS council Of state first met In
George Guests unfinished house near the mouth
Of Dock creek. afterward called the blue Anchor
tavern" Settlers ut that time were living IN
caves atOn8 the WGsI DAnK OI In0 lI5lAWdIe IIv.
er. It Is also supposed 70 have met In the
swedes church at Wicaco down the river. and
In William PENIS house In Lastitia court the
same which now stands In Paramount park, until
It removed to the new state house In 1747. The
Provincial assembly probably sat In the first
rough meeting house erected for the worship Of
Friends shortly after PENIS arrival. and then in
the later one on Front street known as the Bank
Meeting house. But It also sat elsewhere, some
times in houses that were erected for private use.
It was in January, 1923. that the assembly.
awake finally to the need of suitable provincial
capitol, voted $4,000 ($10,00O), toward Its cost
and appropriated the same out Of an issue OF pa
per money which 1t had just authorized. William
Allen, who was afterward one Of Philadelphia's
most famous mayors and became justice Of the
supreme court acted as the agent OF the province
In the purchase of the lots Of ground on Chest
nut street, from Fifth to Sixth, and extending
hallway back toward Walnut street. which
formed the chosen site. twas not until 1863 that
the remainder OF the square was acquired. DR..
Kearsley, the architect Of Christ church, aspired
also to design the state house and Is said to have
been disgruntled because he was not permitted to
do 50. Thomas Lawrence, Andrew Hamilton and
Dr. John Kearsley composed the building com
mittee.
The main structure, minus the great tower.
which had not yet been built, was in rough
state when, in September, 1886. William Allen.
the mayor, gave q banquet and frOlic In the Long
room In the second story, which was to be the 4
scene OF 80 many later revelries and solemnities
as well. #
Public contractors were dilatory In those days
as In these, rand 1t was not until 1745 that the
room OF the assembly In the state house was COM
pleted. It Is curious to note that 1t was heated
1t that time by means Of two open stoves. ~