The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-10-24
The New Band Stand.

The New Band Stand.
OskaloCsa park has band stand
second to none in the land. 1t was
erected by public subscriptions in
1911-1912, after plans and specitica,
items made by Charles L. Farmhouse,
and is the result of years of study
land research. Mr.. Farmhouse went
Ito the ends of the country to secure
knowledge and data OF open air or
park band stand structures and he
was several years in gathering the
ideas and the information that form
ed the basis of the stand that now
graces the center OF the OskalOosa
public park, and from which, upon
summer evenings and upon other oc,
casiOns the music of bands or the
human voice may be heard to adTant-
age. Having in mind the plans Of Il
stand that, better than all others OF
which he could obtain knowledge By
picture or description, Mr.. Farmhouse
personally sought the assistance OF
an architect in transmitting his idea
10 paper. He went to Frank Z. Weth-
erell at Des Moines, told him what to
put in the plans of the structure and
how to place the detail. Farmhouse
checked, revised and amplified the
sketch OF the structure before author
zing the drawing Of the plans and
the completed whole embodied the
features and the results of careful and
exhaustive work and practical eXper-
fence extending over several years.
Mr.. Farmhouse went to friends and
the matter was instantly taken up and
brought TO issue. A special commit
tee was organized, the matter was
presented to the business men and
the supporters OF the band and the adj
mirers OF Mr.. Barhouse and his work.
The city administ' Ction came forward
and offered to DO it, full share toward
the erection of the model band stand.
Subscription lists were circulated and
the greater portion of the funds neces-
sary for the erection of the stand
erection of the stand was awarded to
John d. Mickey at practically the cost
of labor and work upon the structure
was started in October, 1911. The old
stand was torn down and the mater
ial removed and the foundation for
the new stand was started. The stand
is made of solid concrete, steel and
copper and is an ideal structure in all
ways. When the foundation was put
in the fOntings We're laid Il compile OF
feet deeper than the specifications
called for. They were put down to
the original solid clay and upon this
foundation is placed the steel and the
concrete of the super structure. The
same care marks each detail of con-
structiOn. The foundation and a
part of the steel work was put in
place during the late fall and winter
season of 1911 and as soon as con-
crete and cement could be worked in
the spring work was resumed. Not
until after the middle of the summer
in July was the stand completed and
ready for use for the Saturday evening
concerts. A surprising amount of
work was required in the structure
and the cost of the stand is about
six thousand dollars.
! Resting upon a base twenty-four
feet between the octagonal sides,
the floor, reinforced concrete. stands
at an elevation of about eight feet
above the sidewalk plane. Eight or
M OF n
canopy top, thirty-four feet in diane
ter, the edge having a projection of
3 five feet over the floor. The ceiling
of the canopy is a perforated sound.
ing board, so constructed as to drop
. in the center in a curve that has the
effect of the bell of horn in develop
ing and magnifying the sound waves.
The distance between the floor and
ceiling at the edges is nineteen feet.
The roof Is dome shaped, in general
; lines something like the band stand
in Central Park New York City, and
is richly ornamented with bronze
cresting of pleasing design. The
sides OF the stand are guarded with a
balustrade of combined structural
Z
steel and concrete, the grille alter.
mating with solid masonry.
Having in mind a double purpose
for the stand and intending that il
should serve the people as speakers
stand, as well as band stand, Mr..
Barnhouse's plans included an ex.
tension OF the floor of the stand toward
each four sides OF the park. This
extension Is protected by the orna-
mental steel grille. II is large enough
TO accommodate a speaker at the right
height to permit reaching every part
Of crowd.
Lighting Of the stand for evening
programs is accomplished by means
of a great central globe that orna-
ments the tip of the curved ceiling.
Lights also hang from the ceiling and
arc stationed along the eight stand