The Washington herald., 1913-09-29
congress HALL
.INORIGINAEFORM
Restored Philadelphia Build
ing Looks as 1t Did
Back in 1890.
CEREMONIES In OCTOBER
President Wilson, Speaker Clark, and
Other Officials Here to Attend
Exercises at Opening.

shall, and Speaker Clark win be among
the officials that will attend the cere-
monies in connection with the reopen
ing OF old Congress Hall in Philadelphia
to be held some time in October.
Congress Hall, adjoining independence
Hall, at Sixth and Chestnut Streets. has
been restored to the condition 1t was
in when the first Congress of the United
States met there from 1870 TO 1900 The
finishing touches are now being put on.
The Governors OF the thirteen original
States have consented TO take part in the
ceremonies, as well as the Governors OF
the three States admitted to the Union
while Congress sat in Philadelphia-Ver-
mont, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
The work OF restoring the building has
been going on nearly a year. Two years
ago Councils appropriated $4,000 out OF a
loan to remodel the building. The Phil
adelphia Chapter of the American Insti-
tute Of Architects had been agitating the
subject for some time, so the work OF
restoration was turned over TO that body.
The Committee on Preservation of His
| torical Monuments OF the Chapter took
the matter in charge and gave its serv-
ices to the city free. The credit of the
restoration is due entirely to this body.
Unique HIstorfcaI Intercst.
Although the State House or Inde.
pendence Hall has been the recognized
mecca OF patriotic Americans. 1t is doubt.
full II the majority OF our citizens realize
the unique historical interest possessed
by the whole group OF buildings on In
dependence Square and their significance
as a national monument. This is per.
haps, largely due to the fact that these
buildings have been more intimately as.
sOciated for several generations with mu.
nicipal Offices and courts than with the
events connecting them with the early
history of the Federal government. their
identity with which being still further
lost through the alterations they suf.
fered in adapting them TO the city's re.
quirements.
The restoration Of the State House in
general plan after the removal Of the
city's offices to the new City Hall was
the first evidence of awakened interest
and this was shortly followed by a siml,
lar attempt in regard to Congress Hall
About the year 1900 these efforts on the
part OF patriotic citizens and societies
in which Mrs. c. c. Harrison and Mrs
Samuel Chew took an active part re,
Philadelphia Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects of a committee OF
its members qualified to make a careful
study OF Congress Hall, with the view OF
restoring it to the condition in which II
appeared when Washington delivered his
farewell address to Congress in 1877.
Survey of Building.
This committee, equipped with techni.
I IL
thorough survey of the building carefully
noting such physical evidences Of its
original construction as then disclosed
and considered in the light OF architec-
tural design and practice at the time the
building was erected. The committed
also gathered together from various
sources historical data bearing upon the
original plan of the structure as described
by persons who had visited it when Phil
adelphia was the seat OF the Federal
government. The result OF this pains.
taking study was embodied in a compre-
hensive report accompanied by plans IL
Illustrating the conclusions arrived at and
steps We're at once taken to induce the
city authorities to avail themselves OF
this information by undertaking the
restoration Of the building.
But little announcement was met with
in this direction, although in 1905 small
appropriation was made by Councils for
the purpose. and 1t was not until two
years later that the persistent efforts OF
those interested awakened the city ad-
ministration TO the importance of not
ouly restoring Congress Hall, but of saw
ing the existing structure from decay.
To further this the Philadelphia Chap
ter, through its Committee on Preserva-
ton OF Historic Monuments, offered to
furnish without cost the result of its
investigations and also its services in
the preparation OF the necessary draw
ings and in the supervision of the actual
work OF restoration II undertaken by the
city. This offer was finally accepted by
the Mayor on behalf Of the municipality
and confirmed by a contract with the
chapter executed in October. 1911, under
which contract the chapter was to fur
nish its services as architect gratuitous-
ly. the city paying only draughtsmen's s
wages and incidental expenses to linn
tied amount.