Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-10-31
CONGRESS HALL
HistYric Old Hall Is Restored 10
Something Like Its Orig nal
Appearance.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. oct. 2j.-
Historic old Congress Han, restored
10 something ike tts orig nal appear
ance. was rededicated today with i'm
posing ceremonies and N the presence
Of a most distinguished company
President Wilson vas the guest OF
honor at the celebration During tine
exercises. he occupied the same chair
that John Hancock sal in when he
presided over Congress. and when the
Declaration Of Independence was sign
ed. Until today the chair had not
been used since President Grant sat
in II in 1876.
President Wilson while the central
figure and the principal speaker OF
the day, was not the on'y notable
participant in the programme. The
national and local appreciation Of the
significance Of the restoration and re.
opening of the old hall where Con,
gress held it's sessions during the
young life Of the republic was album
aantly proved by the presence at the
exercises. Of cabinet members, for
cign diplomats, senators and repre.
sentatives governors or other official
representatives Of the thirteen origt-
nal states. delegates from patriotic
societies. high army and naval Off
GERS. and long Est of distinguished
men and women.
President Wilson arrived in the
city from Washington a few minutes
after o'clocl, his afternoon A com
mittee escorted him to the Bellevue
Stratford, where d private reception
was held. An hour later he proceed
ed % the site of the restored building
at Sixth and Chestnut streets. This
feature Of the programme was made
the occasion Of a parade of military
md other organizali
The programme carried out at the
reded cation exercises was as follows:
opening prayer by he chaplain Of the
national house of representatives., a
Jrief statement Of the restoration Of
the old building by Frank Ales Day,
the delivery of the building to the
city by John Hall Rankin president
II the Philadelphia chapter Of the
American Institute Of Architects, the
acceptance by Mayor Glankeubarg
grafton by Speaker Champ Clark; ad
Iress by the President Of the United
ateH. and benedietion by the chap,
lain Of the United States senate.
The literary exercises were inter
spcrsed by musical features furnished
~ several military bands and a male
chorus of 100 voices After the in
voca ion the chorus sank Hail Col
umba," the national anthem written
in Philadelphia, and Grst sung within
stones throw of Congress Hall in
l7gS. At the conclusion of The cere-
monies in the hail, and as the pro
cession of invited guests marched
from the hall to Independence Hall,
the band played The Star Spanglod
Banner" At the same time a nation
al salute was being fred by a squad
ron of United States warsh'ps sta
toned in the Delaware River opposite
the city,
Although the statenouse, or 1nde-
peudence Hall has been the recog-
nized Mecca of patriotic Americans,
i. is doubtful # the majority OF citi-
zeus realize the unique historical in
torest possessed by the whole group
Of buildings on Independence Square
especially the building restored and
rcopened today
To the last three generations Old
Congress Hall was known as the Cd
courthouse. The building was cree
ted as district courthouse, but i'll
was scarcely finished, in 1882 than it
was selected as The home Of Con
gress for the ten years dating from
1890. Immediately it was found ne
cessary 10 enlarge the structure.
After Congress departed the build
ing was again remodeled, ana since
that time the structure has beeu fire.
quenty the subject Of improvements.