Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-06-26

the most famous edifce in America. They may
not know that it begun in 1929 and finished
in 1874, and that in those days the plan Of 1t
considered SO palatially ambitious that Its
building bitterly opposed by those who, like
John Gipin's wife, were of frugal mind. The
cost was $16,250 and the wings that were added
five years afterward brought the total amount to
$28,000 Doubtless there were many who dubious
ly shook their heads at the extravaganza. What
would they have thought Of a city hall occupying
several acres and costing $24, 000 600?
Although in the Immediately preRevolut1onary
days the purpose to which Independence hall
put serious enough, the long gallery
upstairs had often been the scene Of "revelry
by night" before those times that tried mems
souls In 1886 the mayor, William Allen invited
most of Philadelphia to feast; in 1855 the as
sembly gave Governor Denny most pretentious
banquet and again, in 1857, Lord Loudon. COM
manderin-chef of his majestys forces In Amer
fca was lavishly entertained and the unlimited
grumbled at the outlay.
When the first congress met in Philadelphia,
in 1774, there "sumptuous collation. IN
the State house. attended by 500 persons, and
as they drank their toasts cannon were fred as
happened in the case OF Hamlet's unam1able
father The same hall that was the scene OF
these elaborate banquets became the prison or
the American officers captured in the battle OF
Germantown and after the bloody field or Brandy
wine 1t was a hospital.
1t In this building that Washington de-
livered his memorable farewell address; Lafay's
cite was the guest of honor here at reception
in 1924: and here the bodies of John Adams and
Abraham Lincoln lay in state
Thus 1t will be seen that the social and historic
associations of the edifce are innumerable, leav-
ing out of the reckoning what happened there on
the Fourth of July, 1776.
The signers of the Declaration came near not
having a bell to announce their epoch-maklng
resolution to the world, AS soon the building
was completed, in 1874 1t was planned to buy a
bell commensurate with the dignity of the new
State house. Then the advocates of economy
or parsimony-arose in their might and fought
the project tooth and nail, representing that the
great cost of the State house had imposed
heavy tax upon the citizens and further expendi-
iture was useless" After several years OF more
sor less acrimonious debate It decided TO have
a bell; and 1t then discovered that there was
not a foundry in the colonies capable of fashion
ing It, the repressve policy of parliament hav-
ing wel-nigh destroyed manufacturing enterprise
in the new world. So the colonists had to send
to London for bell. giving specific directions
as to the dimensions-the weight was 1000
pounds
When at last It arrived, in 1852. It was more
than a nine days wonder; the Pennsylvania farm
ters focked to the wharf from far inland to &C
claim its arrival. 1t proved all that any reason
able mortal could want In the way OF tintinnao-
ulum. It's tones were farcarrytng and sweet
ly musical and al true-born Philadelphians Tin
cluding those who had opposed the expense)
were proud of It. Alas 1t was being trans
ported with festal ceremony from the waters
edge 70 the intended site In the belfry some ner-
vous weakling gave way beneath his corner OF
the ton of metal and the ber fell to the ground
and was mortally injured. 1t hNd to be recast.
and Isaac Norris who superintendent the opera
rion, announced with pride that the result was
"a good bell which peases me much that we
should first venture upon and succeed In the
greatest bell. for aught know. in English Amer
sca-surpassing. too. the imported one. which was
too high and brittle"
The great occasion in the lifc OF the Liberty
Bell was not due to arrive until "a years after
ward n was on the 18th of May, 1T76, that the
general assembly gave instructions to its dele