Evening journal., 1916-11-29
fContinued From Page ~


propriate home for the Historical So
ciety.
Frank Miles Day, probably the lead
ing authority on colonial architecture
in the United States. has made a per.
sonal examination of the old Town
Hall. He has said of IL the following:
'lt Us almost needless for us TO ex-
press to you our appreciation Of the
excellent proportions of this fine old
building. and the extent to which H.
embOdies the best traditions OF the old
colonial style. The plan and general
proportion. as we'll as all the details.
save a few cXcrescences which are
obviously modern, are true to the best
traditions OF this style. and il will be
regrettable. indeed, IN view of the
small number of colonial monuments
left TO see this one swept into obliv-
ion. Viewing this matter i'm
the light Of preserving all that is pos.
sible of early American architecture.
we cannot refrain from expressing
our earnest dis.interested hope that
some means may be found to save the
Wilmington City Hall from destruc
ton
Mr.. Day was the architect of the Y.
VI. c. A. building. of the new build
ings at Delaware College. Of all the
modern buildings at Princeton Uni
versity and OF many OF the finest
buildings in the country.
Edgar V. Seelar. a we'll known auth
ority upon colonial architecture. spent
a month i'm the examination of the old
Town Hall % obtain the exact data
for its restoration Mr Seeler was
one Of the architects employed n the
restoration Of Congress Hall, at Sixth
and Market streets. Philadelphia. All
the data for complete restoration can
not be obtained until The walls OF the
Town Hall have been stripped but
Mr.. Seeler was able TO make draw
ings after a minute examination Of
the building and its history which are
presented i'm the local newspapers.
The Seeler drawings exhibit tile old
Town Hall as conceived by Peter
Bauduy in 1877 Peter Bauduy was
one OF the French refugees who came
TO Wilmington lie purchased Monck-
ton Park. the summer home OF Rch-
ert Morris, the fnancier OF the Ameri-
can Revolution. He changed the
name Of Monckton Park to Eden
Park. and engaged in grazing sheen
and making powder. He was also a
man of the broadest culture and an
architect and painter as well as a
man of business.
Mr. Sellers drawings readily sug
gest the charm OF the oldfTown Hall
II was divided into the large assembly
room on the drst floor and the Coun
eli chamber and small rooms on the
second floor There were four fire
places and mantelpieces in the large
assembly room The dOuble-staircase
leading from the first floor 10 the sec
ond floor gave a picturesque aspect OF
the west wall The three windows in
the bay in the east wall and the two
doors on either side OF the bay lead
ing into the rear yard are indicated
The four fireplaces and mantel-pieces
walls The large room on the second
floor was like the assembly room be
low. except that it was smaller. there
being two rooms cut off from it. The
trees. the rear garden, the turn-stile
the town clock and the town bell IN
the belfry, imported by Joseph Tat
nall all contributed To- the worth anC
charm OF the building.
In 1898. the city governing bodl
was the chief burgess and his assis
tants and the Town Hall was spOkel
of as the house of burgesses. Thil
governing body. Of course, sat in III
council chamber In the second story
All matters Of civic business werl
discussed in town meetings held II
the large assembly room on the frs