Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-18
OLD cITY HALL REsrnRArInN.

VNyHEN months ago. We started the public agitation
w which resulted in the saving old City Hall
from the hands OF the house-wrecker. there
persons who criticized on the ground that
the old building should be permitted to continue
70 occupy valuable space in Market Fortunately
for the public and for postorty such directors
a minority. Patriotic organizations and individuals
rallied 10 the support Of the movement The building
was saved and the next popular step will be 10
store ii 10 what il before architectural yandals
made changes which We're not In harmony with the
structure
The people Of Wilmington are fortunate indeed in
having the old City Hall saved In years to come
that fact viii be appreciated more fully than It is to-
day. In that connection desire to call attention
to an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Even
ing Bulletin August Is, It is entitled binding the
Old City Hail." and is as follows:
An interesting bit OF architectural research has been
going on al Fifth and Chestnut during this sum-
mer in tho Efforts Of committee Of local architects
to discover the original condition Of the old City Hail.
Erected in 1880, the first purely municipal Office
building the city possessed the building has had
meIous tenants and frequent changes have been made
IN ITS structural form But, 10y slow and laborous
process of peeng the plaster from the walls bit BY
bit studying the age of the successive layers
ing ana noting every bit Of detail. making Photographic
records looking historical data and examining every
print or drawing Of independence Square and its build
ings that could be obtained, the committee has been
enabled to gain what is believed 10 be an accurate az
well as new idea Of the original design Of the build
Ing.
According to Horace Wells Sellers the chairman OF
the Preservation OF Historic Monuments Of the Pha-
delDhia Chapter Of the American Institute OF Archi-
tects when Congress Hall and City Hall built they
were based on The same plan drawn that the flank
ing structures on either side of the old state House
would be exact counterparts forming a perfectly SYM
metlical grouping OF city State national buildng1
AS regards the interior Of these TWO structures how
ever there were points Of difference that have Just
been revealed to the delivers in this bit colonial archi-
lecture
As the plaster has been removed traces have been
discovered Of forgotten s'arWays abandoned balloon es
and altered partitions. The original plan of the old
City Hall IL is now believed provided a large office
lot the Mayor IN the northeast corner the first floor
spacious quarters for the Mayors court extend NJ
across the rear OF the building but with twenty feet
Aoaeo 70 the width OF the by bringing the parti-
non nearer Chestnut street. while the northwes, eru
quarter or the building entirely set aside for a
spacious hallway, wide stairway and meeting place
WIN entrances both from Chestnut street and from the
htate blouse yard There was then no mezzanine floor
such as was added at later period but from one OF
the stairway landings access gained 10 balcony
that extended entirely the rear Of the Mavos
court On the second floor there We're but two rooms
& is said for each branch Councils the larger
one being directly the Mayors court while select
Council had its original quarters In small room Al
tle northeast corner Of this floor.
There then entrance from Fifth street al.
sAough there two doorways in the rear OF tbs