Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-20

street. with a mansard roof and CEN
tral dome on the Sixth street side. with
smaller but similar roof adornments at
either end.
The New Home Grows
Sculptural ornamentations were added,
including Corinthian column at the
corner, the arms of the State over the
Sixth street entrance, symbolical figure
over the tablet on the Sixth street dome
and a statue of Franklin, which sur
mounts the column at the corner of
Sixth and Chestnut streets. All of the
sculpture was carried out in brownstone
In order to match the material of the
building.
Philadelphia watched the gradual
building of the structure, which slowly
assumed form, and on June 20. 1867. the
new Office was tremendously opened.
The city talked about it while the
building was being put up. and for
years after 1t was opened 1t was re-
garded as one of the sights which no
visitor to the city was allowed to miss
seeing.
In those days newspapers were usually
published in the most unsightly quarters.
None could point to an architecturally
perfect and modernly equipped building.
built for the purpose. Therefore. the
Public Ledger Building fifty-one years
age, was regarded. rather justly, as the
in this forward direction by its pro-
prietor has since set the example, and
there are today handsome, and perfectly
designed newspaper plants in various
cities of the country, but the Ledger
Building was the first.
Having erected such a building, there
would have been a distinct loss in open
ing business there without letting the
world into the secret. That was not one
who was known-to the most distinguish
ed men in the country at the time, in
cluding men In all professions and busi-
nesses. to say nothing Of officials from
Cabinet officers down to mayors. Mr..
Childs appointed an opening day and
sent out invitations to men of mark
everywhere.
In the accounts published in the Pub
lie Ledger at the time Of the opening
great deal of stress was laid upon
the novelties of construction that had
been incorporated in the makeup of the
building. For instance, the description
of the wrought-iron columns which sup
ported the south wing of the building
over the pressroom was fitted for a
masterpiece, but as matter of fact the
words were well spent for after more
than half century these self-same col
umns are Just as good as the day they
were put in place
As the composing room, which ex-
street side of the building on the fifth
floor, was regarded as the model depart
! ment at the time. being high and we'll
ventilated. and also lighted by innumer-
able windows, 1t was there that the
guests Of MIR. Childs were assembled al
1857.
AT IL o'clock precisely" runs the
contemporary account of the opening.
the magnificent flags presented by the
Messrs. Horstmann were thrown to the
breeze. the national State and city col
ors being displayed from the fiagstaffs
At 3 o'clock the guests began to arrive
was a brilliant gathering of representa- :
tive men. The literary. mechanical and
mercantile world. together with clergy
men Of the different denominations.
poets and authors. judges and lawyers.
physicians, architects. artists, writers
and publishers, were represented. Mill
tary and naval men, as well as civilians.
were present and never before in the
history of Philadelphia was there seen