The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-22


plastered with expenSe inside and out.
Despite the enormous cost, however,
the County Court House which blocks
SO much of the sunlight in City Hall
Park. never was adapted fully to the
purpose for which II was built Much
OF the space is wasted in its interior
and the court rooms are stuffy. In the
days of William N. Tweed. when IA
uorite contractors who had the good
will OF the Boss, were able to put into
the court rooms anything they liked
in the way Of furnishings and hang
ings., air, and sunlight were not con-
sidered. Some of the old furniture of
Tweed's day still remains, although
most of it has been displaced in sue
cessive renovations.
The Tweed Court House Is regarded
as being past all architectural DOCTOR
ing. 1t is inadequate to the needs of
both bench and bar. There Is not room
within II for the offices and the cham
bers of the judges and the city has to
rent additional quarters for the judici-
sry in neighboring buildings. To take
any more ground space in City Hall
Park for the court house would cause
congestion of the throngs OF pedes-
TRANS in rush hours. The erection of
a tall tower with offices in It has been
discussed. but such a fabric would only
darken the park and would afford
comparatively little relief. 1t will only
be question of time, in the opinion
OF many. before the Tweed Court
House will have gone the way of other
buildings with less eventful history.
And stiII Another; o..
Even the modern skyscrapers go
this square toed intruder has stood
numbering the earth about long
enough. 1t was begun In 1861, and for
six years the park was Uttered with
the derricks and piles Of building ma
-terials. Since its completion in. 1857
II has given considerable service to the
city, and in spite Of the disgrace at
tending it's origin, 1t can be mustered
out of service with sufficient OF rec
ord to save its face
While the habit of razing is being
fostered in City Hall Park It would
be more than appropriate to make a
clean radiance of the home of the
City Court, a grim, unpleasing mass Of
brown stone at the northeast corner
Of the Enclosure. The building has
no historic association and would be
never missed. Its dim and smelly
halls are as uninviting as its ,dour
exterior. 1t looks more like a jail
than home of even handed justice.
Built in 1852 II lead a troubled ex-
istence for many years and about the
time that many citizens wished to see
It pulled down, another story was
added to II and fourteen years ago IL
started on a new lease of. III condi-
toned life. Were 1t not for the sunny
smile of Thomas F. Smith, secretary
OF Temmany Hall. who for many years
was clerk OF the. court. the sorrowful
old pile would have never had ray
a cheerfulness within its shabby ex-
terror.
One Building That Was Cheap.
Its original cost was only 100000 |
and that at a time when brown stone |
was fashionable. AS II looks much |
like a gigantic packing box painted a |
dull and dimgy brown, 1t IL not likely |
to pass amid much regret. There |
might have been some reason. for |
maintaining that scarcely less hideous |
example of the brown stone age. the |
old Hall OF Records. known once as
the Provost Jail because it had been
hallowed by the sufferings OF the |
brave men who were held prisoners
there on account OF their fight for |
the freedom of the country. but that
went the way of progress long since |
In the demand for a subway entrance. |
So worthy are its traditions and SO
me its outline, that the only object |
OF mans making which would really be |
loss to the park would be the City
Hall itself. The Municipal Building,