Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-17
OLD TOWN HALL IS
HISTORIC BUILDING
Historical Society of Delaware
Plans to Raise $l75,000 for
Its Restoration.

cent war, the Historical Society OF Della
ware will endeavor to raise S175,OOo. inns
amount. If secured, will be expended as
follows: To pay off n mortgage. Sou,uuu,
TO pay for restoration and reiurnishing the
building. $4,000, and to provide Tor an
endowment fund, $4,000.
On the completion of the City ana
County Building in 1916, the old Town
Hall WAS vacated by the city authorities,
and Council ordered its sale at public
auction. Having in mind It's historic asso-
citations. and the fact that it is fIne eX-
ample of colonial architecture, the His
torieal Society of Delaware determined, II
possN,le. TO save it. The society had
building fund of about $1,000, and this,
with S25. 900 contributed by friend, was
used in the purchase of the building at a
cost of 500. .51750. 4 mortgage was exc
cuted for the remainder OF the purchase
price.
\ pamphlet has been issued by the
society. giving the history OF the building,
and telling something of tho plans Tor ITS
restoration il sufficient funds can be OBJ
tanned for that purpose. 1t was the pur-
pose of the society to restore che building
10 its original condition and TO MAINTAIN
IL As "A public monument, the society act
ing as custodian thereof, and using the
building for the display OF its collection OF
historic relics, for its library and as meet
ing place.
rs stated, the war interrupted these
plans. and the building was turned over
"a The Delaware Chapter of the American
Red Cross, and was used as l6s mead
Quarters until January 20, 1870, thus
making another chapter of history for the
building.
The building was erected in 1898 ac-
cording TO plans drawn by Peter Bauduy.
Peter Bauduy was one of the French
refugees who came TO Wilmington. Tic
purchased Monckton Park, the summer
home of Robert Morris, the financier Of the
American Revolution, changed its name
"a Eden Park and engaged In grazing
sheep and making powder. lie was also q
man Of the broadcast cultuSs and an archi-
sect aud painter.
In I7aS. the citv governing body was the
,hicf burgess and his assistants and tho
Town Hall was spoken of as the House ot
Surgesses. This governing body. sat IN
the council chamber IN tho second story.
MI matters of civic business were discus
ed i'm town meetings held in the large
assembly room on the first floor.
From the start, the Town Hall was the
home of the civic life of the inhabitants
md also for the conduct oi all the irn-
lortant business. Judge BEDFORD held
he United States District Court there.
For many years 1T was the home OF the
Society Of Free Masons. One OF the rooms
IN Tho second story was occupied ex-
,Iuslvely by the Masons The Odd Fell
lows also had quarters there. The town
library. for many years, occupied an
other room in the second story. There the
fire companies had their headquarters.
Some of the societies regularly holding
their gatherings in the Town Hall were
Philosophical Society of Delaware, Ly-
ceum of Delaware, Abolition Society,
Society for the Suppression OF Vice and
immortality, Washington Benevolent So
cietv. Workman's Association, Delaware
Academy of Natural Sciences, Female
Temperance Society, Medical Society of
Delaware. horticultural Society, Board of
Trade and Board of Education.
The social and philanthropic work of
the town in early days centered IN the
Town Hall. The annual ball on Washing
tons birthday was always gwen there,
churches held fairs there, noted lecturers
and artists held forth there, and 1t was the
center of community life. Some of the
public events celebrated there between the
years 1899 and 1865, show the association
of the building with the history OF State
and nasion. Among them We're
1899. December 24-Death OF Wash
ington observed.
1901. March Election OF jefferson
celebrated with banquet.
1907, July 4-Seizure Of American
seamen by British, denounced by John
Dickinson at town meeting
1913. March-Fort Union at Rocks
constructed by order of the burgesses.
1913, March 4-Nictory OF Wasp
Jacob Jones, Capt. over 'Frohc cele-
brated BY public banquet.
1913. MAY G-The defense Of the bor-
ough provided for in a town meeting
upon receiving news of the landing Of the
ISIS February 22-Peace with Eng
land celebrated with the illumination Of
the hall.
1915, August Death of James A.
Bavard: Sr.. upon his return from Ghent)
observed at town meeting.
1916, February Encoura cement
of Manufacture, subject Of a memorial
by Borough Council to Congress.
1920, january Extension Of Slav-
ery' opposed in resolutions adopted at a
town meeting.
1923. June S-Csesar A. Rodney given
a public dinner upon his departure as
Minister to the United Provinces of
LiPlatta.
1924, October 26-Lafayette dinner.
1926, July 12-Death Of Jefferson and
Adams occasion of a notable town meet
ing.
1929, July - Louis McIane given a
public dinner upon his departure as
Minister to England, which was attended
by Martin Van Buren,
1893, June 2S-President Jackson re-
ception.
1886, september 27-General Harrison
reception.
1889, November 28-Col. Samuel y.
Davis presented with sword on behalf Of
tie State
1910, October Daniel Webster re-
ception, before public meeting on bill,
north Of kennett pike between West and
Tatnan streets.
1912, November 5-John NJ Clayton
addressed meeting for Henry Clay.
IS45. January 30-Delaware dragons
granted PERMISSION 10 drill.
IS47, April 10-Mexican victories cele-
brated.
1913. August 22- Delaware troops re-
turning from Mexico given reception and
dinner
1913 Lewis Cass reception.
1852, July-Henry Clay's body lay in
ate.
1856, October-Henry Wilson address
meeting for Fremont.
1861, July 25-Fitted up for enrolling
ID drilling troops
1899 AfarfI no ,Af.~-aJ a+ Dnrf