Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-07-02

tendence of the financial matters con-
nected with it's construction. it ap-
pears that the building cost originally
S16,250. The two wings which now
form important additions to the struc-
ture were not erected until 1739-40,
and increased the total cost to $685.
600.
The woodwork Of the steeple by
which the state house was first sur
mounted, on examination in 1774, was
found to be so much decayed that it
was decided to remove it, and 1t was
accordingly taken down, leaving only
small belfry to cover the bell for the
use of the town clock-which had only
one dial face at the western end Of
the building. In this condition it re-
NAMED until 1929, when the steeple
which now crowns the building was
erected on the plan Of the original one.
OF course, all Americans know that
The Declaration of Independence was
drafted in independence hall and read
to the assembled public in the state
house yard, not on July 4, but on
July 8, 1776. There is lobby in the
nall that extends the whole length of
the building, and In this lobby the
American officers who were captured
at the battle of Germantown were re-
tanned as prisoners. 1t was used as
hospital after the battle Of Brandy
wine.
Restoration Long Sought.
While the history of the movement
to restore and preserve Independence
hall and the adjacent buildings is gen
orally believed to be of comparatively
modern origin, it dates back In reality
to an earlier period. When the gov
eminent of the United States aban-
doned Philadelphia for the new ma
tional capital all sentiment departed
with it, and it is doubtful If the vast
majority Of people even so much as
gave passing thought to the spot
where one Of the greatest events in
the worlds history happened. The
archways on either side of Indepen-
dence hall were torn out and in their
places were constructed city and coun-
ty buildings which almost transformed
the place beyond recognition, and even
Visitors paid but scant courtesy to the
misunderstanding building that had era
died the infancy Of the nation.
It is true that on the anniversary OF
the great day some kind of exercises
always were held there, but except
with the few, interest seems sadly to
have declined until 1860, when an event
happened which may be justly de-
scribed as the dropping of the first
seed that began to terminate into u
national reverence and respect for the
place and the objects SO clearly asso-
ciated with the glorious memories Of
the past.
The occurrence may not be fatter-
ing to the people of that generation,
but it was altogether so curious and
unique that it deserves to be general
Iy known When King Edward VII.
then prince-of Wales and travelling as
Baron Renfrew, visited Philadelphia
in 1860, one of the places he partfcu-
larly expressed desire to visit was
independence hall. There he spent
considerable time, examining every OBJ
ject and asking many questions. In
the Declaration chamber he was shown
the Liberty bell, which, it is said, was
stored in a corner and surrounded by
a lot of boxes and rubbish. The
prince expressed great surprise that
an object which so justly deserved ven
GRAFTON should be treated with so lit
tie respect, and it is said that, turning
to the mayor, he exclaimed, .This bell
should be treasured and reverenced
by the people of the United States as
their most precious heirloom!" That
remark stirred a ripple Of thought In
the right direction, but it operated
slowly, and although talk Of restoring
independence hall became general and
interest in it grew and was accelerated
by the centennial exposition, nothing
of a substantial nature was done until
late In the last century.