Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-06
WIlFRED JORDAN
On lndependence Hall


THE first public museum and the first
i public art exhibit in America were on the
second floor of Independence Hall. Also,
there used to be a little 700 III tho square
which boasts now only few venturcSomc
squirrels IN midsummer. Wiltrcd Jordan.
curator Of Congress Hall and independence
Hall, believes that the foregoing are only
a few of numerous interesting facts about
this national shrine Of which many Philadel-
phianS do not know.
"lndppCndcnCc Hall is the only national
monument Of which there is kept an accurate
scale drawing noting every feature. h" Snid.
THE city Of Philadelphia had the foresight
TO have this done, both exterior and Interior,
primarily in case of fire or other accident
which might destroy the building. Ihus u Is
assured that the old State House which shei,
tered the first Pennsylvania Assemblies, 'nnd
which saw such stormy sessions at the con
stitutonal convention. could be restored III
detail were il destroyed.
Every one knows how many events of
national import have taken place there. but
many do not know Of Charles wilson S
ppalc's museum, opened soon nttcr the lteNo-
luton, or of tho picture exhibition held IN
1884. Peale was a painter contemporary WIN
Stuart and Trumbull, who painted !h' sign
ing of the Declaration. \ bald eagle, when
was part of Pcalc's 200, Is still kept Stuitcd'
Housed First Gas Plant
.'Thc first successfully operated gas
illuminating plant was run in the state
TIouse. While doing some restoration work
in the tower. workmen found tin tubing an
inncr tube within an outer, believed 10 nave
been part Of this first gas plant instalatloh.
Ills gas plant Peale advertised In papers OF
TINT time as a feature OF the exhibit no
rnn on the second floor. Hc used to issue
20 rds of admission and also there were struck
n number of modallions bearing his portrait
and good for admission to the museum
at that time Independence Hall was the
CanitOl Of the state and the hrSt moor was
used for official business. Here tn" first
Cnlnnial Assembly Of Pennsylvania met and
later Congress used TN" sam" chnlrs ana
tohlc and desks for the thirty-six sgners
20 tho Declaration, also members Of the
constitutional convention,
''In anticipation Of the proposed sosQni-
centennial exposition here, am making an
effort TO complete as far as poSsblc tn" col
lection Of chairs used by thrs" H'gherS' -"
rar we have twenty three out OF possible
,omr most recent acquisition was gained in
~, int,restinu way. ON the occasion of
General Pcrshing's visit here, when b" got
hack from France. a cousin Of his, Edward
! Pcrshing of Pcnl!yn' aSErd 10 o. alIo""n
IN view the parade from inside the door !
allowed this, somewhat doubtful of his
identify until the general greeted him
warmly. Later Mr. Pershing told mo he
lived, in the old FOulk mansion az l"nlI%n'
,,hcre Washington was entertained and Sallle
Wtstar wrote her famous diary,
Historic Chair Found
eft appears that when he got the prop.
,rtv from the Drinkcr family he acquired
oIsn some old furniture in the attic, all
"Tcent Aunt Mary's chair. Two relatives
- rho Drinkers came to claim this chair,
L,t evidently were in doubt as to which
II was, My impression is that they got the
wrony one, for we found another chair,
mike the rest. which seems TO be without
doubt one Of the chairs sat In by the slgncrs
Of the Declaration.
These chairs all showed traces of the
Chippcndale influence in their designing and
were made by an English cabinctmnkcr
named Punkett Flccson, at Third aud
Chestnut streets.
Zone chair now on exhibition We know
WINS occupied by George Washington. In Il
Ictter to his wife, John Adams noted the
neculiar design Of this chair, ChinCSc
| Chiurrndae In the hack Of the chair is
carved a large sun, Adams wrote tnat he
had often noted this sun behind Washing
| ton, and often wondered. as the new rcpub-
| lie hovcrrd on the edge Of its being, whethcr
| that was rising or setting sun, Al length
| thc convention finished It's work. and Adams
! said that he knew it was the rising sun OF
! n new republic.
| at was the speakers chair. now callc
| the signcrs' chair aud was used by all III,
| presidents OF the Continental Congress
| being later taken 10 Lancaster when thu
! capital Of Pennsylvania was removed