Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1895 — DESIGN FOR A TOWN HALL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DESIGN FOR A TOWN HALL.

Suited to the Bequirementa of a Town of Five Thousand People, Here Is a study for & small town hall, suited to the requirements of a town of from four to five thousand inhabitaijts. There should be in every town the public building, in which all should take equal delight and pride. Thia building should not be a wooden, tum-ble-down, flat or mansard-roof dry goods box, neither need It bfi an attic in some building, the lower part of which is used as a store-room for kerosene or any other equally combustible material, but should be a real solid, substantial brick building, which should be built in a proper manner, the floors fireproof—not built in that slip-shod fashion that old fogies always prefer, the wooden beam and floors forming beautiful flues for the devouring flames to creep through, thereby at all times rendering such buildings perfect man traps. The roof should be a feature of the building, and not, as many suppose, be made to appear as small as possible, as If It was something to keep out of sight In the design here illustrated it has not been the aim to produce anything but a good, plain, honest build-

ing, suited to the requirements of a country town. The basement is reached by front entrance directly under main entrance, and the floor of porch above forms a covered porch for basement entrance. The hall is large and spacious, and commihiicates with court room, heater room and firemen’s sitting room, also hall of first floor by a flight of easy stairs. The Are engine room is large, and bis two large doors suitable for runniV in engine and hose wagon, and conneAing as it does with sitting room, makes* convenient arrangement. The chief’s Vftice is connected with court room aid has an outside door. Four cells arl provided, in which to stew away atltimes the refactory individual who insists on being in hot water. The first floor contains court room with judges’ and jury room, town clerk’s offUe, with large fire proof vault

in which to stow away the town records, two good offices which should hold lawyers enough to do what legal business is necessary to be done in a town of this size. The hall is spacious and communicates directly with offices and court room, and has a broad and easy staircase ascending to the large, high hall above, ‘the whole of which is in one room for assembly purposes. Such a hall as this is capable of being fitted up and answering for everything required in a country town, as a caucus meeting or a theatrical performance, for private parties and public balls, church fairs or even ministers’ donation parties. This hall would be a source of revenue that would almost run the entire building, and would be a source of continual enjoyment to the citizens of the town. The building is thoroughly ventilated throughout The outer walls built of good, honest red brick in colored mortar, with stone basement, water table, sills, steps, etc. The roof slated. The

first and second floors of rolled wrought 1 iron beams and corrugated Iron arches, filled in with cement concrete, on which is bedded the sleepers the bard pine floors are laid on. The interior finish to be of bard wood, in a plain and suitable manner. , Cost, $12,0©0. (Copyright by Palliser, Palliser <fe Co., New York.)

PERSPECTIVE VIEW.

PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.

PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.