USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 50
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It would be an exhibition of base ingratitude, and as unnatural as base, were the people of Providence not proud of their city hall. It is indeed the finest and most imposing building in the city. Nor can many cities of America boast of a better one. The interest with which it has been visited, and the favorable criticisms which it has universally received from strangers and citizens alike, both as to its completeness of architectural design and its spacious and convenient accommodations for the transaction of municipal business, are the highest tribute to the efforts of the committee who secured the plans, the architect who designed, and the commissioners who supervised. The first definite action toward the erection of a city hall was taken in the form of a resolution by the city council November 10th, 1845, to the effect that such a building was needed, and appointing a com- mittee to secure plans and estimates. The committee reported in the following January, but the plans were immature, and from that time to 1853 various resolutions were passed by the council, appointing committees to secure a location. February 13th, 1854, a committee was directed to purchase the land on which the city hall now stands, and the purchase was effected on the 22d of April following. Again
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
definite action was delayed until March 26th, 1874, when the city council appointed a committee and empowered them to offer a prize of $1,000 for the best plan and estimate for a city hall to be built on the lot bounded by Dorrance, Washington, Eddy and Fulton streets. This committee secured a combination of plans, modified to meet their requirements, and on the Sth of October, 1874, the modified plans having been approved, the city council appointed James Y. Smith, George H. Corliss and William G. R. Mowry, commissioners to build the city hall. They organized on the 12th, and proceeded at once to set the work in motion. The services of Mr. S. F. J. Thayer, of Boston, were secured as its architect. The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies by the Masonic fraternity June 24th, 1875. The occasion was celebrated by a Masonic parade and an ad- dress by Mayor Thomas A. Doyle and an oration by General Horatio Rogers. The box, containing a long list of current articles, was placed in the stone which lies on the corner of Washington and Dorrance streets, and is directly beneath the section of the plinth moulding adjacent to the corner section which extends on the Wash- ington street side. There is so much of historic suggestion in the following passage from the oration of General Rogers, delivered on this occasion, that we here present it.
"Our ancestors were simple men with frugal habits, and the vari- ous accommodations from time to time provided for our public affairs, afford at once an indication of their character, and an illus- tration of the growth of the place. In our earlier years the town meetings were held in the open air. The annual town meeting in June, 1676, we find, was holden 'before Thomas Field's house, under a tree by the waterside,' near what is now the corner of South Main and Crawford streets. Later, the Friends' meeting house was called into requisition. In 1730, the town united with the county in building a modest county house, 40 by 30 feet square, conditioned that the town meetings should be holden there. After resorting to various expedients, however, for a place for holding town meetings, the town council meanwhile meeting at private houses and public taverns in a very itinerant sort of way, the old town house on the corner of College and Benefit streets was purchased, in 1794, of the Congregational society, for the meetings of the town, and at the same time the town directed the town clerk to keep his office in the market house chambers, and the town council to hold its meetings there. Thus matters continued for more than half a century. At last, to make room for this public authorities, the Masons were ousted from the third story of the market house, which they had been per- mitted to add in 1797. A little over 20 years ago, this lot on which we stand was procured, and it was proposed that a city hall should be erected here. Forthwith arose a grand municipal uproar, and the question of a city hall, like a veritable apple of discord, convulsed
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the councils of the city. One measure of opposition to the project was the expulsion of the butchers from the basement and first floor of the market house, and the adaptation of the whole building to public uses. This device quieted the opposing factions for a season, but the vexed question soon again agitated the community. Two years ago the city council, not without the strongest opposition, voted that this lot should be cleared by a certain day, while the last council firmly. and courageously brushed all obstacles aside, ordered and accepted plans, elected commissioners, and directed that the city hall should be built, to use its own phrase, 'forthwith.' Thus ended one of the most bitter and protracted controversies ever known in this com- inunity."
Work was commenced and carried forward without delay. The ground upon which the building stands is of artificial formation. Soundings and borings developed the discovery that the safest levels varied from 17 to 47 feet below mean high water mark. The ques- tion of providing an adequate sub-structure to sustain the immense weight of 36,000 tons, which is the weight of materials in the build- ing, was one not easily to be disposed of, but it was successfully accomplished. The foundations are composed of 3,128 piles, driven into hard-pan and cut off at 23 feet below high water, thus secur- ing their constant submersion, a condition of permanency. Above this and to the sidewalk level are walls of block granite. The su- perstructure is of cut granite, backed by a vaulted brick wall in all its external parts, and in its interior by similar walls of brick alone. These are generally of great thickness. The floors throughout are built with iron beams or girders, rolled beams for the smaller, and girders of plate and angle iron for the larger spans. The roof and dome are unique, but not experimental in their construction. Upright rafters carry purlins of T iron, in which are fitted slabs of concrete. These are covered with slate and copper according to their slope. The general plan of the building is simple and organic. It is in shape a rectangle of 134 by 160 feet, divided by four inter- secting walls, forming the central hall in the middle and business apartments on the outer lines. The architectural character of the building is a simple rendering of the renaissance; adopted because of its natural tendency toward symmetrical arrangements. In its ex- terior decorative work has been sparingly used, but when used care- ful drawings and models were prepared, to adapt the detail to the hard, unyielding character of the materials, It is built in cut granite, having its main entrance from Dorrance street. Viewed from any point on Exchange place it presents a striking appearance, present- ing the idea of great strength and massive dignity rather than diversified ornamentation. It is surrounded by a sidewalk com- posed of granite blocks from five to six feet in width and from 18 to 21 feet in length.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The basement, entered by doors on each of the four streets sur- rounding the building, is occupied by the police department, board of public works, superintendent of health, superintendent of public schools, and the sealer of weights and measures, and is plainly but elegantly finished in oak. Beneath the basement is a cellar contain- ing the four 50-horse-power boilers designed to heat the building, the shops connected with the water department, and the machinery for operating the elevator. The main or first floor is reached from the street by a broad flight of steps on Dorrance street. Within, the apartments are arranged about a hollow square, the central part of the building being devoted to spacious corridors, with floors of white marble and wainscoting of variegated marbles, in which black and gray predominate. On the landing, part way up a broad flight of white marble stairs, which at this point divide and reach the cor- ridor above on either side, we are confronted by a bronze tablet bearing this historic inscription.
CORNER STONE LAID JUNE 24, 1875. COMMISSIONERS FROM 1874 TO 1876: JAMES Y. SMITH, GEORGE H. CORLISS, WILLIAM G. R. MOWRY. COMMISSIONERS FROM 1876 TO 1878: WILLIAM G. R. MOWRY, HENRY G. RUSSELL, WILLIAM M. BAILEY. DEDICATED NOVEMBER 14TH, 1878. THOMAS A. DOYLE, MAYOR. SAMUEL J. F. THAVER, ARCHITECT.
From these stairs one has an unobstructed view of the dome to its glass and iron covering, and by which the central part of the building is well lighted. The other floors are reached by stairs on one side of the building, while an elevator, run by the use of water, occupies the other side. The corridors are supported by six polished granite pillars and surrounded by massive iron balustrades. At the right of the main entrance on the first floor is the executive depart- ment, comprising the outer or mayor's clerk's office and the public and private offices of the mayor. These offices are sumptuously furnished. The remainder of the first floor is occupied by the de- partments of the treasurer, auditor, tax assessors, recorder of deeds and city messenger and the reception room. The latter room is finished in mahogany and furnished throughout with great elegance and taste. Splendid mirrors adorn either end of the room, and the walls are covered with embossed leather of beautiful design. The remaining rooms on this floor, as well as in the rest of the building, are finished, with one exception, in oak, and are supplied with every convenience, among which should be mentioned the impregnable safes of the Corliss patent in the treasurer's vaults, which are a marvel
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of mechanical ingenuity. The second floor contains the chambers of the common council and the board of aldermen, occupying the en- tire Dorrance street front, the municipal court room, the law depart- ment, the offices of the city clerk and committee rooms. The alder- men's chamber is suitably provided with desks and is beautifully finished in mahogany. A private staircase communicates from this with the mayor's office directly below. The council chamber is a spacious and lofty room, 58 by 46 feet on the floor and 36 feet high, and is lighted at night by a 50-light chandelier. The desks of the members are separated by a railing from the seats of the audience, near the entrance and under the balcony, which is entered from the story above. Upon the walls hang the portraits of all the mayors of the city from its incorportion to the present time. On the third floor are the city engineer's department, the offices of the superintendents of lights and of public buildings, and the room of the committee on claims. The janitor's rooms and fire-alarm battery room are on the fourth floor. Speaking tubes and electric annunciators connect the offices of the mayor and messenger with every other office in the building, and electric clock dials are stationed throughout, while the building is supplied with abundant telephonic connection with the outside world. The total cost of the building was $1,034,521.84.
The City Building, the old market house, now occupied by the board of trade, is for antiquity one of the most important public buildings of the city. Aside from its historic associations, it has ro claim to any particular notice. Its position is conspicuous, standing as it does on the east side of Market Square, upon which it seems to look with grim and sombre mien. Mention has already been made in a previous chapter of the erection of this building. It was built by lottery in 1773, and a third story was added by St. John's Lodge of Free Masons, in 1797, for their own use. The building was occu- pied in part for the use of the town, but the lower story was let to different market dealers, finally being occupied by meat dealers altogether, but the gradual absorption of different parts of the build- ing by the various departments of the city government at last crowded out every other occupant. After the removal of the muni- cipal offices to the new city hall, however, the building was leased to the board of trade, by whom it is now occupied.
The custom house, on Weybosset street, is a fit type of the solidity and permanency of our National Union. It is a structure of pleasing architectural proportions, is built of granite, and belongs to the gov- ernment of the United States. It is three stories high, and was erected at a cost of about $225,000. It was completed and opened in 1857. Upon the upper floors are the internal revenue office, the United States court room, and rooms for the judges and other gov- ernment officials. The lower story is devoted to the uses of the post office department. This department rearranged and refurnished its
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quarters in 1880, putting in at that time, among other improvements, over 1,500 brass letter boxes secured by Yale locks. The business office and registered letter department is open from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., except Sundays and legal holidays. The general delivery and letter carriers' department is open from 7 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. On Sundays the general delivery and carriers' window are open from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. only.
The old state prison, on Gaspee street, north of the cove, is a massive granite structure, two stories in height. The location is also known as Great point. The erection of the buildings was begun in 1837, and they were completed during that and the following year, and were first occupied November 15th, 1838. The prison building is 48 by 93 feet. A corridor ten feet wide runs through the center, on each side of which are cells for the prisoners. The house for the warden is 48 feet square, and is connected by a smaller building with the prison. This is of common stone, while the walls of the prison are of granite. The prison yard is 122 feet by 241, and is enclosed by a stone wall 15 feet high. The county jail, a building 27 by 66 feet and two stories high, also adjoins the keeper's house. This was added in 1839. The prison building was erected at a cost of $51,500. Owing to the unhealthy conditions of the locality the prison and jail were built on the state farm at Cranston, some six miles from the city, and the prisoners were removed to their quarters there in 1878.
The old arsenal on Benefit street, near Meeting street, is a gloomy structure of plastered stone, with two castellated towers on the corn- ers of the front. It was built for a state arsenal in 1840, and was used for the purpose for a time. Since the munitions and arms have been distributed to different parts of the state the building has been leased to the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery.
Repeated attempts were made to get the city to adopt some plan for supplying its people with water by a system of public water works, but the element of opposition to the project repeatedly showed itself too strong. In 1853, 1856, 1864 and in May, 1866, the citizens voted adversely on the question. But on the 9th of July of the year last mentioned the city council appointed a committee to examine and again report upon the subject. Under their direction preliminary surveys were made by J. Herbert Shedd, a civil engi- neer, then of Boston. After thorough investigations an exhaustive report was made, setting forth four different plans and estimating the cost of each. These plans were the Scott's pond, the Pawtuxet, the Ten-Mile river and the Pawtucket plans. February 15th, 1869, the taxpayers voted in favor of adopting the Pawtuxet plan, an act having previously been passed by the general assembly authorizing them to introduce water works at their option. On the 27th of Oc- tober following the city council elected Moses B. Lockwood, Charles E. Carpenter and Joseph J. Cooke water commissioners for three
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years. They organized and proceeded with the work, employing Mr. Shedd and competent assistants as engineers to carry forward the enterprise. Mr. Lockwood died May 13th, 1872, and the vacancy thus caused was filled by the election of Mr. William Corliss. Near the close of the three years, for which the commissioners were orig- inally elected, their term was extended nine months, but on the 27th of February, 1874, they were re-elected as a new board, to act until their successors were chosen.
Immediately after the organization of the department the neces- sary surveys were made, lands purchased or condemned, and in the spring of 1870 the construction of temporary pumping works and Sockanosset reservoir, and the laying of pipes were commenced and vigorously pushed forward. As the first grand result of the work Pawtuxet water flowed into the city on the 18th of November, 1871, and the event was appropriately celebrated twelve days afterward. A steam pumping station had been erected on the banks of the Paw- tuxet, which was capable of raising 200,Cc0 gallons an hour. A con- duit in one bank of the Sockanosset reservoir, connecting the inlet with the outlet chamber, could be used through which to supply the city; the pumping engine was connected with the reservoir by one line of force main, and the reservoir with the city with one line of leading main; and distribution pipes to the length of about 30 miles had been laid. The first service stop was opened December 1st, 1871. After the introduction of water the other important features of the works were constructed as rapidly as circumstances would per- mit. These were the Pettaconset and Hope engine houses and en- gines, and Hope reservoir. The estimated cost of construction of the works on the Pawtuxet plan was $4,477,035.08. The growth of the city and the demands of that growth have carried the work beyond the original plan, so that the total expense of construction of the works up to June 30th, 1889, amounted to $5,431,278.71. The total number of service stops opened to that time was 14,767, of which about 1,000 were not then in actual use. The average daily consump- tion of water by the city is about 72 million gallons. The total num- ber of fire hydrants is 1,314.
The Pettaconset pumping station is situated on the Pawtuxet river, about six miles from the city hall. The erection of temporary works was begun in 1870 and completed in 1871. The lands pur- chased and taken comprise the "Aldridge farm," containing about 97 acres, measuring to the middle of the river, the bulk of which lies in the town of Cranston, about one-half an acre lying in the town of Warwick. On the farm is an old dwelling house and barn and three neat one and a half story cottages. The temporary engine and boiler house, already mentioned as being erected in 1871, stands on the bank of the river, and in it is a Worthington engine, capable of pumping five million gallons in 24 hours. A permanent fire-proof
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engine house of Danvers pressed brick and Westerly granite, with slated iron roof, was built in 1873 and 1874, and in it was erected an engine, of a capacity of about 9,000,000 gallons. A standpipe was erected in connection with it to a height of 186 feet. Be- neath this house a bed of quicksand of great depth was found, and the unstable bottom, affected by the motion of the engine, caused the standpipe to settle, and in 1879 an attempt was made to strengthen it, by driving piles about the foundation of the pump. Forty piles, about 25 feet long and ten inches in diameter, were driven, and the results were partially satisfactory. The engine house is 129 feet in length, and the boiler house connected with it is 179 feet in length. The width of the former is 56 feet and that of the latter 55 feet. The walls of the engine house are 49 feet high. An additional engine house was built near the bank of the river in 1881 and 1882, in which an engine of about 9,000,000 gallons capacity was placed. Both house and engine were erected by George H. Corliss. A coal house was erected in 1885. Between the pumping stations first erected and the river is a large basin 30 feet deep, from which water is pumped. It was originally intended that this basin should receive the water from the river by natural filtration through the embankment, but the formation proved less porous than was supposed, and water could not be obtained in sufficient quantity by that means, so it was deemed expedient to connect the basin with the river by pipes through the em- bankment. Two lines, of about 950 feet each in length and of 36 inch diameter, of force mains are laid in this tract. A strip of land 50 feet wide and about 380 feet long is used as a road from the northerly part of the "Aldridge farm" to the Pontiac road. Connected with the water works there is also a tract in Warwick, known as the " Rhodes farm," of about 235 acres, extending from the Pawtuxet river across the Stonington railroad and the Greenwich road to Duck pond. Adjoining this tract is another of 83 acres, known as the "Chace farm," also in Warwick.
The line of force mains, two iron pipes 36 inches in diameter, after leaving the "Aldridge Farm " and crossing the Pontiac road under a dry bridge, extend a distance of 3,324 feet to the Sockanos- set Hill cross road, and run along that road to the New London turn- pike; crossing the turnpike they are laid in the cross road until within about 200 feet of the reservoir embankment they enter the lands of Sockanosset Hill reservoir and so continue to the inlet cham- ber. This reservoir is about one mile from the pumping station.
At the time of the freshet in February, 1886, the water in the Pawtuxet river at the Pettaconset station reached an unprecedented height, submerging the basements of the engine houses. By the same freshet the bridge on Reservoir avenue, over the Pocasset river, which supports the large mains, was washed away, and the safety of the pipes for a time was seriously endangered. When the
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bridge was rebuilt, during the same year, these pipes were raised and permanently secured in a position beyond the liability of accident from another freshet.
The Sockanosset reservoir, on Sockanosset hill, is in the town of Cranston. The lands purchased and taken for the purpose comprise a farm of 101 acres, on the westerly side of the cross road, as that road was formerly located, a lot of about three acres, and a tract of about 13 acres, both on the westerly side of the same road, and about 12 acres on the easterly side of said road. The reservoir covers about 14 acres, embracing a portion of the farm, a portion of the old cross road, a portion of the last named tract, and the whole of the three-acre lot. It has a capacity of about 51.000,000 gallons. A stone cottage was erected near the inlet chamber, and is occupied by il.e keeper of the reservoir. The building of this reservoir was begun May 3d, 1870. A brick conduit passing through the embankment, connects the inlet and outlet chambers independently of the reser- voir. This reservoir is located about five and a half miles from the heart of the city. It is the feeder of Hope reservoir and the high service pumps, and is the most important reservoir in the system. Its plan is pyriform, to suit the character of the ground. It is about 1,000 feet long, and about 850 feet wide at the wide part. The height of the water above mean high tide in Providence river is 180 feet, 6 inches. The embankment is of earth, 19 feet high above the bottom of the reservoir, and 15 feet wide at the top. The high water line is four feet below the top of the embankment. The inlet cham- ber is at the south end and the outlet chamber at the northeasterly extremity. Over each of these chambers is a neat and substantial gate house, built of stone and covered with a slated roof. The 36-inch force mains are continued through the embankment, termi- nating in separate cells within the inlet chamber, from which the water which enters can be turned either into the reservoir or into the conduit leading directly to the outlet chamber. The outlet chamber has three similar cells, connected by 30-inch pipes through the em- bankment with the leading mains to the city.
Two leading mains of 30-inch iron pipe extend from Socka- nosset reservoir into the city, making connection with Hope reservoir and with the distributing mains of the city. In 1874 a second line of 30-inch leading mains was laid from the Sockanosset reservoir by the side of the first to the junction at Greenwich and Public streets.
Hope reservoir is located in the eastern part of the city, within the square enclosed by Olney, Thayer, Barnes and Brown streets. The lands purchased and taken for the purpose comprise about 18 acres. The reservoir has a capacity of about 76,000,000 gallons, At the northwesterly corner of the reservoir lands, on Olney street, stands the high service engine house. This is a fine building of Westerly, Concord and Quincy granites, and Danvers pressed brick,
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