Lebanon Public Hall from Beers History of Warren County, Ohio

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The History of Warren County, Ohio

Lebanon Public Hall

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Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 3 December 2004

Sources:
The History of Warren County Ohio
Part IV Township Histories
Turtle Creek Township
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)
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458

On the morning of September 1, 1874, occurred the most disastrous fire in the history of Lebanon, destroying the old town hall, Congregational Church, Ross Hotel and other buildings. Two months later, the Council authorized an election to decide the question of levying a tax of 3 1/2 mills for eight years, aggregating about $45.000, for the purpose of erecting a public hall, corporation offices, etc The election was held November 16, 1874. It attracted but little attention, and resulted in a vote of 197 yeas and 33 nays. The first plan approved by the Council was for a building 148x64 feet, three stories high. Numerous tax-payers obtained from the court an injunction against this gigantic structure, and the Council found, on opening the bids, that the cost of the structure would exceed the amount they proposed to expend. A new plan was adopted, which made a great improvement in the audience room. The third floor being left off gave an increase in the height of ceiling from twenty-four feet in the old plan to thirty-two feet in the new one; the length was diminished nearly twenty feet. A special act of the Legislature authorizing the sale of bonds and the erection of the hall was passed March 31, 1877. The stone work for the foundation was begun July 16, 1877; the building was fully inclosed before the severe weather of the succeeding winter set in, and was dedicated on September 2,1878. The edifice is the finest public building in Warren County. Though not built on high ground, it presents a fine appearance on approaching the town, especially from the west and south, looming up above surrounding buildings, and is the most conspicuous and imposing structure in Lebanon. It is built of Lebanon brick, the south and west fronts presenting a variety of ornaments of freestone, galvanized iron and saw-tooth brick work.

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On the Broadway front are two handsome tablets, a date block at each side of the pediment bearing the figures 18 and 77 respectively, and a coping for the pediment, all of freestone; and on a circular tablet of Berea stone, the seal of the corporation, viz. : "A cedar tree in the center, surrounded by the words, 'Corporation of Lebanon, Ohio.'" The expanse of the high slate roof is relieved by seventeen chimney-tops and twenty dormer ventilators. The cresting and finials of roof, dormers and towers are of galvanized iron painted blue, with prominent points touched with gold.

The following are the names of the designers and contractors in its construction:

Architect, George P. Humphreys, Cincinnati; excavation, William Saint, Dayton; stone masonry, Charles Seifred, Dayton; cut stone, Brice & Webber, Dayton; brick work, S. .V. Boren, Dayton; tin, galvanized iron and slating, W. F. Gebhart & Co., Dayton; cast and wrought iron. McHose & Lyon, Dayton; carpenter work. Beaver & Butt, Dayton; plastering, William Jones, Waynesville; painting and glazing, J. N. Turner, Lebanon; gas-fitting, M. J. Gibbons & Co., Cincinnati; gas apparatus, Coleman Gas Works, Cincinnati; gas fixtures, McHenry & Co. Cincinnati; frescoing, F. Pedretti. Cincinnati; scene-painting, Waugh, Levoy & Co., Cincinnati; stage machinery, A. Shrimpton, Cincinnati; chairs for main floor of hall, G. Henshaw & Sons, Cincinnati; chairs for gallery, J. N. Oswald, Lebanon.

The following figures, taken from the plans and specifications of the architect, are here placed on permanent record: The building outside, 132x64 feet; main audience room, including stage, 101x60 1/2 feet; height of first story inside, 141/3 feet; height of main hall, 32 feet; height of spire above pavement, 132 feet; Mayor's office, 33x24 1/2 feet; council chamber, 24 1/2 x24 1/2; library, 31 1/2x24 1/2; dressing rooms, 12x12; store rooms, 60x16; inside vault, 5x3; main stair hall and vestibule, 60x12 feet; width of east and west hall, 8 feet 2 inches. The foundation wall starts from footings 5 feet 2 inches wide, placed 11 feet below the pavement, and is 2 feet 6 inches wide at the top, constructed of large sized Dayton stone from an old canal lock. The north and south side brick walls are 25 inches wide for the first story, and 21 inches for the second. At each end of the building are two walls, 12 feet apart, continued to the roof, the thinnest of which is 17 inches wide. Three of the brick walls of the main tower rest upon the walls of the building. The fourth rests upon a wrought-iron box lintel 12x12 inches and 14 feet 8 inches long. The frame of the spire consists of eight uprights, 10x10 inches, resting on four cross-beams 10x10 inches, built into the walls. The tie beams for ceiling and roof are of two pieces of 5x10 inch timber, bolted together, 63 feet 4 inches long, in one length. Principal rafters are 9x12 inches; struts and straining beams, 8x8 inches.

Connected with the Council chamber is a vault for the preservation of books and papers. It is doubtless more nearly perfectly fire-proof than the common iron safes, and at the same time more capacious. It is built of two brick walls 13 and 9 inches wide with 4 inches space between them, and arched over with walls of the same thickness. It has two iron doors two feet apart, the outer one having a combination safe-lock. In the rear hall is the elevator, 4 feet square, extending from cellar to the stage. There is a collar under the entire structure 8 feet in the clear and divided by the foundation walls into twelve compartments.

From the front hall two broad flights of stairs lead to an upper vestibule 12 feet broad, from which two wide double doors, opening outward, lead into the main hall, and two higher stairways to the balcony. The first view of the auditorium when it is fully lighted up is very pleasing. The room is large, and with sufficient height to make it imposing. Good judges pronounce it one

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of the neatest, and handsomest halls in the State. The frescoing by Pedretti produces a very pleasing effect from the harmony and taste in the colors. The center-piece serves the double purpose of a ventilator and a beautiful ornament. The proscenium, which is six feet wide, plastered and frescoed, has pilasters at the sides, and at the top an excellent portrait, in oil of Gov. Thomas Corwin. The beautiful balcony is supported by iron rods from the ponderous roof frame, leaving the view below unobstructed by columns. A good view of the stage can be had from every chair in the balcony. The floor of the main hall, which is deadened by two inches of rnortar under the flooring, is level for about twenty feet in front, of the stage, and then rises toward the rear about one-third of an inch to the foot. The main floor is seated with light, comfortable and graceful oak chairs, with bent backs and perforated wood seats. The balcony has chairs of a different pattern. The seating capacity of the hall is about 1,100. When the stage is filled and the hall is crowded, it will hold 1,500.

The stage is large enough for all ordinary plays and show performances. It is 60 feet, wide and 30 feet deep. The front is 4 feet high, and the floor rises slightly from the front to the rear. The proscenium opening is 28x26 feet. The stage is lighted by fifty-six gas-burners.

There are four sets of grooves and four entrances on each side, and there maybe ready for use at one time on the grooves twelve scenes and twenty wings.

The scenery was all painted by De Witt C. Waugh, and consists of the following pieces:

Street, garden, wood, rocky pass and six good wings; horizon and two wings; plain chamber and four wings; parlor, palace-arch and four wings; prison and four wings; kitchen and four wings; four set rocks, rustic bridge, set cottage, set waters, balustrade, mantelpiece, set parlor door, set kitchen door, two drapery and three sky borders, proscenium wings and drop curtain.

The total cost of the edifice was about $86,000. The hall, which has received the popular name of Lebanon Opera House, was dedicated with a series of Shakespearean plays and modern comedies on the evenings of the week beginning Monday, September 2, 1878, by a full and efficient dramatic company, which included such actors as W. H. Power, Selden Irwin, E. R. Dalton, Julia A. Hunt and others.


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This page created 3 December 2004 and last updated 5 December, 2004
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