Newspaper article:Wayne County Democrat, Page2, 1888-06-06 - Wayne County Democrat June 6 1888

Wayne County Democrat, Page2, 1888-06-06 - Wayne County Democrat June 6 1888

Article title

• Dedicated: City Hall Transferred to the Public; Addresses by Hon. A. S. McClure and Hon. John McSweeney

Newspaper title

• Wayne County Democrat

Date of publication

• 1888/06/06

Page number

2

Organization

• City Of Wooster
• Wooster City Hall (1887)

Industry

• Public Administration > City and County Administration

"Dedicated: City Hall Transferred to the Public; Addresses by Hon. A. S. McClure and Hon. John McSweeney. G. A. R. Campfire-- Address by Department Commander O'Neil.

The new City Hall of Wooster was formally dedicated last Monday evening. The exercises were under the combined auspices of the City Council and Grand Army of the Republic, and consisted of an entertainment of addresses, music and recitations.

The Stanley Band at an early hour appeared on City Hall balcony and play several selections, thus having the honor to be the first to occupy the new building. Citizens commenced assembling at the Hall and were ushered to seats by the Sons of Veterans in uniform. Pleasure was expressed at the handsome appearance of the auditorium, which has seating capacity for nine hundred, all of the seats being opera chairs. The drop curtain is beautiful, a scene of Naples, and was admired by all. The stage was handsomely decorated with flags and a grand display of flowering plants.

At eight o'clock the curtain arose, before an audience of about five hundred, revealing seated on the stage the members of the City Council and those who were to take part in the exercises.

Lieut. J. R. Van Nest called to order, and as President of the evening introduced Col. Benj. Eason, who stated that Gen. Wiley had been selected to fill the position, but was indisposed and unable to be present.

Col. Eason

Then proceeded to make brief introductory remarks, saying that cities outlive nations and governments, and are the origin and out growth of our highest civilization. They notice great events and men by building monuments to their memory, and in the United States he cited the erection of the monument on Bunker Hill to commemorate the struggle for Independence, the Battle Monument in the City of Baltimore in memory of the soldiers of the war of 1812, and the highest monument in the world at City of Washington to honor of the greatest man that was ever on American soil. We have here, he concluded, in our city a monument that will be presented and dedicated to this people but he would not detain the audience by describing its growth, by that will be done by those who will address you.

He thereupon announced the first number on the programme. Solo, "The Two Grenadlers," by Mrs. J. B. Minier, Miss Winifred Hays piano accompanist. Mrs. Minier is an accomplished vocalist, cultivating and talented, and few have the pleasing power she possesses of capturing an audience. her singing on this, as on all occasions, was splendid.

Rev. I. N. Keiffer, Chaplain of ______ Post, offered a very appopriate and impressive prayer.

Song by the Male Quartet, composed of R. B. Snyder, J. D. Robison, Jr. Will Myers and Curt Snyder, which was excellently sung.

Presentation of Hall to City

Capt. A. S. McClure was then introduced, and on behalf of the City Council, presented the Hall to the city. It was a fine address, in substance as follows.

The occasion that draws us together, he said, is twofold in its object to dedicate the City Hall, and to take part in the camp fire of veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic. This association of objects is not incongruous, but congenial. Modern liberty sprung from the cities. The aspiration for civic freedom of the Italian, French, Spanish, German and English cities kept alive the flame of liberty in feudal times, for the benefit of modern society. All over Europe, when the country was over-run by robber barons, or oppressed by kingly power, the cities and towns, either exacted by force or bought with gold, liberal charters of free municipal government. Elsewhere, all is uncontrolled despotism. This condition of affairs was attributable to the fact, that then, as now, the bold, aspiring and indomitable spirits of the country flocked to the cities, which became the focus of intellectual and commercial activity, an asylum of civic freedom, and the only barrier to monarchical power. The proposition is indisputable, that Grecian liberty sprung from Athens. Italian liberty from the cities of Italy, French liberty from Paris, English liberty from London, and the voice of American liberty was first raised in Philadelphia. I therefore affirm with confidence that the two purposed to be sub served on this occasion, the dedication of the City Hall which signifies municipal progress, and the celebration of the camp fire of the Grand Army of the Republic, which denotes the activity of patriotism, are tightly combined. War like valor and municipal enterprise rest on the same foundation of public virtue.

He referred to the local government of Wooster twenty years ago, when he had the distinguished honor of being Recorder of the town, with Anthony Wright as Mayor, and stated the great progress that had been made since that time in organizing a police force, constructing water works, sewers, fire department, electric light, and last, but not least, we have erected this solid and commodious edifice and dedicated it forever to purposes of the municipal government, and the influences can not be otherwise than salutary.

As I look on this Hall, elegant and almost luxurious, resplendent with frescoes and chandelier, centrally located, easy of access and egress, safe against accident of fire, complete in all its equipment's, I feel a pride as a citizen of the municipality. Here we can meet to discuss, deliberate and resolve; here we can meet to take council in seasons of public calamity, or to give expression to our joy over signal circumstances of public prosperity. Here we can unbridle the political orator, as he thunders dentinciatrions against the opposition white washes his friends and stigmatizes his enemies; here the local Democracy can glorify Old Hickory to the skies, and the Republicans celebrate the virtues of Washington, and Lincoln, and Grant; here we can gather for business, amusement or pleasure; for art, literature, eloquence, music, theology, the drama, politics, political economy, and municipal affairs, and hereafter the City Hall will be visibly connected with the history of Wooster.

And now, on behalf of the Council, I have the honor and the pleasure of tendering to the citizens, not the manual possession, but the oral transfer of the City Hall. [Applause].

Response By Hon. John McSweeney

This presentation was responded to by Hon. John McSweeney on behalf of the city in one of his characteristic off hand addresses, of which the following is a brief.

His first words were: I will take anything you will give me! I don't believe it is more pleasant to give than to receive, so bring on your Hall! You give it to the city? Why to who _____? Don't the city pay for it? Do you want to give it to some of the on____ townships! I guess it is ours, so give it over! In an apostolic way we enter into possession through "trails and tribulations." How many trials did we have about it anyhow? There were injunctions to the right of us, injunctions to the left of us, and A. J. Thomas in the middle! [Laughter.] But we came here tonight, unenjoined, to receive what is ours and what our money has paid for, without friends to reward or enemies to punish.

He spoke of the march of improvement in Wooster, since away back in the fifties when he had the honor of being Town Recorder, when Capt. McClure was in his swaddling clothes. Angus McDonald was then Mayor. Those were good old days, and we had a jolly time, struggling along as best we could, for we saw a future for this city.

This improvement keeps step with the age, an age of progress and wonders, and he became eloquent in narrating the onward march of civilization and science.

We might have built a cheaper Hall, but shall we have no progress? Noah's ark was a good thing, but would cut a curious figure beside an ocean steamship of today. The old Court House would have done to carry on justice in until it tumbled down, but a spirit of progress erected a handsome new Temple of Justice on yonder square despite the protest of old fogies. We used to have a log school house, but we erected a handsome High School Building against the protest of hundreds of citizens, and who today would do without these monuments of beauty, progress and civilization. With the same spirit we again Coincided together and said, let us make a monument of usefulness and beauty in which all may gather. Despite vigorous protests it exists here tonight cheerful and elevating in its surroundings. It won't make you any poorer, but your town richer, and after a year or so there will not be a man, woman or child who will want a brick removed or begrudge the small amount of taxes they have to pay for it. It is bread cast upon the waters that will return soon again.

He closed by saying he returned thanks to the City Council for giving us this temple. The people are giving us this temple. The people are proud to receive it from your hands and future generations will call you blessed. In the name of our citizens I receive this temple of beauty for use of the city [Applause].

Frank Mowrer, leader of the Stanley Band, now favored the audience with a cornet solo, and was encored for his very skillful playing.

Department Commander O'Neil

On behalf of the Grand Army of the Republic, Col. Eason in brief complimentary remarks introduced Judge J. W. O'Neil, of Lebanon. Department Commander of the Ohio G. A. R. He was given hearty welcome and applause. The Judge is a veteran soldier and a very pleasant gentleman.

He said he congratulated himself on the good fortune to visit the comrades and citizens of Wooster on such an occasion, and then, in an interesting manner, proceeded with an off hand talk to the citizens and soldiers of the past, present and future. He held the gratified attention of the audience, and regret was felt when he was interrupted in his remarks by being told that the 9:50 train was about due and he must depart. Again he thanked all, and was escorted to the railroad station, leaving a good impression.

Miss Ella DeVoe, instruction of Elocution in the University, now gave a recitation. The lady is a superior elocutionist and was encored, and recited another piece to the great pleasure of the audience.

Solo, "I Fear no Foe" by Mrs. Miner Excellent, of course.

Gen. Wm. H. Gibson, of Tiltln, was to delivered an address at this point in the programme, but he failed to arrive, to the disappointment of many.

The exercises closed with singing "Rally Round the Flag" by the Quartette."