Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/675

CHAPTER XXXV 1 PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND SOCIETIES Earlj Conditions — A Town Building — Its Erection in 18S7-S — The Rural Improvement Association — Arbor Day — The Librarj* Society of 1806 — Public Library, 18S0 — Antiquarian Society — The Grange — The Order of U. A. W. BARRINGTON is well provided with public buildings, and the town hall is the ornament and pride of the town, and the best of its kind in Rhode Island, outside of her cities. In the early and later days, town ineetings were held in private houses, at the public tavern, and at the Congregational meeting-house. When the Nayatt hall was built, about 1856, this was used for all municipal and political gatherings. The business of the town clerk, the town treasurer, and other town officers was transacted at the houses of the persons who held the offices, or at places provided by them. The first agitation for a town hall began in 1854, and at the April town meeting a committee was appointed to take the matter under consideration and report. The committee, consisting of Benjamin Martin, William H. Allin, and William H. Smith, reported in favor of erecting a town building, but the report was rejected by a vote, 23 yeas and 45 nays. In 1863 the subject was again brought before the town, to be voted down by a decisive majority. Efforts were made in 1S80 and in 1882, all resulting, as before, in the defeat of the measure. In 18S7 a committee of the town reported in favor of the purchase of a tract of land at Prince's Hill, between the main road and Barrington River, for town purposes. The town voted to buy the land, and also voted to appropriate $15,000 for the erection of a suitable building for town pur- poses. Lewis B. Smith, Charles H. Merriman, and George B. Allen were elected the building committee. The corner stone was laid Sept. 24, 18S7, by the Grand Lodge of Masons of Rhode Island, and the work proceeded so promptly and successfully, that the building was ready for public uses in the autumn of 1888, and was immediately occupied by the Town Council, the Town Clerk, the High School, the Public Library, and the Antiquarian Society. In the report of the Building Committee, made by Hon. Lewis B. Smith, its Chairman, it was shown that the Committee had expended $2,000 for the land, $14,997.05 in the construction of the building, and $5,000 in its fur- nishings, leaving a balance of $2.95 in the hands of the Committee, at the close of their labors, to be returned to the town. The town building was dedicated with appropriate exercises, on Decem- ber 12, 188S, in the presence of a large audience, with many distinguished guests, including the Governor of the State. Addresses were made by