The Court Houses of a Century Part 2

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBERT CARROLL. Contractor.]

The Elgin Court House, 1898-1900.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE NEW COURT HOUSE.]

The first meeting of the County Council, after the burning of the Court House, was held in the Grand Central Hotel, St. Thomas, on July 8th. The Insurance appraisers' award fixing the amount of damage at $5,509, was then presented. Mr. J. M. Green, contractor, was valuator on behalf of the County. The County officials were consulted in reference to temporary accommodation, and the Clerk was authorized to rent offices from Mr. Charles Spohn, on the south-west corner of William and Talbot streets. A special Building Committee was appointed, with power to employ an architect, visit other Court Houses, to have plans prepared, and report. The committee, consisting of Messrs. A. J. Leitch, S. B.

Morris, D. Turner, R. Locker, D. F. Moore. W. B. Cole and Warden Lang, accompanied by N. R. Darrach, architect, and J. A. Bell, County Engineer, proceeded to Brantford, to examine the county buildings, which had recently been enlarged. Instructions were given to prepare plans to include enlargement of building and re-modelling Jail and Jailer's residence and kitchen. The County Council met on the 27th of July, to receive report presented by Architect Darrach, who estimated the cost of plans submitted at about $33,000. Opposition was offered by some members of the Council, who were desirous of limiting the cost of building to $20,000, but the architect's plans were adopted. A by-law was pa.s.sed appointing a special building committee, and authorizing the Warden to sign contracts. The architect's fee was fixed at $1,200 for the whole work. Tenders were received, and as all of them exceeded the architect's estimate, a special meeting of the Council was called for the 8th of September, to consider the matter. At this session the building committee reported in favor of the adoption of the following tenders:

J. H. McKnight & Co., Toronto, for the whole work, with the exception of the electric wiring, iron work and plumbing. $33,990 00

R. A. L. Grey, Toronto, electric wiring 346 00

Stacey & Co., St. Thomas, iron work 1,231 42

C. T. Bull, St. Thomas, plumbing 1,047 00

[Ill.u.s.tration: D. J. HUGHES, ESQ., COUNTY JUDGE, 1899.]

This report was adopted and contracts signed by all with the exception of Mr. Bull. Mr. A. J. Leitch, Chairman of the Building Committee, was appointed to inspect the work as it progressed, and issue orders for payment in accordance with the architect's estimates. Tenders for heating and plumbing were received in January, 1899, and contracts awarded--the heating to Joseph Harrison for $3,146, and the plumbing to Keith & Fitzsimmons, Toronto, for $1,125. The Building Committee next considered the question of furnishing, and for the purpose of securing information, visited the court houses in Stratford and Woodstock, and in March, 1899, tenders were received and the following contracts awarded:

J. Acheson, St. Thomas, hardware $400 00

McDonald & Wilson, Toronto, gas fixtures 645 00

The Preston Office & School Furniture Company, for special work 2,995 00 And for furniture, desks, etc 556 80

The Office Specialty Company, Toronto, for letter press, stands, vault fittings, etc 892 50

[Ill.u.s.tration: COURT ROOM.]

Carpets and window blinds were procured from J. B. Kay, Son & Co., Toronto, and rubber matting for the stairs from the Gutta Percha & Rubber Co., two clocks for the court room and council chamber, from W.

R. Jackson. Stained gla.s.s windows with appropriate designs were ordered from N. T. Lyons, Toronto, for the main stairway, one contains a picture of the old and new buildings; the other, the names of the County Council for the years 1898 and 1899. Stone walks around the building and through the grounds were put down by the Silica Barytic Stone Company, of Ingersoll, at the cost of $579.02. The work of grading the grounds was completed under superintendence of W. Irving.

OPENING PROCEEDINGS.

The Court House was formally opened on Wednesday, the 13th day of December, 1899, the occasion being the first day of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and of the County Court.

The proceedings commenced at 2.40 p. m. Judge Hughes presided, and on his right was Junior Judge Ermatinger, and on his left Sheriff Brown.

Judge Hughes explained that he had invited Rev. Canon Hill and Vicar-General Bayard to be present, to a.s.sist in the opening proceedings, but they had other engagements and could not attend. There were present Revs. D. R. Drummond, Prof. T. L. Fowler, of the Disciples College, and Rev. R. I. Warner, princ.i.p.al of Alma College.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIBRARY.]

Rev. D. R. Drummond opened the proceedings with prayer, Rev. Prof.

Fowler read the scriptures, and Rev. Prof. Warner led in prayer.

Mr. Oscar McKenney, Warden of Elgin County, read the following address to Judge Hughes, on behalf of the County Council:

"Before proceeding with the business of the County Court and General Sessions of the Peace, the County Council desire to congratulate your Honor on your good health and physical and mental vigor, which is remarkable when we consider that you have occupied your present position for over forty-six years. You had the honor of presiding at the first court held in the old buildings in 1854, and have since done much to a.s.sist in the development of the county. You have witnessed many changes and can refer to many pleasant experiences which are the accompaniment of a long and useful life. The Court House which we hereby formally hand over to you for Court purposes, is representative of our idea of the advancement made by a wealthy and prosperous community during the past half a century.

We hope you may enjoy continued good health, and that the remainder of your life may be pleasant and a restful recompense for many busy years.

The members of the Council will make a few remarks as they feel it is difficult in a brief address to refer to all the circ.u.mstances that have brought us together to-day."

[Ill.u.s.tration: COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.]

Councillor Frank Hunt delivered the oration of the day on behalf of the County Council. He spoke as follows:

"This is an important occasion. Important because it makes a page in the history of the county. It establishes a milestone marking the progress of a people who first planted civilization in this county a century ago.

The burning of the old Court House necessitated the building of a new one, and this gave the present council the opportunity to erect a building characteristic of the people, and of the arts and sciences of this particular period. The old court house was emblematic of the pioneers of this county. It exhibited wisdom, strength and beauty. As much as I admire the new structure I am glad the front of the old court house is preserved, and will hand down to future ages in its Grecian columns and pilasters, the artistic taste of the pioneers who could spare from the rewards of unceasing toil money to erect a court house that bore the impress of the best art of their time. The excellence and thoroughness of the structure attest the true worth and integrity of the pioneers of the County of Elgin. I cannot but think, when considering the population and wealth of the county fifty years ago with that of to-day, that in the erection of the new court house we have spent less for artistic effect than did the pioneers. Modern requirements for the comforts of those attending courts, or on official business, entailed a large expense, which was not considered in the erection of buildings fifty years ago. The provision made for women during a forced attendance at court shows how far we have advanced on one particular line. It is a grand building of the utilitarian type, and erected on such lines that great beauty may be discovered by a casual glance. I want to say a word in praise of the architect who designed the building and supervised its erection to the satisfaction of the Building Committee. The epitaph in St. Paul's Cathedral says: "If you would know the genius of Christopher Wren, look around you." I will say, also, and it is all that is necessary, if you would know the genius of Mr. Darrach, look around you and see that he is master of his art.

New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth, We must upward still and onward, Who would reach the realms of truth.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Art, national or individual, is the result of a long course of previous life and training; a necessary result, if that life has been loyal, and an impossible one, if it has been base.--_Ruskin._

WINDOW, MAIN STAIRWAY.

In its important examples, all munic.i.p.al art should be at once a decoration and a commemoration--it must beautify and should celebrate; thus becoming a double stimulus, first to the aesthetic sense, second to the sense of patriotism.--_Blashfield._]

I cannot close without reference to His Honor Judge Hughes and his long judicial career in the County of Elgin. He opened the old court house forty-six years ago; he has been spared to open the new. In the first courts he grasped by the hand the men who planted civilization on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Erie. He has lived to grasp by the hand their children and grand-children. He came here in his early years, a type of that manhood which comes from the chisel of Pericles, and the great masters of the Grecian school. He has seen the county a wilderness, he now sees it populous and wealthy, inhabited by a people educated, industrious; a people who love G.o.d and keep his commandments.

[Ill.u.s.tration: COURT HOUSE, EAST SIDE, SHOWING GAOL ENTRANCE.]

He has left his impress on his county and its people, and can it not be said that it has been for the good of society, for the happiness and advancement of the people? His legal knowledge, and his great ability is known throughout the Province. His untiring industry has been proverbial. He has administered the law with fairness, and tempered justice with mercy. It is not contended that he was or is faultless.

Who thinketh a faultless man to see?

Thinks what ne'er was and ne'er shall be.

It is the desire of the council that his learning and great abilities may long be spared to his fellow-citizens, and that

An old age serene and bright, Lovely as a Lapland night, Shall lead thee to the grave."

County Councillor J. H. Yarwood voiced the sentiments of Mr. Hunt, and extended the congratulations of the county to the Judge for the manner in which he had administered the affairs of the county, and hoped he would be spared for many years.

County Councillors S. B. Morris, W. O. Pollock, D. Lang, W. M. Ford, E.

McKellar, Mahlon Lyon, D. Moore and A. J. Leitch also delivered addresses of congratulation.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GAOL YARD.]

Judge Hughes thanked the County Council for the privilege of opening the new Court House. The county building was a testimonial to the advancement of the county council. He had to acknowledge with thanks the many kind things said of him personally, and of the way he had administered justice in the county. The building is an index, not only of enterprise and good taste, but also of conception for the convenience of those who had to attend the county buildings to do business. The mistake with the old building was that Architect Turner had his plans interfered with, and all the rooms, except the court room, were but half the size intended. He concurred in all that had been said of the architect. The contractors, too, had performed their work well. The court house was a manifestation of the progress of munic.i.p.al inst.i.tutions. He had found the county council always ready to encourage education and grammar schools, and this building was a monument to their honor.