The artist who prepared the above cut of the outsido of the Great Cen
tral Fuir Buildings in Logan Square, specially for the pages of “Our
Daily Farr,” has done his work so well as to leave but little room for de
scription or explanation. The thoroughfares which form the extreme
foreground of the picture are Nineteenth and Vine Streets. The door of
entranco nearest to the person examining the picture is at the northwest
eorner of the Square, and the perspective sweeps in a southerly and east
wnrdly direction over the roofs and spires of the city. The noble struc
ture which looms up in the background, upon the left hand side of the
picture, is the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, tho finest speci
men of church architecture in the city. On the southern side of the Fair
Ground, Wills’ Hospital “ for the Halt and the Blind” will be seen ; while
those who nro familiar with our local landmarks will readily recognize in
the distance tho spires of Saint Mark’s Church, the West Arch Street Pres
byterian Church, and of the Baptist Church on West Chestnut Street.
These aro only the most prominent points in the grand panorama which
includes within its sweep fully one-half of the city, with nine-tenths of its
commerce, trade and wealth. The gothic structure which runs from east
to west and intersects the Square is Union Avenue, a noble ball which is
worthy of the name it bears; at this writing, it contains more splendid
wares, and more magnificent groupings of the emblems of patriotism and
loyalty than can be found in any single apartment in the country. From
its centre rises a mammoth flag-staff, 2111 feet high, from the summit of
which waves a magnificent speoimen of the Stars and Stripes.
On the left of Union Avenue is a canopied structure which is also sur
mounted with a flag. This is the Horticultural Department, where, amid
a world of floral sweets, a fountain is in constant play, rendering the per
fumed air delightfully cool and pleasant. Between art and nature, rare
plants, and plashing waters, scenic effects, bright lights and brighter eyes,
t " o J t,oultur ®l Department becomes mimic fairy-land, and the visitor
a most fears to see the bright picture melt away like a pleasant dream that
is too delightful for reality.
— 1?*!?” opposite side of Union Avenue, is another circular building,
18 .J 8 oC ® u P ,e< i as a.Restaurant. It is light, airy, well ventilated and
magnificently decorated, forming agrand dining-room capable of entertain
ing fully a thousand guests at the same time.
Ihe entire range upon the extreme left-hand side of the picture, extend
g trom Eighteenth Street to Nineteenth Street, is occupied by the Art
a whioh contains the most magnifioent collection of paintings ever
got ogether in the United State,. 8
ground plan of the buildings which we print upon the other sido of
zne sneet, gives a foil and aoeurate key to tho arrangements of the sereral
buildings, the uses to which they are applied, Ac.
*
.»> v« '
GREAT CENTRAL PAIR BUILDINGS,
Logan Square, Philadelphia, June, 1864.
And now for some figures :
Union Avenue, which we have already described as llio main structure of
the group whicli form the Fair Buddings, is sit) fcot long and 60 feet wide,
with en elevation from floor to the point of the arch of 50 feet. The Gothic
Arch of this Building is formed with rafters, constructed with tho Howe
Truss, each rafter being 2 feet in depth and 6 inches wide, with pannels 2 feet
wide, in each of which aro two main braces and one counter brace 2 inches
square; tho chords are of 3by G inch scantling. The rafters aro placed at
distances of about 19 feet apart, and are footed upon heavy timbers set
upon tho ground, properly notched to receive the chords. Tho chord of
the arch is about 60 feet, with versed sine of G feet 6 inches. Thcro are
four lateral buildings, extending north and south, from Union Avenue,
having a width of 26 feet, a height of 18 feet, and a length of 250 feet each
way. Upon the north and south, and parallel with Union Avenuo along
Race and Vine Streets, are buildings 29 feet wide and 18 feet high, each
500 feet long—that on the north (tho Art Gallery,) being lighted from the
roof. From the middle of Union Avenue extends a gallery northward, con
necting with the Floral Department, (which, as we havo already stated, is
a circular building.) 190 feet in diameter, 100 feet of which is covered with
a canvas canopy. In the middle of this department is a lake, with foun
tains of great variety of jet, arranged around and in it, in tho centre of
which is an island upon which are tastefully arranged an imposing group,
of tropieal plants and fruit.
Upon tho South of Union Avenue, on the line of the Floral Depart
ment, is the Restaurant, which is also circular, with a diameter of 190
feet. Connected with this are a number of buildings arranged for culinary
purposes, such as Main Kitchen, Pastry, Mnizena Kitchen, Ico House,
Ware Closets, Sculleries, and Servants’ Dining Room.
The Pennsylvania Kitchen and the William Penn Parlor, on tho north
and South of Union Avenue, are relatively 81 by 34 and 60 by 34 feet.
The names of the architect and builders of Union Avenue are Siriokland
Kneads, architect, and Burton and Quigley, builders. The remainder of
the buildings were put up by B. 11. Shedaker, master builder, under the
immediate direction of John Welsh, Esq., Chairman of the Executive
Committee, and of the Committee of General Arrangements, of which J. C.
Cresson, Esq., was Chairman. Mr. Henry E. Wrigley prepared many of
the original drawings.
The internal decorations were in charge of the Committee of Internal
Arrangements, of which J. 11. Orne, Esq., was Chairman.
The aggregate lengih of the Fair Buildings is 6,500 feet, or more than a
mile. A million and a half feet of lumber was used in their construction,
and the work of building and decoration was completed within forty work
ing days.