The stone lobby was to be finished by noon on October 6, 1859. It was commissioned by Colonel Louis Bell. The cost of the land, labor and structure was either $175 or $375. There are two competing documents on this. If it had not been completed by that date by William H. Sampson, the town Stonemason, would forfeit $10 weekly until complete. It was never finished as intended, as the American Civil War began during construction.

First intended as a jail to temporarily hold county accused, then intended to be used to temporarily hold town lawless. It is unclear if it was ever actually used for either of those purposes. The building was used for livestock. It was razed and the stones repurposed in 1950.

It is said the structure was 10" by 10' and about 6.5' high. Inside two spaces 2' by 6' were on one side. It had 2' windows and 3/4" iron bars over the windows and doorway.

Size 3.5" x 5.5"

FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
The stone lobby was to be finished by noon on October 6, 1859. It was commissioned by Colonel Louis Bell. The cost of the land, labor and structure was either $175 or $375. There are two competing documents on this. If it had not been completed by that date by William H. Sampson, the town Stonemason, would forfeit $10 weekly until complete. It was never finished as intended, as the American Civil War began during construction.

First intended as a jail to temporarily hold county accused, then intended to be used to temporarily hold town lawless. It is unclear if it was ever actually used for either of those purposes. The building was used for livestock. It was razed and the stones repurposed in 1950.

It is said the structure was 10" by 10' and about 6.5' high. Inside two spaces 2' by 6' were on one side. It had 2' windows and 3/4" iron bars over the windows and doorway.



Size 3.5" x 5.5"

FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
The article reads:

T h e old stone lobby at the junc-
ture of Church and Uionn streets has:
been perpetuated as a landmark of
the town by many improvements
made by its new owner. Downing V.
Osboune . This old pile of huge
granite slabs that occupies a pretty
plot of ground at the location men
tioned some timeago was threatened
by demolition and its heavy material
became likely'to be used in building.
Mr Osborne, whose home is nearby
saw the ultimate probability and
purchased the lot and lobby. He
since has made repairs to the falling
masonry, which consists of thick
granite slabs fashioned into a square
compartment, and has replaced the
broken iron bars In door and win
dow and restored the huge lock by a
facsimile of the original in order to
preserve for all time this historic
monument. It appears that the lot
and material cost only $175" when
purchased in 1859 and that the subi-
quont structure was the outgrowth
for a secure lobby for the town,
which to confine violators ot the law
who having offended the peace and
dignlty of the state, were required
to await trial. The lobby was built
by reason of a contract made by Col.
Louis Bell, one of Farmington's
early lawyers and trial justices and
also one of the ablest men who ever
graced the state. Colonel Bell is
highly revered In our national military
history, having-been made a
brigadier general on the day he was
killed at Fort Fisher during the Civil
war. The contract further enjoined
Ed Barnard, proprietor of the old
hotel that formerly occupied the site
of the Mrs. Lottie Russell property
on Main street, and William Sampson,
the stone mason of the town at
that town. The last named built
the lobby, it is thought, with the intention
of coverlng it with a frame
structure, which project no doubt
was abandoned because of the open-
ing of hostilities with the South and
it seems to be a fact that the gray
pile of granite never was used for
the purpose intended However, it
is a monument of Farmlngton's early
endeavors and a credit to Mr. Osborne,
who no doubt finally will dispose,
of it as a public benefit.



This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
The article reads:

OLD STONE LOBBY,
HISTORICAL FARMINGTON
LANDMARK BEING RAZED

One of Farmingtons oldest his
torical landmarks the old stone
lobby situated on the property of
Mrs Loren D Hunt. Sr on
Church street is presently being
razed and altough the large
granite blocks which made up
the structure, will still remain In
Farmington the building itself
will soon be only a memory to lo
cal residents
The lobby isbeing removed by
Murray N Daudelin, who plans to
use the stones for a retaining wall
on his property on Park drive in
the Veterans housing project
area. The work is expected to be
completed this week.
The old lobby was constructed
in 1839 by W illiam H Sampson
according to historical data con
tained in the museum at the
Goodwin library and although
no mention was made of its use it
is generally though to have been
intended for a temporary jail
where lawbreakers were to be
conflned until judgment was
passed on them. It Is doubtful
however if it was ever actually
used for this purpose.
The razing also serves another
purpose a safety precaution. For
many year children of all ages
have made this a playground and
the thought of someone getting
seriously hurt while playing on
or around it was constantly a
source of concern for the owner.


This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


FHS-Kyle Leach]]>