Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

JEPFERSON HALL,:25
<a place of meh resort in the summer. Here the military
companies found a place for drilling in the shade; and
these military displays doubtless gave the name to the
Parade, as Market Square was formerly called.
On the spot where the Market Iouse now stands was an
old two-story house occupied by James Grouard, who
kept a hat store in front, and, in a oue-story building acd
joining on the north, manufactured his felts and cocked
hats. This old house was furnished with a large chamber
fronting on the Parade, which was rented for public uses.
Here day-schools were kept, and here were held the evening singing schools some of our mothers and grandmoth-:rs delighted to attend. We know little of Mr. Grouard
excepting that he was a matter-of-fact sort of man, fond
of good living, and blessed with a good appetite-for to
him, he said, a roast goose was a very awkward dish, being,more than he could comfortably eat, but not enough to ask
a friend to dine with him.
A few rods to the northwest of this house was the old
State House, where the General and County Courts were
held, and all public meetings for elections and other purposes were called. HIre too, in the lower room, the independent military companies held their meetings,-while
the Masons held convivial sessions in the East Chamber.
The lower room of the old State House was also burdened
by the hooks, ladders aed other apparatus of the fire department.
Notwithstanding, the need of a public Hall as well as a
lMarket House was so apparent, the committee appointed
in 1799, to take into consideration the expediency of
building a Market House, reported that it was expedient
to erect a building for a AMarket, on the lot purchased.
The building to be 80 feet long, 30 wide, and one-story
high, with a roof supported by pillars, and projecting four'feet on each side. The pillars to be of brick, and so
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