The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-15
A FINE BUILDING.


Portland has large number of fine build
iugs, but probably there is no finer business
block in the city than the Centennial block,
which has been erected the present season by
H. N. Jose, Esq 1t has been built by the very
best mechanics in Portland, and has received
the personal supervision of Mr.. Jose through
out the time of its erection. The block is 81
feet on Exchange and Market streets and is 6o
feet deep 1t is four stories high, with light,
airy basement, but few feet below the level of
the sidewalk. The front of the building on
Exchange street is of freestone from Nova Sco-
tia. The remainder of the walls are built of
face bricks. The granite for the basement
came from the Spruce Head auarries, at Thorn
aston. On each side of the entrance are highly
polished granite pillars. from Red Beach, Gal.
ais. White marble stairs lead to the corridors
on the first floor of the block.
The block is used entirely for offices, and is
very conveniently arranged for single rooms or
suites. In all there are 40 rooms, finished in
what's popularity known as the Easslake style.
The basement is finished in ash, the first two
stories in black walnut, and the two upper ones
in clear pine, oiled
The block is furnished with hydraulic ele-
vator, which is operated with Sebago water. 1t
from the first story to the top of the build
ing and will be used for the accommodation of
those having business in the block. 1t is new
invention and is the only one of the kind now
in operation. 1t was put in by the Tufts Ele-
vator Company of Boston. The building is
also furnished with fourteen fre-proof vaults,
put in by the American Steam Safe Company.
1t is pipei throughout for steam, gas and
water. The steam is furnished from the engine
house on the opposite side of the street. The
pipes and radiators are all of steel bronza
which is much nicer looking than iron. Each
room is thoroughly ventilated, there being
fresh air admitted under the window S. The
rooms are all light and easy of access, and are
we'll calculated for the purposes for which they
are used.
Nearly the entire block is already let, and the
occupants are as follows: The whole Of the
left hand side of the basement is used for the
United States pension Office, Gen. George L.
Beal, agent. The front Office on the opposite
side of the basement is occupied by the Port
land District Society of the New York Life In
surance Company, M. N. Rich, secretary. The
rear Office on this floor is not occupied. The
entire suite of rooms on the right hand side, on
the first floor, is to be occupied as law Office
by Drummond & Winship. Hon. T. B. Reed
occupies wo rooms at the end of the corridor,
while the front Office on the left hand side is as
yet unoccupied. On the second story, j. & e.
M. Rand occupy three rooms as a law Office.
G. Hale, Esq, also occupieStwo rooms. f. FL.
Fassett & Son occupy a suit of three elegantly
I'd On fIa vi
floor, A. J. Blethen, j. j. Perry and f. M.
Ray occupy law offices. o. K. Gerrish, agent
for New York nursery, also has an Office on
this floor. The upper and fourth story is fitted
up as hall 90 by 30 feet, with tenement
where the janitor is to live.
Last evening Mr.. Jose called the contractors
together who had assisted in erecting the block
and gave them fine collation. in the hall on
the fourth story. After the repast Mr.. jesse
made few complimentary remarks to the gen.
tlemen present. He spoke in the highest terms
OF their work, and any one who inspects the
building cannot do otherwise. He also referred
to the care each and every one of them have
taken to keep the sidewalk clear of building
materials. This is but just tribute, as all
will say who have had occasion to pass up and
down Exchange street since the work was COM
menced last spring. While other builders have
blocked the sidewalk month after month, these
gentlemen have given all a free passage during
the entire time. 1t was a very pleasant gath
erng and spoke we'll for all concerned 10 the
work of building the block.
The plan of the block was furnished by E.
H. Fassett & Son, the well known architects
of this city. Thomas Shannahan excavated
the cellar and built the walls. Knight, Redlon
& Co. were the masons. Mr.. Fitzgerald of this
city furnished and put up the stone 'front.' N.
Whitney was the carpenter. A. Hooper was
stair builder. p Feeney was the plasterer.
Messrs. Tenney & Leighton put in the ventila-
tors. Ambrose Giddipgs was the painter. W.
G. Clark put in the gas pipes. j. III. Bond &
Co. were the plumbers. w. II. Scott furnished
the cornices and cutters. I. d. Merrill put on
the tin roof and Bracket was glazier.