The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-11-13
A Superb Clothing House.

| FisEe IL Beem's new clothing store, on La Sale
st., is finished, and to-day will be opened to the
puts, filled with ready made clothing furnish
ing goods and piece goods. 1t is something
more than the finest store room in Ottawa. 1t is
the finest building for its in the state CT I'LL
nois. All its arrangements are perfect, viewed
either rs saesroom or clothing manufacturing
building; and in all points reflects credit on its
designer, owners and builder. and is one more
addition to the large number OF superb stores
which go to make Ottawa one OF The best built
and, on her business streets at least, finest ap
pearing inland cities in Illinois.
The ground dimensions of this beautiful build
ing are 50 feet front by 1910 Deep which is the size
of the salesroom, minus the grand stair case to
the second story, and the back stairway and ele
vators. The front is of Ottawa marble, polished,
in thc Queen Ann style, is AZ feet high and sur
mounted by a Flora" The entire lower front
is OF plate glass, the windows in the center being
14xl6 IT,, fanked by double doors Of plate glass
on either side. In addition to the food Of light
thrown into the salesroom by the front OF plate
glass, there is the light of rear windows, and OF
a ground. glass skylght 16x30 feet, descending
through well OF the same size. This well
and the grand stair case are finished in walnut
and oak to match the other fixtures Of the room:
the shelving on the left, the office desk and rack
on the right the benches to occupy the toor, and
the fixtures of the cutting department in the rear
The room Is heated with Rutt4n Furnace, and
below is the fire and burglar proof vault. The
gas fixtures are of bronze, and were made espe-
cialy for this building from special designs All
the hardware is also of bronze. Over oil is cor
rugated iron ceiling extending from front to rear
in waves. The room as whole is delight to
clothing man, and will prove attractive to the
public.
The second floor is divided into gallery and
workshops. The former is 30x60--minus the
well" in the centre. or workshops there are
two--one for each sex. The girls room is 30X2D
feet lighted by numerous windows on either side
and skylight; the mems room is 30x40 IT. (minus
summer press room, 12xl4 it,, lighted by an
abundance of east and north windows The cell
ings are Ii feet high. This floor is reached by
front or rear stairs.
The whole building is most solidly and careful.
ly built; and, besides the arrangements above
noted is supplied with stand pipe for fire pur.
poses, through which the Cation water is forced
bya donkey pump" to all parts of the build
ing. There are also water closets for either sex
on each floor, toilet rooms, an elevator from
basement to second floor, and dummies for ele-
waiting goods.
Mr. II. c. Furness, architect of Ottawa, is re-
sponsibe for the designs and specifications,
while Eessrs. Weis & Wolf, the contractors, had
charge Of their execution. Nothing was spared
by the owners to make it perfect; and the archi-
tect and contractors "laid out" to make their
part perfect. That they have succeeded is every
where evident. The cost OF the building COM
pleted and ready for use cannot be far from
10000.
1t is a superb building, and Messrs Fiske &
BEEN are to be congratulated.