Morris tribune., 1883-04-14
Phoenix and Masonic Halls.
A few notes regarding the buildings re-
Gently erected by the enterprising
firm Of Coed Il Brisbine.

OF the IKIRGN NE I6dU6IS dIt dlIcStus
familiar with the buildings just com
pleted by Good & Brisbine upon then
lots ON the corner of Fifth street an6
Atlantic Avenue, but to those who are
not. a few notes descriptive of then
will no doubt be of interest. 1t viii
be remembered that late in November
last all buildings upon the south halt
of block one were destroyed by fire
and among others Good 4 BriSbine' s
double store and warehouse. 1t was
at once decided by the firm to rebuild
but it was then hardly expected tC
erect such fine structures as those
which now adorn the corner. The
two lots owned by them have so feet
front upon Atlantic Ave. and extend
back lao fit. to an alley 20 TT. wide.
Across the rear of these lots is built
the furniture store over which is Ma
sonic Hall. This building fronting
Fifth street is 26 fit. wide and A fit.
long and has "a TT. posts. 1t is q good
substantial building, put up for use
rather than show. The lower floor is
used for furniture exclusively. The
second story is conveniently furnished
and arranged for, and is occupied by
Golden Sheaf Lodge No. 1873. The
masons now have a larger and better
hall than before the fire.
The structure however which at
tracts the attention of every passer 10y
and upon which most time and money
has been expended is the main build
ing upon the corner. The furniture
building by itself would be quite an
imposing and attractive structure but
upon the same lots with this other
building SO much more spacious and
more elegantly finished, it is hardly
noticed. This structure is Al It. wide
and go ft. long with posts q TT. high.
Upon the first floor is the double store
and above is Phoenix Hall. All
wook is carefully and neatly done and
in looking over the entire building no
flaws or weak places appear.
The finishing touches have nearly
all been given and Good & Brisbine
will move in the early part of next
week In entering either part of this
double store one sees at a glance that
no pains has been spared to make the
structure, strong durable, and attrac-
tive. The floors are of oak, The count
ers, made in Minneapolis. expressly
for this building have hard wood tops
and are highly polished. The shelves
are also highly finished and are we'll
arranged for the purpose for which
they are to be used. One counter with
showcase and shelves has been made
expressly for the display and keeping
of cigars and tobbaccos; another for
confectionery. So with the various
other departments iii the grocery and
hardware store. The stores are con-
nected in both front and rear. The
south half is to be used for groceries
and the other for hardware. In the
rear is the office neatly and elegantly
furnished from which everything in
both stores can be seen. Oil finish
covers all the extensive woodwork and
gives it a fine appearance. Back of
the main building is an addition the
whole width of both stores which ex-
tends back 20 1T. One side of this
will be used for store-room and the
other fora tin shop. The space under
the broad stair way leading to the
hall has been enclosed ond will also be
used for store room. Opening from
this addition into the Office in the
center of the rear end of the main
building is vault 8x10 which if not
burglar is certainly fire proof. A
burglar proof safe of most improved
pattern will occupy a place in the
vault and will doubly secure the valu-
ables put into it. Over head is
PHOENIX HALL
the pride of the town. Upon the stage
is ample room for the scenery and pre-
sentation of the most complex dramas
andupon each side of it is large dress
ing room. All parts of it have an oil
finish. The hall proper will seat COM
fortably five hundred people and is
well arranged in regard to acoustic
properties. The ceiling is Ia fit. high.
All is painted in a cheerful color and
makes the hall both airy and pleasant. |
Just before the entertainment given
by the Morris Ideals piece of mould
ing was cut which would exactly meas
ure the distance between tlle lower
floor and the ceiling and after the hall |
had been filled with people the dist |
ance was found to be unchanged thus
showing that the hall possesses
strength as well as other desirable |!
qualities.
w. B. Hancock had charge of the |
erection of these buildings and now |
that they are completed he can have |
no better recommendation for his |
ability as builder. Everything from |
the oaken floors to the fire proof roof |
bears evidence of his thorough and |
skillful workmanship. Frank Torrey |
too deserves mention for his pluck I
and skill in putting up the walls, chin
neys and vault. Much of his work
Hor,a xxrb or, ~, an, OF 1
20 degrees below zero and when he was
compelled to keep fire by the NOR
tar bedsTnight and day to keep them
from freezing. He did the work
though, did it well and did it Whenit
was needed cold or no cold. Good &
Brisbine expect to move in to their
new stores next week. They haveJ
ordered a very large amount of goods
and will hereafter fully prepared to
meet any demands that may be made
upon any of their various departments.
Their grocery department will be
complete. We are told
that their recent order is for the
largest and most complete stock of
groceries ever shipped west of Min
neapolis. +
Their wigwam, occupied by them i
temporarily this winter will hereafter
be used Tor ware house and flour and !.
feed store. With their large furni-
ture room, their grocery, and hardware
rooms, office, vault, two store rooms {
and tin shop in their main building.
and then -four and feed store and ware |
house. across the street this firm
will have a greater amount of space
in which To do business than any other y