The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-13

The style of the building is Queen Anne /;
and the frescoing. shelving. stairways
and all the decorations strictly cores
pond to This style of architecture. The
south side of the main floor will be used
for the dry-goods department, and is
fitted up accordingly. The north side
will be devoted to groceries. and boots
and shoes. the latter department occupy
ing the rear half. At the center of the
front is the cashiers desk. The space
between the iron columns is filled with
a double row of shelving. not sufficiently
high, however. to separate the two sides
of the room. with wide passageways
from one side to the other. The count
ers throughout this floor have cherry
tops and fronts of diagonal beaded
panels. The counters and shelving are
supported by small turned columns of Il
pretty pattern. Besides the shelving.
)there are numerous sets of drawers.
These have cherry fronts. with chased
design. and light bronze trimmings.
Heavy platform stairs in the center of the
rear. with openings to either side, lead to
the second story. The rail, balustrade
and newell are of cherry; the rises and
treads, of birch. At the south side of
the stairway a waiting room is fitted
u1l W ll dDUItlditt u tlidlIS anu SOliS
and a plate-glass mirror. Under the
stairway is "A ladies' toilet room. with
wash stand and water closet. The doors
of this room have stained glass in their
upper sections. The room is ventilated
by a wide tlue extending through the
roof. The rear of the main floor is
lighted by plate-glass. triplet windows
with transoms. the whole forming win
dows Us large rs those in the front.
Near the center OF the north side of the
main floor is u doorway for the reception
of goods. The doors. of cherry, with
plate-glass panels. are double. These
doors, as well as all the cherry used on
this floor. are stained to represent old
mahogany. Near them is the elevator
well. extending from the basement to the
rOef. The elevator. made by Glen Il
Morse of Philadelphia, is operated by
hand; it is nevertheless Il powerful ma
chine.
In the second story the walls are tint
ed a light brown and the woodwork
painted to correspond. The story is di-
vided in the direction of its length by Il
partition with three openings, that in
the rear. near the head of the stairs lead
ing from below. having double doors.
The south side of this floor will be used
for carpets, curtains and other house
furnishing goods; the north side for
paper hangings. In the center of the
front. over the vestibule. is the business
office, ample in size. 1t is lighted by a
large mullioned window; and there is a
large window with border of ground
figured glass from the Office into the
carpet department. The Office is con
nected by a s~peaking-tube with the
cashiers desk on the floor below.
The third floor is reached by an easy
stairway on the south side of the parti-
ton above mentioned. This floor is di-
vided into four roOms-two large mes
in the rear and two smaller in front.
The use to which these rooms will be
put has not Deer fully decided upon as
yet.
1t is proposed to light the building
with Il new apparatus Just coming
into use. The burners have n flat
wick. made of carbon. The illumi-
nator used is kerosene, supplied To the
burners from reservoirs somewhat like
those on the common student lamp.
Perfect combustion of the oil, and con-
sequent brilliant light, is produced by Il
small stream of air carried into each
burner under pressure. The pump for
forcing the air will be situated in the
basement. and a small quantity of water
will be sufficient to do the pumping.
The apparatus is very simple, and pro-
duces a steadier and more brilliant light
than gas.
The building throughout is of the
most substantial character. All the
glass in the front is plate, and that in
the rest of the building double-thick.
The floors are all double-trussed and the
partitions trussed. also. The brickwork
and the plastering are done in gray
cement lime. In short, nothing has
been omitted that could render the
structure safe and durable. 1t is ar
ranged for the convenience of all, both
employees and customers, and is acr dit
alike to its designer and builders, its
owners and the town.
The plans were prepared by MIR.
Clinton &. Smith. of the firm of Smith d
Allen. under whose superintendent all
the work has been done. Ground was
broken for the structure about Il year
ago. The frescoing and painting were
by George W. Bennett of Manchester,
Bennington county. John Calhoun of
this place put in the steam-heating APP
paratus and did the plumbing. The roof
was laid by f. A. Farnsworth of Middle
bury. The brick was furnished in part
by Mr.. Drury of Essex, VT, and in
nart Nv Mr. Rraun nf Milton