, 1884-12-14

A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK.
IdIeman Bros. Elegant Addition to
The City improvements.
A Reporters Trip Through its
Spacious Interior.
Description of The Ground Floor
and Upper Stories.
The Several Firms Which Occupy
The Fine Building.

N ~ 49, ~ -
LEADER representative as they stood lean
ing against the railing in the new Idleman
building gazing at the magniicence Of the
general salesroom. The reporter coinci-
ded with the gentleman's opinion and
seeking Abe Idleman, one ofthe members
of the well known firm. asked the privi-
lege Of making a tour Of the building.
Before giving a description Of the build
ing a history of the business interests Of
the firm since theis advent in Wyoming,
will not be out of place.
Twelve years ago Max Idleman, the
senior partner Of the firm, started in bus
mess in Evanston. After remaining there
a short time he came TO Laramie. The
Black Hills excitement broke out and he
sought Deadwood, then the Mecca of
miners. For some time he remained in
that city, which was then in the full food
of its prosperity. At length he sold out,
and seven years ago came to Cheyenne.
The Magic City her was not the lively
busting place that it is now Colorado
was just entering upon its prosperous ca
reer and the San Juan district attracting
the attention Of all who desired TO accu-
mulate riches. Denver was to be the
greatest city West of the Missouri and
many who had acquired wealth here shook
their heads doubtingly and insisted that
Cheyenne had seen its best days. Mr..
Idleman thought differently and at once
determined to start in business. He took
the little one story frame building next to
the corner of Ferguson and Eddy streets
and began work. From the start business
was all that could be wished. Everything
was as prosperous as could be desired.
The discovery of the Little P~ittsburg, the
birth Of Leadville, the greatest of mining
camps-the rush of Wyoming people to
hat modern FL Dorado did not influence
him from his original intention. He was
here to stay and his faith then was as
great as it is now. The reaction in Colo
RADIO must come and then Wyoming would
have its boom. He did not join in the
hegira, but remained and devoted time
and energy to his business In this he
was ably assisted by his younger brother
who had joined him in the undertaking.
Time has proven the wisdom of this
course and the result is now the magni6-
cent building which the reader is invited
to inspect.
Let no one think that all this has been
accomplished without hard work. The
time has been when the most sanguine
doubted the future Of the Magic City
when money was scarce and emigration to
this Territory was very highland it
seemed that the city would never again
see prosperity. But at length the tide
turned and the Idlemans have reaped the
reward Of their labors and to-day they
have the satisfaction of possessing one of
the finest business places in the West.
Situated on the corner ofSixteenth and
Ferguson streets the building is one Of
the most imposing in the city. It has a
front of As feet on Sixteenth street and is
1872 feet in depth and three stories high.
1t is built of Golden pressed brick and
trimmed with Coal Greek sandstone.
There is no attempt at what is sometimes
facetiously termed gingerbread" archi-
lecture, but it looks just what it was in
tended fora substantial business block.
1t has four entrances-one on Sixteenth
street, one at the corner and two on Fer
guson street.
The salesroom is lighted by four large
plate glass windows and is large and com
Portable in its appearance. The floor is of
hard maple and the room is finished in
cherry. The ceiling is pine, stained to
initiate the inishings and is a fine speci-
men Of workmanship. The counters are
of cherry and are adorned with four fine
cases which contain an elegant display Of
cigars, pipes and the paraphenalia of the
smoker. In the back part ~ the Office.
which is surrounded by a fine cherry coun-
ter. deliberately carved and surmounted by
a wire screening. This will be the place
for the transaction Of the general office
business of the firm. It is plainly but
elegantly furnished and is as comfortable
and cosy as could be wished for. Leading
off from this is the private Office which is
separated by a partition of cherry, carved
in an artistic manner, the somber effect Of
the wood being relieved by unique designs
Of stained glass which surmounts the par
tition. 1t is small, only twelve by four
teen feet, and as yet is not furnished, the
furniture not having arrived.
Re-entering the salesroom the reporter
entered the sample room. This is arrang-
ed in a name surprising anything of a
similar character in the city. The bar
was imported from Chicago and is Of solid
cherry trimmed with mahogany. This
and the ice chest we're the only fixtures
not made in this city and it is but just TO
say that elegant as they are those designed
and made by home talent arc equal if not
superior to those of foreign manufacture.
The floor is Of encaustic thing and presents
a fine appearance. Taken altogether the
sample room is the finest in the city and
has few equals in many Of the Eastern
cities.
Leaving the first floor the reporter de-
scended to the cellar, which extends I'M
der the whole building and the sidewalk
thereof 1t is used mainly as a store room
and is filed with barrels, baskets, bottles
etc. Under the sidewalk the reporter
WAC shnWn An arnellent depica for wash.