The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-04-30
HARDwARE HOUSE.
Facts Absut the GIllstt = Fords Block
and the EmpOr1a Hardware CoSDpany
which Occupies &c.

anu e. IL Z OI0Cp WA~ Aoo IOA SWSANO
years been our efficient and popular city
clerk.
The building has two stories, each six
teen feet high. It Is 110x60 feet. On
the first floor this entire space is In one
large business room. The second floor
is DIVIDED into two suites OF Offices, which
cut of twenty five feet Of the east front.
The remainder of this floor is in one
large hall or Ware-room.
The front of the first floor except the
iron supports is of glass. The main
plate glass panes are 7ox100 inches.
Above these are cathedral glass win
dows, consisting of ave different colors
of hammered glass hGrmoniously ar
ranged. This is snrmounted and com.
pleted by wall of Warrensburg blue
gray sandstone. The entire is as hand
some front as can be found in any Of
the cities. In fact the style was sug-
gested to Mr.. Giliett BY
particularly attractive building of this
style in an eastern city. 1t is difficult
tor an observer TO decide whether he Is
most favorably impressed on viewing
this handsome front from within or
without. The effect of the cathedral
glass is to soften the light and OBJ
Viate the glare Of the bright
sunlight that would otherwise make the
entire glass east front Objectionable. The
rear of the room is also well lighted
with very large windows and doors with
glass panels. The general cheerfulness
is yet further increased by the light blue
in which the ceiling and the central sup
ports are finished. The room above this
is lighted by two skYlights and win
doWs in the west end. This
ware-room and main business room are
connected by stairway and elevator.
The Office suits are both composed of
two rooms with double sliding doors.
There are eight front windows, four to
each suite. These offices are being fine
ly finished, and will be admirably adapt
ed to the uses of professional men. The
entrance is by q stairway from the
front. There is a hallway ex-
| tending to the rear of the
building, and while affordlng rear en-
trance it also gives the Office rooms per-
feet ventilation. One suite will be oc-
cupied by Mr.. Almerin Gillett Is law
offices and the other will be rented.
The work of constructing this block
was commenced last September. It has
just been completed at cost of $14, 1000,
and as well, as being very ornamental
and credItAble to the city, Is q good in
vestment. 1t is property that will always
be desirable and in demand.
John Hammond, of this city, was the
contractor, which is in itself q sufficient
guarantee of the excellence of the work,
Before this building was commenced
the main business room and large ware
room were leased by the Emporia Hard
ware company, one OF the largest bust
ness concerns in the city. This COM
pany is incorporated under the laws of
Kansas. a. N. Blair is president, j. NJ.
Griffith vice president and G. W. Gillett
secretary and treasurer. It has been
operating in the city at 1876 Commercial
street for three years and with rapidly
increasing business has found more room
necessary, and the firm has accordingly
leased and has just taken possession OF
this new building.
This is, however, only part of the
room. now occupied by the company.
To give a more exact idea of the amount
of their business it is necessary tc
enumerate. The main new room is 1101
so feet; the ware room above it 60x5C
feet. The rear of their former
room, which will be partitioned
off end has been connected with the
new building by door ways above and
below, Will also be used by the compa
ny. The first floor of this is 60x25 feet
second floor, S5x25 feet. The warehouse
to the rear facing Merchants,
streets, Is 120x25 feet. Adjoining
this on the south the company is con
structlng another warehouse 60x30 feet
The platform to the rear OF the new
rooms and the former stand is 75x20 feet
and that across the alley from 1t to the
the rear of the warehouses will be 55x1C
feet. 1t will thus be seen that the floor
room will be 1895 square feet, or about
equivalent to a room, the width of an or
binary store room-twenty-five feet
and 800 feet long, Or COW
ering over half an acre. The
longest dimension of the rooms, extend
ing from Commercial to Merchants, il
260 feet and the widest, rs feet.
The south side of the main business
room has double tier of shelving and
: is used for shelf hardware; the south
center for hand implement goods
the north side for tinWare ant
stamped ware; and the north
center for stoves, implements, and sew
ing machines. The ware-roOm oyer thii
contains buggies, carriages, wagons anC
implements. The first floor IN the real
of the former stand is the iron and nail
department, and the second floor, the
wagon and woodwork room. The south
: warehouse will be used for barbed wire
and seed bins. The part of the north
warehouse facing Merchants street, il
used for storing farming implement
, and the part next to thu
alley will be fitted up for manufactur
ing tinware. This and the line of stoves
are new branches of the business, which
, the want of room has heretofore pre-
cluded. A complete stock will be car
ried in these lines, as in all others.
The offices of the firm are in the real
of the main room. They consist of q
public and private apartment. They
!. will be handsomely fitted and finished
the partition being ten feet high and o.
q very ornate design.
The company is now prepared to dc
jobbing business in connection with
, the regular retail trade. When we say
that there are no hardware dealers II
} Kansas having finer or more commodl-
. GUS quarters than the Emporis
Hardware company. We only repea
J what We have heard from those who
, have traversed the state and know
whereof they speak, and 1t is but reason
, able to expect that the enormous bust
, ness done during the past year will b
, much increased under the present favor
able circumstances.