Telegram-herald., 1886-09-12
A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK
The Building Erected on the
Old Rathbun House Site.
.TiE RIllIGlH8 AND rs IEhlHIS.
The $50 Rouse of the Masonic Fra
T. nitr in the yalieY ChY-7snd-
some Suites OF Rooms
and Offices ;

Tie past ear has seen some ~ TIE grand
esf improvements ia tLe Valley Citys his
.org and ehi.- other eiles H. both lAe East
aad West have been complaining 0f dull
liaes the march of progress has continued
alilterruq qtedlg in Grand kspiis and there
are uoF in proeess 81 erection on the prin-
cIpal tloroag fares some of the finest build
iass Do be found 10 The country. The Wild
tieomb Cody. Baruhart blodgeit and
smith blocks are all 0f considerable magui-
tu1- anl represent vast outlay of money
- size and le slIl Lley are larger than any
af tle former Hrtud Rapids 1l0czs, AMI
Nhlletle citg i spreading 0ut rapidly ln
al directions lis buildings are slowly oat
surely. climbing hravengard
Prominent among tne blocks above enum-
GRATED and Conspicuous, perhaps of li7
modern srTle 1t architecture. ts The y ildl-
couln block located ar The corner of Monroe
aul Mater.ou-sIs lf towers high above
alV other block in the city and Is a credit %
Tie architect. lts owner and Tie city stand
lug az ir does on q soruer known all over
the state and ssperceding as 10 does the Old
kathbun House. one of The Valley Ilty :
landmarks, ir is not tO be- wondered at that
people stop and gaze on what may be called
f amalgamati0n II brick, stone iron and
wood
The erection OF the building was COM
menced iu the Spring OF the present year
T and since that time the wOrk has been
pushed with a yigOr until today there
I stands on the site Of the famous hostlerle
I the largest and architecrurally the most
imposing business building yet erected IN
the city lt is built on a foundation OF
. ..fl. vs4f an
4 az the rising and setting OF the sun. There
? are Two entrances one at the West end Of
the MonrOe-sr. front and the other AZ the
Nortl end of the WaterlOO-st. side. The
I entrances are of stone. the stairways COM
posed ot ornamental irOn the balusters,
ratings, etc, being Of red wood. Al the
rear OF the stairway on the MOnrOe-st front
/ i the elevator. Crane & Co.'S by ydraulic,
with The passenger carriage finished IN ma
I hosany. elegantly upholstered and the
/ whole encased in a wire screen.
/ The piers and entrance ways of the hrst
/ story are of granite, rock face, Bedford
7 limestone bein. used In all the moulded
/ and carved works in the building. The
I columns supporting the Monroe 81 'front.' are
I polished granite, with carved caps OF base
Berea stone The large ornamental stone
with the name "WiddicOmb' cut therein,
as well as all other stone above the first
story. IS of Ohio stone Berea quarry, all
rOck face The building Is built OF red
pressed brick brought from Zanesvilie
Ohio
The block fronts on Monroe-st.. 58 feet,
running back 20 the alley l3l feet on
WaterloO-st.. with wing 3Ox5O feet, max
ing the building L shaped. In height 1t Is
/ SIX stories being l 10 feet from the sidewalk
to The TOP OF the roof The floors are carried
on heavy iron girdsTs. supported by iron
/ columns Fire p-0Of vaults, layatOrles and
closets are on each floor, and every suite OF
I offices is supplied with a marble stand and
bowl and furnished with hard and soft
waller from tanks on the roof. The floors
are deadened with mineral wool.
There are seventg-one Offices in the bnild-
ing on the second, third, and fourth hoors,
. al Furnished iu red OAK, easy OF access; ana
well heated. lighted and ventilated.
The fifth aud sixth stories Will be Occu-
I uied bv the Masonic fraternity and they
viii have the handsOmest quarters In the
State. Toe main hall will be 34x7s feet, ex-
Z elusive Of stage with a nlneteen-fOO cell
ing. and furnished in red oak. \ gallery
extends along two sides of the room, with
an ornamental iron railing and front. This
: room will face on the WaterlOo-st- side OF
the block Fronting on MonrOe-st. are
three pari0rs, two OF them l6xl6 feet. the
other I6x2i feet. connected with sliding
: doors ard opening into the ante rooms,
I2xl7 and l2x22 feet, all of these rooms hav-
ing fwelve-fOOt timber ceiling. The armOry
is 4OK29 ieet Ia the sixth story above the
+ Lodge room. Ii banquet hall 3Ox5O feet
with kitchen, pantrys etc, adjoining. while
. above the armOry is a large room which
! viii be used for storage purposes.
The building VIII cost, when completed
I $4,000. exclusive Of the land and the work
which has been done under the supervision
z Of Architeci :. J. OsgOUd, reflects great credi
4 1 on thar gentleman
. Nearly the entire block IS already rented
T. n Whitney s. Co, lumber dealers. anf
T. NJ Weston and Honduras Lumber Com
D gany occupy the second floor front and vii
d have a magnificent suite of offices. Ih'
T. Bradstreet Mercantile Agency will also have
e offices ou this floor. :. J. osgo0d, The ar
p cbItecf. fIr Chas H. Dyer Dr. ]. ]. Whit
e Geld and attorneys Stone & HYDE will oc
B. cupv offices on the third fOor W. +. lime
1 Son are on fhe fourth floor, and tn
8 Grand Secretary's office Grand Lodge
Grand Chapter and Grand COmmandery ar
a above