Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-12-16
The Building Boom of 1887.

Everything now indicates that
Audubon will experience the great
est building boom in her history in
the season ofISS7. g. B. Russell has
determined to erect a large two story
brick on the corner he now occupies,
Jno. A. Nash will build on the lot
occupied by the Banner grocery
store, and b. S. Phelps will erect 4
handsome brick on the premises
occupied by Forbes & Son, the
three making solid front Of eighty
feet, with store rooms one hundred
feet deep. Mr.. Russell has also
concluded to supply the urgent
demand Of the town for an opera
hall, in the second story of his build
ing. The hall will have seating
capacity of between five aud six
hundred, will be furnished with
raised seats and all the modern con-
veniences and paraphrenalia to make
1t credit to and the pride of the
town. 1t is cause for congratulation
that this enterprise has been UNDER
taken by citizen who will take
pride in making the hall one of the
best in the state, aud worthy Of the
community for whose accommoda-
ton it is intended. Mr.. Russell has
a well founded and abiding conf.
dence in the stability of our present
and future town; his undertakings
are always marked by extraordinary
enterprise and laudable desire to
excel, so that our people may feel
assured that stability and elegance
will enter largely into the construc.
ton of the new building and the
much needed opera hall. The sec.
ond story Of Mr.. Nash's building
will be finished tor lodge purposes,
and will probably be occupied by
the knights of Pythias. Mr.. Phelps
will probably finish the second story
of his building for similar purpose,
and would, we understand, finish it
for the accommodation of any or
ganization applying, if such appli.
cation is made soon, before the plans
are perfected. The Odd Fellows
have under consideration the erection
of two story brick block on the
south side of the square, the upper
story to be devoted to their own use as
a lodge room, and the ground floor
for store room. These buildings
are determined upon, and will be
erected next year. Messrs. Scott
Bros. are also contemplating the
erection Of a brick store room adj.
joining the Phelps structure, where
in they can more safely and econo-
mically conduct their furniture bust.
ness. John Reinemund will move
his present building back forty feet,
build brick front and warehouse
in the rear and veneer the middle or
present frame building with brick.
Under the stimulating and encour.
aging influence that the erection Of
these buildings will have, it would
not be difficult to name the other
prominent business men and firms
that will fall into line and contribute
to the boom Of ~, among whom
we presume to mention Mr.. llowald,
Mr.. Gleason, the Citizens Bank
and Mr.. Consigny. There is every
thing to encourage such boom and
no policy of financial reasoning to
stay it. The high rates asked for
partial insurance have hampering
influence on dealers, while the con-
tinual menace in the danger of fires
mutely argues in favor OF the SUBJ
stantial superstructures OF brick and
mortar. With the boom IN sight
Audubon enters upon new era Of
more substantial business enterprises
and renewed prosperity.