The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-11
NEW Y. N. c. A. BUILDING.
The Architects Plans for a Mod
ernr Stylish Structure
TO BE A CREDIT TO THE CITY.
The Old Mason Homestead Now Be-
ing DIsmantIod to Make Room
for the Improvcmcnts-Thc
Details ms Provided.

Ill ltS own, unu utteu up speclully
for its wants and requirements. This
fact was published at the time the
Misses Maxwell, heirs OF the late James
Maxwell, purchased the Mason property
at the corner of Market and Twentieth
streets for the purpose of having it re-
modelled and presenting it to the Y. NJ.
@. A. MS memorial of their father.
Since that time nothing has been pub
lished in relation to the matter and out
side Of those actively interested, little or
nothing has been known about the pro-
ject which, is one Of no inconsiderable
importance. Plans have been adopted
for the new building, the work OF tear
ing down the old mansion has been in
progress for some time and by Septem-
Der 10 the Association expects to be es-
tablished in its new home, which will
be complete, commodious and comfort
able. The plans were prepared by Mr..
L. w. Wells, the well known architect,
and the firm OF Klevis, Kraft 4 Co. has
the contract for doing the remodeling
and building.
Nearly every resident OF the city is
familiar with the appearance the Mason
property formerly presented. The lot is
a very large one fronting probably about
eighty feet on Market street and running
back on Twentieth street fully 100 feet,
il not more. Running back from Market
street along the alley on the south side
that separates the property from the
Maxwell residence, the lot extends even
further back than on Twentieth street,
by reason OF the alley which bounds the
lot on the east running in u somewhat
southeasterly direction. The buildings
that have stood on this property con-
sisted OF main building OF brick, two
stories high, fronting fifty feet on Mar
ket and thirty-iive feet on Twentieth
street. In the rear of this and
on the south side were erected
ut different periods rambling additions.
All were solidly constructed, and there
are no better walls to be found in the
city to-day than those of the main build
ing. This building stands back from
Market street distance OF between thirty
and forty feet and is the only part to be
retained; all the other buildings are
being torn down.
The property never made any preten-
sions to architectural beauty; in fact it
has been one OF the ugliest buildings in
the city. The practically new structure
that is to rise in its place will, however,
be quite n handsome one and decided
improvement to that part Of the city.
An INTELMGENCER reporter was permit
ted to see Mr.. Wells plans yesterday,
and from them took the following points:
OF the main building only the walls
will be used. The roofs to be taken off
and replaced by high slate roof with
sloping gables and provided on the north,
west and south slopes with pretty dormer
windows for lighting the third story
which this high roof will provide.
The main entrance will be in the CEN
tire OF the Market street front, where
there is now small door that opens
into hall nine feet wide and running
back about twenty-four feet, where it
connects by n graceful archway with q
transverse hallway. In order to relieve
the distressing plainness OF the Market
street front, an ornamental front, ten
feet wide, will be built up in the centre
from foundation to roof. From the
lower story this will extend out three
feet, and the rest OF the way up about
one foot out. The entrance will be
through this front. Passing under a
massive and handsome stone arch, which
bears on its face the words, maxwell
Memorial" in carved letters, one finds
himself in nicely furnished vestibule
10 by 8 feet; from this large double doors
open into the building. Projecting over
the arch will be balcony, and at the
top OF the new front will be another bal
cony, on to which n double dormer win
dow opens. Stained glass windows and
tiling add to the ornamentation this
front affords, and with the high peaked
roof and tall chimneys with ornamental
tops the appearance OF the building
from Market street will be very modern
and pleasing. In addition to the words
on the arch the words "Young Mems
Christian Association" will also appear
on the front.
lion the twentieth street side the
doorway leading to the transverse hall
above referred to, will be moderniZed; it
will be used principally as private en-
trance. In the rear OF the main build
ing there will be built new two story
structure about forty feet wide and from
iorty-five to sixty feet long, reaching
from the main part back to the alley.
On the south side the line Of this new
building will be on line with thesouth
line OF the old building and this will
make its north line set in about ten feet
from the north line OF the old building.
Such an arrangement will permit OF a
good yard on three sides OF the build
ings, and these yards can be made attrac-
tive by flower beds.
The interior arrangements will be rs
follows: To the left OF the hall as one
enters the main entrance will be the
parlOr, room nineteen by twenty feet
in size. On the right hand side is
room OF the same size that will be used
us n reception room. Doors will lead
from this room into the transverse hall
and into the office, cosy room eleven
feet ten inches by eleven feet ut the
south end OF the last named hall. This
hall in size will be eleven feet three
inches wide by about thirty-ono feet
long, leading to the door on the north
or Twentieth street side, where there
will be vestibule eleven feet and three
inches wide by about G feet long. The
main staircase will DO in this hall; it
will be winding staircase with heavy |
ornamental ratings, and the bottom
landing will be directly opposite the
arch that leads to the hall to the main
entrance.
Onthcsecondfloor the main building
over the parlor will be found the read
ing room and library, thirty-one feet six
inches long by nineteen feet wide; this
room is well lighted by four large win
dows. The room over the reception
room, the same size as the one below it,
will be used as n class room, and over
the hallway is smaller room. that
may be usedfor that or some other pur-
pose.
The new building in the rearis to be
utilized from the basement up. On
the north side will be the gymnasium,
4 room two stories high, about twenty: