The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-10-07
GunnelI,s Building.

building which is an ornament d
our town, a credit TO the state ant
a monument to the indomitable en-
terprise and energy of one man
That man came to Louisa only =.
few years ago unknown to any on,
here. He was book keeper for {
contractor, and we feel sure his de
sires far out-numbered his dollars
After the close of his engagement
in that capacity he was salesman
for Hughes and afterwards fol-
Carpenter, of Catlettsburg. But
this was not satisfying to a man o.
bition, and he speedily brancheC
out for himse Success crowned
his efforts, and to-day G. w. Gun.
nell is sole proprietor of the build.
ing TO which we have referred, and
which is in its entirety the model
business house of Eastern Ken
lucky. Its design is at once novel
and attractive. The material i
brick and iron, and S. F. Hoard, the
architect, planned a com bination OF
these two which should render the
building both handsome and prac-
tically indestructible. 1t is two
stories high, with an iron roof which
is beyond our naming as to style,
but which with its handsome ga
bles fifty crowns the noble proper
tons of the house. The first story
is built entirely of pressed brick,
laid III black mortar. The second
story is of galvanized iron, but the
casual observer would say it was
of stone. The roof also is iron, and
this, together with the fire-proof
quality of the entire building, and
the remoteness of all other struct-
ures, reduces the danger from fire
to minimum. The doors and
windows OF the lower story are
plate glass, and there enough of
them to light the interior most
beautifully. The building is - by
90 feet, a splendid proportion for
the salcsroom, while the unique ga
bIes and the peculiar slope OF the
roof make the entire edifice sym
metrically complete.
The first floor or main salesroOm
occupies the whole length and
breadth of the building. Running
through the center are eight iron
columns which support the second
floor. Grouped about these solid
pillars are tasteful and elaborate
counters, shelves and show cases.
And these cases and shelves are
not barren localities for they, like
the other parts of this beautiful
trade palace, are filed with the
newest and finest from the markets
of the world. On all sides you see
handsome counters and shelving,
and everywhere wood is used it is
Of yellow pine, BEAUTIFULLY finished
to show it in its natural color and
fiber On this floor you will find
in endless profusion, yet every
thing in its proper place, dry goods,
notions, clothing, boots and shoes,
hats, millinery, cloaks and many
other articles for use and adorn-
ment. And we will just whisper to
the girls that here they will also
find Frank Hammond, the right
bower of the Gunnell "deck." At
the north end of this floor is the
counting room, very handsome
and convenient office, finished in
pine. Now go up stairs, which you
can do either by walking up an
easy flight of stairs or by taking
the elevator. Getting to the second
floor you find another 10 X 80 room,
lighted by numerous windows com
posed of tiny panes of heavy glass.
Here we find carpets, furniture,
wall paper, window blinds, trunks,
etc. Taking the elevator we de-
scend to the basement, and instead
of finding ourselves in damp,
noisome cellar we discover that we
are in dry sub-story, and in it a
large furnace which is the central
idea, as it were, of the Bennett &
Peck hot air heating system by
which the Gunnell Building is thor
oughly and comfortably heated.
The hot air is conducted through
large metal cylinders TO four hand
some marble top registers on the
main floor, thus making the house
warm in the coolest weather, and
avoiding the dirt and bother of I'M
slightly stoves.
We had nearly forgotten to tell
how to effect an entrance to this
stately store. Well. if you are COM
ing up Main Cross Street and can
not wait till you get to the corner
,.o,, ca,. antnr AZ tho north door on
the east side. If you are going east
on Main street you may go in the
large door in the center front. Or
you may go to the corner and walk
in through the entrance there.
These doors are themselves tho
handsomest ones in the city, their
design, construction and finish be-
ing OF the very best order,
1t isno part of our business now