The morning news., 1894-11-01
LIBERTY STREETS NEW STORES.
The Improvements in Progress Opposite
Masonic Temple.

The improvements in Progress Opposite
Masonic Temple.
Work has been in progress some time
aker streets The old frame residence
has been moved to an adjoining lot and
re-modeled and ground has been broken
on the corner for a block of handsome
stores. They are being erected by Capt
d. C. Purse. The contract has been
awarded to C. G. Anderson, Jr. The brick
work is being done by John D. Gould.
These stores will mark a departure in the
design of 1-story stores in Savannah, and
instead of being merely inclosed by plain
walls, as has been the Gus
tom, they will be more than
mere Enclosures. The impression has
long been prevalent, especially among for
eigners. and probably justly so, that the
American public has no appreciation of
beauty in architecture, and that a plain
wall, pierced by plain windows, is just as
satisfactory as the carefully designed
structures that embellsh the streets of
European cities. One of the commits
sioners of the French government to the
worlds fair, in writing to one of the Paris
art JOuIudlS OL Art III <AIHGIACds SdAu
that Especially in architecture is the
American people refuting the statement
that they do not comprehend the mean
ing of art and that they are lacking in
the sense of beauty that marks the
French people"
These new stores of Capt. Purse, as
seen from the architects designs, are at
tractive. The principal interest natu-
rally attaches to the fronts. The main
store will front Liberty street and the
others Whitaker street The fronts will
be of pressed brick and metal, the metal
being the especial feature of decoration.
The work of carrying out the architects
designs for the metal work has been en-
trusted to Charles A. Cox. The fronts
have been designed in the Colonial
STYLE" the style examples of which are
vet to be seen in the decoration of the
doorways of some of the old Savannah
houses. The entrance to each of the
stores is recessed, making a vestibule,
which is to be tiled with salmon-colored
tile. The entrance space is crowned
with a graceful arch, nodded, and relieved
with projecting voussoirs. Each en-
trance is hanked by a large window
glazed with one large light of glass, be-
tween each of which and the entrance
space rises a column with carved and
nodded capital supporting a nodded en-
tabliture. over each window rises a curv-
ing pediment relieved in the center by a
circular opening of glass. over these
pediments garlands of flowers and leaves
projecting from the surface. A bracke ted
cornice over each store unites all these
features into unity with variety, so much
studied for and seldom attained. over
all is a paneled parapet to each store for
sign space. An especially unique feat
ure of these stores is the treatment of
the conductor pipes. The shafts are
circular, changing by an ovollo into
square above and finished at top with
tapering finals, marking handsome ex-
terror division to the stores. At the
corner store the pressed brick pier is
embelished with two handsome shields,
on one of which in raised gold letters is
to be Liberty Street," on the other
"Whitaker Street"
The color scheme of the fronts is to
be decidedly pleasing. The metal work
is to be enameled white, contrasted in a
vertical frame of red pressed brick work,
which, with the salmon color of the til
ing, will blend.
The same care bestowed upon the de-
sign of the exterior has been bestowed
upon the interior. and the stores, when
finished, will be thoroughly lighted, hand
some and desirable places of business.
The large frame building formerly
where the stores are being. erected has
been moved up to the adjoining house
to make more room for the stores. This
house has been thoroughly overhauled
with extensive additions and improve
ments including every modern conven-
fence, such as dumb-waiter, electric bells,
speaking tubes, electric lights, ETC.. TO
make of it model boarding house.