The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-10-25
A. O. ". w. HALL.
Description of the Finest Lodge Hall
i'm Minnesota.
Nothing is Lacking to Make it the
Pride of Lodge Members.

Mankato now undoubtedly has the
finest lodge hall in the state, and it
belongs to Blue Earth lodge No. 30,
Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The various apartments occupy the
entire third floor of thei Ray block,
which is 66X120 feet. The location is
central, and it will be many years be-
fore finer suite of lodge rooms will
be found in Southern Minnesota. The
lodge has spared no expense to furnish
the rooms in the most elegant man
ner, and the bills foot up about So, 900.
The arrangement of the rooms is also
in accordance with the most approved
plans for lodge purposes.
In going to the hall, one may reach
it by either of three flights of stairs
from the outside, one from Front
street, one from Jackson, and one
from the rear of the building. From
the second floor to the third there is
an inside stairway, broad and easy,
and an outside iron fire escape. The
largest assemblage can pass out of the
hall in a short time.
Several building inspectors have ex-
amined the building and with the
alterations that have been made from
the original plans all pronounce it to
be perfectly safe, even when 1000
people are on the third floor. At one
time there were eighty-five tons of
lumber and building material piled in
the center of the third floor, which is
a sufficient test. The building rests
on stone piers and has trussed roof,
and fully meets all the requirements
of safety.
The first room the visitor comes to
is the kitchen, large room, with
gas range and sufficient equipment to
feed 200 or more people at a time.
The large cupboard contains dishes,
etc., sufficient to supply all the tables
in the big banqueting room.
Next comes the first ante-room,
with gentlemen's toilet adjoining,
equipped with all the essentials, down
to silver drinking cup. In going
down the hall leading to the next
ante-room, six paraphernalia rooms
are passed on the right, in two stories,
one intended for the exclusive use OF
each lodge occupying the hall. The
hall is spread with lineoleum, and the
second sante-room is nicely carpeteu
with velvet Brussels, as is also the
lodge room, which is next entered.
These carpets are of beautiful pat
tern and greenish tint.
The lodge room is revelation, and
draws forth EXPLANATIONS of surprise
and pleasure from all visitors. 1t is
4Ox63 feet, extending across the front
of the entire block. 1t has thirteen
large windows on Front and Jackson
streets, while the finest lodge room in
the state outside of Mankato, in Min
neapolis, has only four windows. The
platforms around the sides are car
peted, and the large, easy, leather up
holstered settees which line the room
seat 100 people. Twice as many more
can easily be seated in the room, and
when all the rooms are thrown open,
1000 people can be seated SO that they
can hear a speaker. The two principal
pedestals have plates of Tennessee
marble. Emblematic pictures line
the walls, and a costly piano occupies
a place in one corner.
Thirty-six feet of folding doors
connect the lodge room with the
dancing and banqueting hall, and can
be folded up on both sides, as the
twelve doors are hinged one to an
other. This practically throws the
two rooms into one, as the platform
at that point is portable and can be
rolled out of the way. The dancing
hall is 49, by 81 feet, and is floored
with inch and half hard maple,
oiled. On the Jackson street side are
sevenslarge windows, giving plenty of
air, and on the opposite side is stage
that can be occupied by speakers or by
an orchestra. The acoustic proper
ties of both this and the lodge room
are admirable. Twelve sets can
dance on the floor at one time without
crowding, and fifty or more couples
can participate in the round dances.
Off from this hall is the elegantly
furnished ladies'. reception room,
about 20 by % feet, carpeted with a
beautiful moquet, and filled with
richly upholstered furniture. A full
length plate mirror is placed on the
side. Adjoining the reception room
is the ladies' toilet, nicely furnished.
The entire hall is heated by steam
and lighted with gas, but is wired for
electricity, and has combination fix
lures. These latter are the finest in
the city, having cost S4OO. The car
pets were selected from 25O samples