Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-20
THE CONTRACT Is GIVEN OUT.
Mr.. sittcrdinT 90 Erect the store on
the site Of the Theatre.


Colonel John Murphy yesterday award
ed to Mr.. Fritz Sitterdng the contract
for tearing down the old Richmond
Theatre and erecting on its site hand
some four-story-store building TO be oc-
cupied by the large clothing firm Of Ar
mold * Co.. Of Chicago.
Mr. Sitterding commenced at once TO
remove the fixtures out OF the old play
house. around which so many pleasant
memories cluster. and the actual work
Of tearing down the walls will begin in
few days. The front Of the building
cannot be disturbed until the end Of the
month as the stands are rented out
Colonel Murphy is under contract to
have the store, which will cost about
scj coo. ready for occupancy by August
18th. The lease 10 the Chicago firm is for
five years, with an option to renew it
for as much longer.
THE BUILDING.
The store. according 20 the plans drawn
by Mr. carl Ruehrmund, VIII be one Of
the most commodious and handsome in
the city. embracing many new and dis
tinct features not the least interesting
OF which will be seven Of the largest
flights OF plate-giass ever brought 10 this
city. These windows will measure 13SEl3s
inches. and viii be- surmOunted by deco
rated transoms 6Xl2 inches.
The building will be four stories high.
II will have a frontage on Broad street
OF hfty-Gve feet and on Seventh street
OF l33 feet II will be built after the
modern style Of architecture OF Pow
hatan red pressed-brick. with terra-cotta
trimmings. and galvanized-ron cornices.
The straight lines will be- relieved by
pcdiment breaks in the centre Of each
front The brlckwork above the first
floor will be carried on girders and sup
ported on iron columns.
Quite an unique feature OF the exterior,
as least as far as Richmond is con-
cerned. viii be the entrance 1T the cor
ner Of Broad and Seventh streets, with
handsome swins doors on both sides.
IL viii be the only corner entrance in
the city. The Seyenth-streot front will
be return Of the Broa1-street front.
with similar features on the lower south
side corner
THE EXTERIOR.
The walls Will be twenty-five inches in
thickness. Underneath the main floor
Will be a commodious cellar for storage
and other purposes. This compartment
will be exclvated and foorel with ce-
ment IL Will extend the entire length
Of the building.
The main floor has an inside measure
mCnt Of l2sx5l feet.
At the rear end Of the store will be
situated the elevators and dressing
rooms, and huge sh0W-wmd0ws will be
erected behind he large plate-giass on
the BrOa1- AM Seyenth-strest sides
There will be no partition at all on this
floor the ceiling being supported by
girders an1 columns. The ceiling will be
yanelled Of oak, and the pitch of this
department will be eighteen feet. The
side walls viii be plastered with Victor
cement.
The pitch OF the second floor will be
fourteen feet. and OF the third floor
twelve feet Both floors will be similar
to the first. extending the whole length
Of the building. and fitted with complete
elevator service and dressing-rooms.
The fourth floor will be divided into
separate compartments. and be used
for the storage Of sample stock.