Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-26

DIXON HOUSE WILL BE MODERNfZED.

Plans Are Drawn for a Three-Story Brick
! Block, 66x48, Metropolitan Appliances
| Throughout, Work o; Conversion Begun.
The city of Centralia has long been
| in need Of frst-class. modern
equipped hotel building. The import
anCe of such a structure us an addi-
tiOn to the business complexion of
that city has been emphasized more
strongly each day. as improvements in
other lines progressed. \ growing
patronage and prosperous business
at the Hotel Dixon has made an en-
largement Of that hOStelry impera-
tive on the part Of the proprietors
and convinced them that a solid brick
home for transients, artistic in design
and conforming to every possible con-
venience, is the only proper invest
ment for them to make right now on
their splendid business corner on
Cranberry street. 1t is, therefore,
with no little qualification that we
submit this week few detailed plans
Of construction. The new hotel is
assured. 1t will be a building to which
the public can we'll point with pride,
it will be an enduring compliment to
the enterprise and business ability of
landlord and landlady, Mr.. and Mrs.
Dixon.
Of the present hotel building, the
upright, size 30X48, will stand where
it is, same to be brick veneered and
raised about one foot. The office will
remain in southeast corner, the dining
room to be converted into a reading
and billiard room.
The west wing Of the hotel, now
used as parlOr, private parlOr and sit
ting room will be moved on the vacant
lot east OF hotel to be fitted up as a
dwelling house in addition with what
is now the sample room. The kitchen
has been moved back to make room
for an addition which will connect it
with the new part.
A solid brick corner, size 36x4S,
three stories, is to be erected as west
half of hotel and attached to the
brick veneered portion. First floor
plan of the new part includes sitting
room, size 1SX1S3, the parlor and a
bedroom. Back of this a large dining
room, size 224X34. Then the kitchen
to rear of dining room. A large arch
doorway will lead to office and sitting
room, stone steps to be laid in solid
masonry.
Basement will be full size of new
part, size 36x4S, and eight feet deep.
1t will include two sample rooms,
laundry, furnace, and fuel rooms
Second floor will contain nineteen
comfortable sleeping chambers, the
smallest of which will be 10X144 feet
in size. A steam radiator in every
chamber, large hallway and one bath
room on this floor.
Third floor, new part, will contain
eight sleeping rooms same size as On
floor beneath, radiator in each room
and one bath room on this floor.
j. H. Jeffers Of Stevens Point is
chief architect and superintendent of
COuSUl uCUlOl. EVIL IhOuCl Ii dlI dlSc-
ment for hotel comfort, except an
elevator, has been given place in his
plans. Steam heat, hot and cold
water, ETC., will be included in the
service. The frontage on Cranberry
street is very neatly designed, includ-
ing brown stone and pressed brick,
large plate glass windows, and other
combinations Of material sure to
please the eye and gratify taste for
architectural beauty. A. T. Bihlmeier
of Grand Rapids has secured the con-
tracts for carpenter work, Brehm &
Schwartz of Centralia have the con-
tract for brickWOrk, masonry and
plastering. j. Van Lannen is doing
the house moving. Estimated cost of
improvements is $1,000. Contracts
call for completion Of the Dixon hotel
by October /. Thus the good work is
being pushed earnestly forward while
all citizens look on in interested ap-
probation, glad to know that another
substantial improvement is due to talk
for our towns.