The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-08

Mr.. H. J. Gerken, the exalted ruler
of Wilmington Lodge Of Elks. received
on yesterday the complete plans and
specifications for the 'Elks' home
which is soon to be erected. The plans
are from Messrs. Hook & Sawyer, of
Charlotte, to whom the contract for
their preparation was awarded a few
weeks ago.
Mr.. Gerken said yesterday that the
building committee will, within the
next day or two, go through the plans
carefully and within a very few days
they will be in a position TO advertise
for bids for the construction of the
building. The work will in all prob
ability be under way not later than the
18th instant.
AS an Illustration of the very extern
sive and constantly increasing build-
ing interests of Wilmington, it will be
of interest to note that within a radius
of three squares from the corner of
Front and Grace streets seven expen-
sive buildings are in process of con-
struction or practically ready for the
work to begin, the value of the build
ings ag~gregating fully $4,000. Es-
pecially notable among them are the
big building being erected by /. NJ.
Bear & Co.. for their wholesale dry
. SOOuS DuSlIltSS, COIHcI HIoIl ana
Grace; the new "Elks' Home and the
! Sternberger building adjacent thereto,
on Front street between Chestnut n
Grace; the new building for George O..
Gaylord's big racket store on the op-
posite side of the street from the "Elks
Home;'' the handsome new residence
being erected at the corner of Third
n Grace by Mr.. w. H. Sprunt; a
we'll designed two-story residence on
Grace street between Third and
Fourth for Mr.. Robert d. Tucker.
Then there is the work on the resi-
dence of Mr.. j. c. Stewart, corner of
Second and Grace streets, a large force
of carpenters being engaged in the
work of remodeling the building, and
also the work of ~remodeding the old
Bowden residence IN Second street be-
tween Grace and Walnut, recently pur-
f. chased by DR.. N. NJ. Culbreth.
h building which Mr.. w. H.
Sprunt moved from the site for his
new residence to an adjacent lot on
Grace street has been put in thorough
order on it's new foundation n Mr..
. Sprunt and family are now comfort
ably domiciled therein n will reside
there until the new residence is COM
pleted.
Mr.. Robert D. Tucker said yesterday
dence on Grace street within the next
week. The contract is to be let at
once.
Referring to the building in progress
in other sections of the city it will be
of interest to note that work on the
$50, 900 Jas. Walker Memorial Hospital
is progressing very satisfactorily; that
is to say, the excavating for the foun-
dation is we'll advanced and material
is arriving in large quantities.
Good progress is also being made in
, the work on the handsome residences
for Hon. John D.. Bellamy, on Market
street, and Captain Donald MacRae,
corner Third and Dock streets. Indeed,
throughout the city the clear ring of
, the hammers, the constant buzz of
saws in the hands of numerous carpen-
ters the regular stroke of trowels
, welded by brickmasons can be heard
: at we'll nigh every street corner in the
, city, h steady clatter blending IN a
volume of industrial music" which
attests in no uncertain way the rapid
development which is permeating the
entire city.