The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-06-21
NEW OFFICE BUILDING.
GuStaf WideII EreCts One at the
KIondike Quarry.
A Handsome Edifice for the Increasing
Business of MankatO's Leading
Industry.

Industry.
Col. Gustaf Widell, owner and pro-
prietor of the Klondike and North
western quarries, has just completed
the erection of a modern Office build
ing in the Klondike or lower quarry.
For several years the Office of the
Widell company has been located in a
stone structure, which has also been
used as a dwelling for the general fore
man. To facilitate the increasing bust
ness of Mr.. Widell modern Office with
modern equipage became necessary,
and this spring the work of construct
ing the new building was begun. The
Klondike quarry is located three and
one-half miles north of Mankato, on
the road from Mankato to st. Peter,
and the new Office stands on a high
prominence of ground about so rods
west of the main road. The new
Office building is picturesquely stu
ated overlooking the quarry on three
sides, is built entirely of range stone
quarried a few rods from where it
stands, and was built by stone masons
in the employ of Mr.. Widell. In d.
mansions the building is 22x42 feet
with tower or an observatory on the
northwestern corner. The interior is
handsome and finished in red oak /;
the exterior is of the natural stone
with red tucked joints. The buildin G
has front, side and back entrance
and contains three rooms down stairs
and one large room above. The front
room is used as the main Office room,
back Of this the stenographers' room
and vault, and in the rear Mr.. Widell 8
private apartments. The upstairs is
used for storage purposes The interior
walls are painted pretty shade of
red, with harmonizipg stenciled bor-
der. Plate glass has been used for
the windows, and the grounds around
the Office are fenced and seeded and
this fall trees will be set out. When
the finishing touches have been added,
Mr.. Widell will have an Office build
ing which will easily equal any in
the state.
The main Office which is in charge
of l. N. Griffith, who is general super
intendent, is furnished with the latest
Office furniture, including oak coun-
tiers with oxidized grill work to the
ceiling. This room is 13x13 feet.
The stenographer' room 10x12 feet,
is we'll lighted, and is supplied with
typewriters, DESKS etc. Off from this
room is the vault, which is 6xS feet
and like the balance of the building is
built of stone.
In finish Mr.. Widell's private Office
room resembles the others. On the
northwest corner of this room is built
tower which is used as an observa-
tory. From this window can be
viewed the work of the entire quarry.
On the north side of the room is a
fire place built of broken asher stone
with red tucked joints and heavy
carved stone mantel on top. Carved in
a circle on the front of the fire place
is a stone bearing the inscription
1901, G. Widell - The design of the
fire place originated with Mr.. Wideu.
and is handsome piece of stone archi-
tectural work
On the wall above the fireplace
hangs diploma awarded to Mr. Wi
dell at the Trans Mississippi exposition
two years ago for best dolometic lime
stone( sand and lime stone mixed),
The amount of work done at these
two quarries is enormous. Last year
A, 400 carloads of stone were shipped
from the quarry, divided as follows ::
Bridge stone, 5000 carloads; cord
stone, 500 carloads and riprap 900 car
loads.
Four hundred men are employed in
quarrying the stone, and one hundred
and fifty are laying stone on contracts
which Mr.. Widell now has on hand
Mr. Widell last month paid out $50, 600
in wages, and this amount has been
increased 81, OOO In one month. One
hundred and fifty men now in the en-
ploy of Mr.. Widell are doing bridge
work at Denison, Iowa, where the
North Western road is building a Sec
ond track.
The Klondike and Northwestern
quarries have spur tracks running in
from the North Western, Omaha and
Great Western roads. With this SER
vice and improved machinery in the
quarries Mr.. Widell is we'll equipped
for getting out work quickly.
Col. and Mrs. Widell are now in
Buffalo viewing the exposition as
guests of Governor and Mrs Van SAINT.
They will be absent ten days.