The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-04-02
GREATER OSKALOOSA.
New Gibbs Home Will bella Notable
1908 Improvement.

Oskaloosa's building season, while
not as active at the present time as it
was at he same week off last spring,
has more things in sightllfor the en-
tire season than ever before in the
history of the city. The building sea-
son is backward on account of the
weather and the high prize of both
labor and ma terial. Sonic improve
ments have been deferred ION account
of these conditions.
The Gibbs Residehce.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gibbs will build one
of the handsomest and most elegant
residences north of the city that is to
be found anywhere in this part
of the state Excavations for the
building are now being made on the
site of the former residence. The old
building was moved to the south a
number or rods and has been repaired
end remodeled. Mr.. and Mrs. Woodin
viii occupy this place fort the time
being. They will remove tosthe house
as soon as the spring season is far
enough advanced The newshdme will
be of Oskaloosa's pressed brick, full
two story and half, with great VIDE
porches on the south front land the
cast side. 1t will stand upon the site
of the old home and will be Known as
THE Elms," the name of the bid place.
The basement will be quite al distance
above the level of the ground and this
will raise the first floor and the
al inA "a
house will be stately and massive in
appearance. There is bit Of the
classical in the general makeup of the
building and yet enough of the in
formal adaptations to stamp It as
home that was built for comfort and
convenience. The house will contain
in all about twenty rooms, all manner
of closets, bathrooms, pantries, clothes
presses, linen closets and the like.
Every convenience that is known to
the modern builder will be made a
part of this palatial home. 1t will be
perfect from kitchen to garnet. The
kitchen will have huge refrigerator,
ice chest and cold storage closet. A
large kitchen closet and buffers
pantry are also parts of the kitchen
arrangement or accessories to the din
ing room which will be model IN its
appointment and furnishings. The
first floor contains seven large rooms
and great hall. An elegant stairway
rises from this hall and it also gives
convenient entrance into the several
other rooms of the floor. The drawing
room will be large apartment Of this.
floor, dimensions 17X3S feet.
The second floor has large central
hall from which the numerous cham
bers and rooms open. These rooms
are all large and airy with fine high
ceilings and every furnishing that the
desire for comfort and completeness
can suggest. Not a thing has been
overlooked or neglected in the arrange.
ment Of the rooms. The servants
quarters are furnished with a dining
room and bath room and other cbn-
veniences.
The finishing of the house will be
excellent and luxurious in all details
A part of the finishing of the castings
and doors viii be of birch; marble will
be used to quite an extent and thing
for the wainscoting, and will also be
used in the bath rooms. Thing will
be used for part of the floors. Some
of the finishing has not yet been Sc
lected The house will be heated by
steam and for this purpose a large
plant will be placed in the basement.
The ground plans of the house show
So feet in length by 81 feet in width.
The porches will be twelve feet wide
with a five-foot approach.
The house will front the south with
the broad porches on the south and
east sides. The arrangement of the
grounds is to be altered and changed
and greatly beautified. 1t is probable
that special landscape artist will be
secured from the east to lay out the
drives and the walks that will be
made.
Excavations for the basement and
foundation walls are now in progress
and the material for the house is be-
ing delivered on the ground. The
brick layers will soon be called upon
to go at their part OF the work. MI.
Gibbs figures that with the pleasant
and favorable weather the brick work
alone win require thirty days for its
completion. A A. Hamilton has
been secured by Mr.. Gibbs to superin-
tend the work and day labor will be
employed. Bart Sinclair is now en-
gagged upon a part of the mill work.
The work will be rushed as rapidly as
possible and large force of men Will
be handled in the several departments.
F.E. Wetherell is the architect ard
furnished plans and specifications Of
the building. The plans are for one of
the finest residence places that thu
gentleman has ever drawn and he is
to be congratulated upon the excel.
lence of the ideas to which he has
given expression in the building.
Other Work.
Bart Sinclair has contracted for n
couple of cottage residences to be
erected in South Side" with the open
ing of the season.
Two or three new homes are being