Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-11
A VERY FINE BARN
Manager Steele of Port Edwards
will Have Fine House for His
Stock.

Stock.
He who pays a visit to the large
new barn that is being erected by G.
Francis Steel, manager of the John
Edwards Mfg. Co.'S. plants at Port
Edwards, to the rear of the old Johr
Edwards home in that village, will be
struck with the magnifcence of the
structure, or rather with the interior
arrangement of the structure, On the
outside the barn is large plain
affair not at all remarkable, but q
visit to the interior viii dispell any
impression of the ordinary that may
have taken root by the appearance OF
the exterior.
The first room into which the guest
is ushered is the large carriage room.
This room is 44x46 feet in dimension,
with very high ceiling. A. large
double door on either side allows of
the entrance on one side and exit on
the opposite. The floor is tile floor,
and at the far end of the room is
huge fire place, built OF rough brick.
Opening of this room is the harness
room which is finished like the rest of
the rooms and even the stalls in the
horse barn of oak and Normay pine.
The wood work throughout is oiled.
This room is provided with all the
conveniences of the best stables in the
country. AT the opposite end is the
stairway leading up to seven we'll ap-
pointed living rooms, which are
finished in the very best manner, and
which will be occupied by the. hostler
and his family. Underneath the stairs
leading above is the stairway leading
to the cellars. The visitor arrives
first into the heating room where a
large hot air heating plant has been
installed. Opening off of this room
is the fuel room and root cellar, and
opposite the latter is cellar con-
structed for the especial purpose of
raising mushrooms.
From the carriage room on the first
floor there is long and broad hall
way leading to the horse stable where
the visitor finds six single stalls, and
two large box stalls. These are all
finished as above stated, and are pro-
vided with separate draines and ex-
cellent ventilatOrs, as we'll as the latest
automatic arrangements for cleaning,
conveying and measuring the food.
From stairway leading from this
section of the barn one ascends to the
hay-mow and grain room. This latter
is in the shape of huge tank, sheet
iron line and with only ali opening
FOR the receipt of grain and another
at the south west end in the floor of
the bin. This is an opening into the
automatic grain chute and self cleaner,
which leads to the little feed room be-
low.
On the north end of the huge build
ing the COW stable is built. This
might be described as an adjoining
building, for it opens only from the
outside, and is directly under the hay
NOW described above. In this stable,
and finished just as we'll as the other
portions of the barn, are to be found
four stalls for the cows. In this por-
tion also all the latest devices for the
care of the animals are noticeable. +
We understand that Anton Billmyer
of this city, is the designer of this
building, and it is he and his crew of
men that are doing the constructive
work. Mr.. F. Billmyer informed us that
the carpenter work is nearly completed
and that the stock and carriages of
Mr.. Steele would be moved a. this
week. Frank LaVaque, of this city,
is responsible for the granting and
decorating on the interior of this fine
barn.
One matter particularly should not
be overlooked, and can hardly escape
the notice of the casual observer.
That is the lighting system. The
electric power that will be used for
the water and lightning service
will be furnished from the mill
and it will be impossible to find
a dar', corner in the entire struc-
ture, save only the mushroom cellar.
Leading from the barn to the rear
and sides are the stock yards. These
are separated and enclosed by wire
fences topped by whitewashed boards.
A portion of these we understand will
be used for the cows and another por-
ton for the frisking of the excellent
horses, of which Mr.. Steele may well
be proud. There is also erected we'll
apportioned henery to the rear OF the
barn, which is provided with scratch
ing yards for the poultry.