The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-04

Topeka
In order to see the building it Is
necessary to pass through the jewelry
store of S. Freidberg. one comes out
into an open space and there stands
building the like of which is never
seen these days. Its whole appear
ance speaks of age and neglect It's
old sides have never been treated to
coat Of paint and the rain and sun of
years have warped the siding until
some OF it has curled way out from the
side of the shop. The window lights
are lacking In many places; a ragged
curtain hangs over the door opening;
the plaster has fallen from. the old
walls in spots and the whole structure
leans to one side like bent over old
woman.
The style Of architecture OF this an
Gent structure is Of kind long since
abandoned, but in the days when To-
peka was in its infancy it was consider
ed to be the most stylish and up-tO-
date thing one could hope to build. The
first story Is of stone. and the second
and third are what the early settlers
called brick filed" IN parIance in
telligible to the moderns, this means
that the walls were first built of brick
and then veneered over with boards.
One not cultivated in the beauty
ideas of the time would have some
trouble trying to convince himself that
this fashion was ever very pleasing to
the eye. Why q person should cover
good bricks with boards is more than
the doubling modern can comprehend.
But this was considered the proper
thing to do at the time. The outside
sheeting is all of oak which was cut
from the timber, the remains of which
form City park 1t was all sa wed at
the little hand saw mill established
there in the woods. The bricks also
were hand made and were the first
ever manufactured in Topeka.
When the building was completed
in 1857 it was by far the largest which
had yet graced the city streets. The
hearts of the worthy citizens swelled
with righteous pride. The whole town
turned out to see this three story sky
scraper. The people clambered up the
narrow stairway and gazed out over
the prairie in glee. They Dragged and
boasted how far they could see and
could talk of nothing for days but
1.-The three story building and its won
deTs. In reality it was only two stories
and half but who is going to quar-
rel about fractions.
Hauled From IIeavenworth.
It had been no easy task to get the
material for the structure together.
The lumber had to be hauled with
oxen from the hand mill There were
no window sash nearer than Leaven-
worth and as these, too. had to be
brought across the roadless prairie and
the bridgeless streams with oxen, the
prize building Of the town was without
windows for a year.
At the opening of the shoe factory
there was only work enough to keep
Mr.. Branner and one man busy, but
the trade grew with the town until
there were as many as twenty or thir-
ty men employed there at one time.
The shoes, or boots rather, were all
made by hand and they brought good
prices The cheapest ones sold for
fourteen dollars and the pIutocrats
paid twenty-five.
The leather used in their manufac-
ture had to be hauled from Leaven-
worth with oxen and two or three tons
were generally brought at once with
six oxen to draw each wagon This
took a long time as oxen are not gen
orally in much of hurry and there
were no bridges or roads.
John Brown Hidden There.
The old shoe factory has sheltered
many distinguished guests IN its third
story, where Mr.. Branner used tc