Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-10-21
A SEVEN STORY STRUCTURE COMbIN.
ING IN ITS Appointments The
BEST OF MODERN, UP.
TO-DATE IDEAS

The most notable achievement Of
the year 1910, and the climax OF ar
chitectual endeavor III North Dakota Is
the construction Of the magnificent
Hotel Mckenzie, at Bismarck. The
building. with it's towering seven stor'
les dominating the valley OF the Mis-
souri, at the capital, is now approach
ing completion and there is absolute
assurance that it will be open for the
reception of guests when the next
legislature meets The concrete con-
struction is altogether finished, the
interior walls il place, the rough
plumbing, heating and wiring systems
installed and the outer walls have
been carried up to the sixth floor.
The finishing OF the work is mere
matter of detail The furnishing IS
now being provided for by wood and
metal workers who stand at the head
of the decorative and hotel finishing
professions, and the building as 1t
stands now is a splendid tribute to
the creative genius and energy OF
Edward G.. Patterson, who less than
five months ago began the work OF
rem owing from the site the old frame
SllCCluIcS ludl oIOOu upOA ~ oAASS
the foundation of Bslnarch. For Mr..
Patterson not only conceived the idea
of building a hotel in Bismarck that
would be in a class by itself in this
section of the country, but he directed
the drawing of the plans, bought the
material personally, supervised the
construction, the execution or his ideas
being carried out by Herman kretz,
the we'll known st. Paul architect. and
John A. Larson, master of construc
ton whose capacity is evidenced by
many notable structures.
The new Hotel Mckenzie has two
dis tinguishing characteristics that are
outstanding: 1t is absolutely hides
tructible by fire or shock, and 1t is
the only seven story building in ell
ther of the Dakotas, Montana or ldaha.
1t Is Welded of concrete on a steel
skeleton, faced with hollow brick and
Bedford stone-the style of construc'
ton so generally followed in San
Francisco since the earthquake. The
only combustible materials entering |
into the construction are the doors
and window frames and from the
basement to the roof there Is not a
feature of the building that is not
up to the last minute in modern
devices for the comfort, safety and n.y. |
.Eenic housing of the travelling public.
Realizes an Ambition.
While the work of construction of |
The Mckenzie has been but matter
of few months of strenuous endeav.
or the hotel itself is the result OF
much ambitious planning on the part
of Mr.. Patterson. 1t is properly the
elimination of long career in the
service of the public That career is
q record of pioneer work in improv.
ing the hotel accommodations at Bis.
marck. For when Mr.. Patterson and
Ed. Allen came into control of the old
Sheridan House in 1893 there had not
been much progress made in the hotel
business at the capital. Things were
very much as they had been from the
early days. For seven years the
Sheridan House, built by E. H. BLY,.
rich in it's traditions of notable guests
and broad hospitality, was maintain
ed on it's old site, facing the Northern
Pacific tracks. 1t housed all the dis
tinguished men Of North Dakota and
some of even wider renown and it be-
came known as the resort of poliat;-
clans of every degree. In 1900 Mr.
Patterson. then sole proprietor, pro-
posed to the owner of the property
the Northern Pacific company-that
the house be reconstructed on lines
suggested by him. He was given carte
blanche by the company and he per-
sonally superintendent the removal Of
the building from its old site; it was
swung around to face on Main and
Fifth streets, was brick veneered and
opened as the Northwest. For some
years it served its purpose but five
years ago Mr.. Patterson, who had III
the meantime prospered largely and
became one of the substantial men