Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-09
CR|SMAN WILL
BUILD ACADEMY
oTTUMWA CONSTRUCTION COM.
PANY GIVEN CONTRACT FOR
BIG JOB.
ARE HAULING LUMBER
Citizens and Sisters Visit Site for New
Convent and Make Change in
the Location Of Proposed
Building.

The l.. T. Crisman Co., Ottumwa, wi
build the academy and convent for tn
sisters. The local firm has been give
the contract on what is known anon
the bidders as proposition B." 70
S132,50O. This proposition covers tn
as the completion of the exterior i
concerned. 1t also completes tn
academy wing and the entire base
ment. It does not take into considera
ton the finishing of the conven
wing, nor does it cover the plumbing
heating, wiring or lighting of the build
ing.
Contractor Lee Crisman stated thi'
morning that he would put numbel
Of men and teams at work today un
loading a car of lumber and hauling j
to the grounds north Of the city. The
work of excavation will probably begiI
next week and as the work advances
more forces will be added to permit Of
the building being we'll under way by
the summer.
One will have to visit the grounds
and go over them thoroughly in order
to appreciate the beauty of the site and
the excellence of the location for an
academy. The grounds are vast and a
large portion of the tract is admirably
suited for the purpose to which 1t has
been dedicated. Many of the acres are
practically level and this portion is on
the highest point Of the 125 acres that
the tract is composed of. 1t sets back
from the main travelled roads some
distance, and at present might be said
to be the terminus of Grandview ave-
nue..
Change Location.
Several citizens of Ottumwa, at the
invitation of Reverend Mother Ligouri
and the Sisters of Humility Of Mary,
visited the large tract Of ground owned
by the sisterhood, on which the pro-
posed new academy is to be built, late
yesterday afternoon, and assisted in
laying out the ground plan of the acad-
envy and convent. Stakes were already
posted in the ground, having been set
by Architect John O'Connor of Des
Moines when he surveyed the tract
some time ago. The party in going to
the site yesterday took a number of
flags with pointed ends, and made q
slight shift in the original ground plan.
The building when erected, will race
the country club ard init Of an ex-
cellent view to Pc travelling on
Court street or an roads IN the
vicinity of the eic IN excellent
view will also be affo! ed from the
building itself on any side, it being
located on a high ground that com
mands an extensive view of the sur
country. Nature has been
kind to the location and it's topography
lends to the character of architecture
that will grace It,.
A Large Structure.
The building Is to be large one
and it Is hard to realize it's size by the
picture It is easily understood, how
ever, if one sees the ground stakes.
and will but realize the amount Of
ground the building will cover. Wings.
one of which is for the academy and
the other the convent, are forty-eight
feet wide, with court over 100 feet :
vide. dividing the two wings. The
ength of the structure at the rear is
about 224 feet Towers and porches, as
we'll as gables. will add to the struc.
:ural beauty Of the building while the
can be made work of beauty,
md this the sisters expect to do. Wind
ng drives and paths, as well as trees
md shrubs, will lend to the beauty of
he land.
Facing an almost due southwest, OF
about forty-five degrees west from a
lue north and south line, the building
will be sufficiently prominent to at
ract much attention from every road
n the vicinity, and will lend perspec-
i've view instead of the fiat front or
tide appearance. The structure will be
# red, hard brick, with white mortar
md white stone trimmings, and will
present an imposing appearance when
A Splendid View. |,
On three sides of the tract though
eparated by large fields, are number
f the beautiful new homes that have
cen built in the new addition, cover
ng a vast acreage in the vicinity.
'hese dot the landscape to the west
nd south, while wide stretch of fer
lie country spreads out as far as the
ision carries to the north and east. A
Dung orchard and vineyard is already
into existence on the east
ide Of the academy site, and acres of
loping meadow land sweep along the
outh and west of the site. A huge
ond. which will be converted into an
rtificial lake, lies some distance from :
re site. to the south and west. and .
lis will be utilized by the sisters as
ne of the pleasurable features to at
act the pupils who will attend the 1
chool. High and dry, the grounds pre-
ant the best to be obtained in health