Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-11
'HuRRYINC THE
CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTORS AND MECHANICS
HUsTLING TO FINISH ACADEMY
4 s BY LAST OF JUNE. r-E
A GREAT BUILDING
Massive Seminary and Convent Make
Pleasing Impression on Visitor
and Commands View For
Great Distance.

The contractors and their army of
varied mechanics are working as a
unit to hurry the completion of the
handsome new academy and convent
that Is being erected by the Sisters of
Humility of Mary north of the city.
The hurry just now is to finish the
academy wing by the last of June or in
time for the annual spiritual retreat
, of the order. To this end the mason,
carpenter, plumber etc. are doing their
level best to meet up with the pre-
scrbed time for the completion of the
academy wing. Contractor L. T. Girls
man and Architect John O'Connor are
on the job regularly, the former every
day and the latter every week. AS a
result of this united effort by the
various crafts employed on the job, the
work is going along at nice clip and
progress has been quite rapid.
Splendid View.
A view of the handsome pile OF
masonry as one nears the end of the
Court street car line, impresses one
with the magnitude of the undertaking
of the sisters in erecting the academy
and convent. The size of the structure
impresses at sight and one readily
sees that It was built to take care Of
! a large enrolment of students, as we'll
as to house large sisterhood. The
! type of architecture is rather peculiar
i to itself in that it does not strike one
as resembling the regular college build
ing, and at the same time the school
look forces itself on one. The cross
crowned Roman towers indicate what
it is and the beauty of the style Of the
architecture is best appreciated at a
distance, for then it's bigness does not
counterfeit its lines Of beauty.
Handsome Building.
The structure must be seen a few
times to be appreciated, and the nearer
completion it reaches. the more one
can enjoy the style Of the architecture.
Built high and large with two Roman
towers at either outer corner of the
wings in front. and tower effect on
the outer sides some distance back at
a point about where the center or con-
Meeting building brings the two wings
brick with the lime white interstices
all tend to make the building pro-
nounced and attractive even from
distance, and topping this a reddish
tile roof covers the entire building.
Balconies, porches. pretty shaped win
dows, all combine in general scheme
to make the building attractive, and the
grounds on which the building is stu
ated, are admirably adapted to the pur-
pose for which they have been dedi-
Gated.
chaplain's Apartments.
The entrance to the academy wing
is by flight Of stairs that enter into
a tiled floor vestibule. Reception
rooms, Office. library, a side entrance
for the scholars, classrooms CONNER
cial department, ETC., all lead OF. the
hallway on this floor. Also the apart
ments for the chaplain are on this
floor and are maintained as private
apartment which has its own outer en-
trance to a built-in porch, library
living room, bedroom, etc. An ele-
vator, toilets, music rooms, science
rooms, ETC., are also on this floor in the
academy wing and leading up to the
rear of the auditorium that will hold
side is also given to dormitories. -Four
Of these will accommodate four beds
each. Six and eight bed dormitories,
a large dormitory for the younger
pupils on the mezanine floor above the
stage of the auditorium and number
of single and double bedrooms, all Of
which have high closets, go to make
up this floor, Storage for scenery and
stage effects above the stage is also
provided on the mezanine floor oppo-
site the children's dormitory.
Sleeping Quarters.
The toilets and baths are provided
here also, and no less than seven
baths are placed on this floor. All Of
the plumbing has been and is being
placed exposed in order to permit it's
repairing without great expense and
annoyance. No drinking cups are used
but in their place the sanitary foun-
tains are provided. A large and roomy
parlor for the girls, which opens out on
a balcony over the academy entrance.
is provided on this floor also. The
third floor is much the same as the
second, providing sleeping quarters for
the pupils. Big and roomy stairs at
different places have been provided
that run from the cellar to the attic.
On the third floor an entrance is pro-
vided for the pupils into the chapel.
The priest also enters from this wing
but from the second floor where an en-
trance is provided for the scholars
also. which leads around the side altar
in the chapel thus going round the
sanctuary. The top floor on this wing
is glazed and the art gallery and china
painting studio are located there. The
attic will not be finished with the
balance OF the structure but later will
be given over to dormitories.
Convent Wing.
The convent wing is much the same
in general way on the first floor as
the academy. The entrance is similar
to the opposite wing. Music rooms,
classrooms, reception rooms, etc. are
on this floor. while on the second floor
which may be reached by the stairs
in the rear or by the superior's private
stairs is the superior's suite of rooms
TUE "a q