Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-09-26
ERECT OFFICE BUILDING
Union Telephone Company Let Con-
tract for New Headquarters

The Union Telephone Co., a Gratiot
county product, who recently moved
its general offices to Owosso. has let
contract for a new office building
in that city. In speaking of the build
ing the Owosso Times of last week
said:
"A contract was closed Wednesday
afternoon with T. +. Banhagel of
Lansing, for the construction of an
office and exchange building for the
Union Telephone Co. on its lot at the
corner of Exchange and Water
streets, and work will be commences
on the same within a few days The
growth of the companys business
throughout the territory it covers.
the fact that the local exchange had
reached its limit and has been COM
PEELED for months TO refuse new con-
tracts except on party lines, together
with the need for new and up-to-
date switchboard requiring more
! floor space than was available in the
rooms now occupied, and the further
fact that Owosso is really the busi-
ness center of the Union Company,
were the points which induced the
officers of the Company to make the
heavy investment demanded for the
building and equipment.
The building will have a frontage
of Sc feet on Exchange street and q
depth OF 90 feet on Water street, set
ting back from the Exchange street
line a few feet. In the basement
/ space will be provided for work shop,
store, boiler and coal rooms, and a
vault The main entrance is from
Exchange street through wide doors
opening into lobby, which has a
telephone booth on one side and
seats on the other This small lobby
which opens into a larger one, can
be closed at night on the inside,
giving the public access TO the tele-
phone booth without permitting en-
trance to the main lobby.
At one side of the main lobby are
two telephone booths for long dis
tance service. At the sides of the
lobby are the offices of the general
manager and the local manager, the
former 10 IS feet, the latter 12 12-
Other rooms on the first floor are=
secretary's and directors room,
16x23 feet, superintendent's, II 10
feet, general office, 30 X 45 feet, locker
room, etc.
An entrance for the employees is
provided from the Water street side
opening into a large hall with stair
way going to the second story and to
the basement The second floor is
= given over entirely TO the operating
force. the main switchboard room
being on the west side of the build
ing, with the long distance board az
= the north. Ample provision is made
for the comfort of the employees in
; the two good sized rest rooms pro-
vided. Other rooms on this floor are
utilized for lockers, batteries, work
shop, terminals, etc. Three skylights
besides plenty of windows will fur
nish excellent light for the several
. rooms.
The building will be modern inf
every respect and when completed
will care for the business of the cpm-
pany for many years to come beside
being a credit to the company and
an ornament to the city. The con-
tract calls for the completion of the
building within four months and th,
contractor is confident of his ability
to finish it on time. The new SIC, 900
. switchboard, ordered some months
ago, is awaiting shipment and will be
installed as soon as the building is
ready for it. Tie building committee
consists OF f. o. Dewey, ]. H. Fill
dew and c. w. Gale"