The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-24
be A BIC STORE
Crosby Bros. Enlarge Space to
157,625 Square Feet.
New Norman Wear Residence
to Be a Model.

When the work of remodeling the
store of the Crosby Brothers company
which will be started October L, is COM
pleted, this firm, according to the state
ment of the management, Will nave
twice the floor space of any other mer-
camille esta blishment in Kansas-1of,6 2S
square feet. The main building Will
have a frontage of 100 feet and Will
extend from Kansas avenue back tic
Jackson street, 800 feet. The numbers
will be 717-723 inclusive, and will absorb
the so foot frontage now controlled by
the Mills Dry Goods company. There
will be four floors, including the base
ment.
The store when complete will be up
to-date in every detail. An elaborate
new front will be installed, with dou-
BILE entrances in the center of the
building. Between the entrances VIII
be d plate glass showcase set in cop
per bars. The vestibuIe which will be
fitted with tile floor will be II feet and
16 inches deep. There will be a show
case at the rear of the Vestibule and
corresponding to the showcase between
the two main entrances. The passage
way will be eight feet wide on either
side of the two show cases, and there
will be an aisle between the latter.
The center walls will be taken out
and steel beams and columns INSTALL
ed.
The alley, which is % feet wide will
be spanned by a reinforced concrete
bridge the full width of the building
100 feet.
On this bridge will be an elegantly
appointed rest room for visitors; alst
the offices.
The fixtures will be of quarter sawed
golden oak, with egg shell finish. The
showcases will be of glass.
A pneumatic tube system will be
feature of the improvements, and there
are scores of other additions that have
not as yet been determined upon by
the management.
There will be two new elevators
which will make three in all.
We expect to extend all departments
in proportion to the amount of space
available said E. H. Crosby, of the
firm today, and we contemplate add
ing new departments"
The domestic department will be
brought from the basement to the main
floor. The house furnishing stock will
be largely increased.
II figuring the number of square feet
which will be occupied by the firm
included the building on Jackson street
now Immediately joining the main
building of the Crosby Brothers COM
pany. This is 5Ox75 feet in size. 1t
is occupied by the cabinet, shade max
ing, tailoring, and other departments
Also the two floors over the Payne
Shoe company are occupied by Crosby
Brothers. These floors are 25x150 feet
N. P. Nelson is the architect en-
ployed to draw the plans for the i'm
provements. AS the details for the
Improvements have not as yet been
worked out it would be impossible to
estimate the total cost of the work.
The Norman Wear Residence.
Contractors are now figuring on the
plans for the Norman S. Wear resi-
dence which will be erected at 1921
Topeka avenue, and which when com
pleted will be one of the finest homes
in the city. The contract will be let
within few days.
The interior finishing will be ex-
ceedirgly attractive although no ox-
pensive and fancy touches will be add
ed. Everything will be in good taste,
and the material will be the best.
Downstairs the woodwork will be in
oak, and on the second floor in birch
and white enamel.
Including, a screened-in dining
porch to the rear of the house ana
adjoining the regular dining room, IA
sleeping porch above this, and a de1
on the first floor. there will be eleven
rooms in the residence. The dining
porch and the sleeping porch will DE
15X17 feet in size.
The main entrance to the house will
be on the north side-the dwelling
style. The porch together with the
steps will be of ornamental brick.
There will be a Spanish tile roof. a
pergola is to be the feature on the
south. This will have a fancy brick
flooe
The living room will be 17x31 feet
in size, and the dining room 15x17
feet;
On the second floor the plans
which have been drawn up by n. p
Nielsen, the architect. call for bed
rooms with two tiled bathrooms
The house will be heated by a
vacuum vapOr system.