The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1913-08-09

Tuesday and Wednesday the keys of
the city were handed over to Dickinson
Lodge B. P. o. E. No. 1897, and their
visitors, upon the occasion of the dedi-
cation of their MAGNIFICENT temple.
which is not equalled in the state or
in fact. this side Of the Twin Cities.
The people of Dickinson and vicinity,
who have watched the progress of the
Elk block since the beginning of work
July. 1912, have become familiar with
its general design and proportions but
probably very few have any idea of the
magnificence of arrangement. interior
finish and detail which kept Contractor
L. H. Nichols and his force of men
busy full year.
The Elks never do anything by halves
and if aueht in the way of beauty or
convenience has been omitted in plan
ming their building. a casual examina-
tion does not reveal it.
In arranging the plans, luxurious
quarters for themselves and rooms for
rent which will yield large revenues,
seem to have been the dual purpose Of
the Elk building committee and lodge
as whole. :.
Fsf The 4pf8the finest in the. e.city
on the corner Of 1st Ave. W. and 1st 81.
N.,-was purchased in 1910, cleared
and the basement. so by l41 feet, the
full size of the lot. was put in that
fall. 7
In July, 1912, the Geo. Heaton Lumber
Co. started the superstructure which
stands fifty-six feet above the street
level, giving three stories. 13, IL and
20 feet high in the clear for the main
part.
The contract for the superstructure,
exclusive of heating, plumbing and
lighting, was $50, 900; and with these
items and the basement figured in. the
total cost easily reaches $50. 600 or
more.
The building is constructed of light
Dickinson brick with plain trimmings
of Bedford sandstone. A feature of the
street sides is the battlement formed by
dropping the wide cornice four and a
half feet.
The facing brick for the Elk home
was furnished by the Dickinson Fire
& Pressed Brick 70. and the interior
brick by the North Dakota Pressed Brick
Co., also of this city. w. A. Cutnaw
installed the electric wiring and
Grambs & Peet the heating and plumb
ing.
The first floor. aside from the front
and back hall and small space taken
for toilet rooms, is one mammoth store
room. The main entrance is on the
corner of First Avenue West and First
Street North, over which is a canopy
supported at the corner of the building
BY square verde antique pillar set in
copper bars for which handsome, material
is used, similarly set, on each side of
the entrance. The floor Of this open
vestibule is tiled with dull red squares
set in cement and the canopy ceiling is
of paneled oak. also that of the balcony
extending seven feet over the sidewalk.
An entrance similarly tiled has been
constructed on the south. both having
wide single panel glass doors. At the
rear is an alley entrance with double
transom furnishing plenty Of fresh air.
The display advantages Of this store
are readily seen. Two large plate
windows fill the east side, four. are on
the south at the front and two more
farther west. The front display window
and the long four-plate south one are
enclosed so that no frost in winter
will cloud the glass and no dust find
entrance. Drop refiectors are placed at
intervals Of four feet IN all plate
windows. S3's3t# & ',l8ss,s
HI Entering the store one is struck by
the great amount Of soft light shed BY
Loo feet Of prism glass which surmounts
the large plates and from the four
hiahest windows sof prism glass along
J the south side. Two8 rows 81 sraceful