The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-31
HUNDREDS VISIT
 . THE NEW "R|DGELY'
House Makes
 Good Impression
BIG RAIN IS IGNORED
Everybody Delighted With Arrange ment of Rooms and Artistic Finishings of the Big
 Apartments

The Ridgely Birmingham's new and
 magnificent apartment building. was
 thrown open to the public yesterday aft
 ernoon and last night at an informal re-
 ception. The building was brilliantly lighted, and everything was on dress
 parade" The visitors numbered upwards
 of 1500 and at times there were as many
 as 800 people in the building at the same time
 Although Birmingham suffered visita- tion of rain beginning about 2:S0 o'clock in the afternoon and continuing until late in the night. the visitors came in
 large numbers. They were met at the entrance by a committee and escorted to the beautifully decorated lobby. from which they entered the elevators and were carried to the eighth floor. The visitors began the tour of inspection at the roof. but because of the rain very few ventured out to view the little Dutch village" as the red gables and childrens playhouses were dubbed Exclamatons of delight were to be heard at all points. The guests appar- enty were amazed at the magnitude of the building and the elaborate treatment of the interior. The handsome furnish | ings of the lobby, the ladies' writing room and the gentlemen's smoking and | lounging room, on the main floor, were
 objects of much laudatory comment. The
 lobby was decorated with palms, ferns
 and flowers for the reception.
 A Society Show
 The informal opening of the Ridgely
 resolved itself into something of so-
 ciety affair after o'clock and many were the ladies and gentlemen who came to look, and who were astonshed at what they saw The elasticity of the apart l ments proved the delight of the feminine element among the visitors and they re-
 marked the beauty of having an apart
 ment which could be enlarged without the
 slightest bother. The gentlemen were m- | pressed with the quiet. restful atmos- phere that pervaded the entire building and the conveniences of the whole. | The kitchenettes in the apartments | were of so much interest to the ladies present that the guides had difficulty in persuading them to leave them.
 The bachelors quarters proved real | haven of refuge to the gentlemen and | there was a constant stream moving along the corridors Robert Jemison, Jr., and other officials of the Jemison Real | Estate and Insurance company were pres ent. welcoming the guests. MT. Jemison | last night expressed himself as being greatly pleased with the success of tho opening, despite the rain. MT. Jemison 1 gave to Maj E. E. Tutwiler great credit for his having built the apartment as well the Tutwiler hotel, investing his money in Birmingham, where it will be
 of benefit to the city, instead of buying New York stocks and bonds.
 Step Forward
 "The completion of the Ridgely is but | another step forward fin the progress of
 Birmingham. said MT. Jemison "IL | should prove of great benefit to officials
 Of railroads and corporations who are sent to Birmingham and. not knowing
 how long they will be here, hesitate to
 rent a house, or to buy home. They | will have all the comforts of home with | none of it's annoyances such as the serv-
 ant problem, etc.
 "The convenience of the Rldgely will | appeal to everyone. Business men will | find it convenient to their places of busi- ness and to the clubs and places of 1 amusement. Teachers will find the apart ments convenient to the public schools, and lady teachers have the assurance of ! perfect safety. Travelling men will find
 the Ridgely especially desirable, because when they are compelled to be out of | the city, they are assured of the safety
 of their families from burglars and other lawless denizens of any great city such as Birmingham.
 | The officials of the Jemison company. knowing that hundreds could not attend l the opening yesterday because of the rain, | extend an invitation to the general pub
 lie to call at the apartments and be
 shown over the building at their con-