The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-08
Masons Will Expend
$4,000 On Building

Il SlJ,VVV Oh OuAuAa6
From Saturdays Daily.
Plans for the remodeling OF the
Masonic building on the southeast
corner OF Second and Hickory streets
were agreed upon in general way ut
the regular meeting OF Mankato
Lodge No. IL, A. F. and A. NJ. last
evening. Details viii be worked out
later by the special committee with
the matter I'm charge, under the
Craftsmanship OF General Gustave
widell. and by Architects George
Pass & Son. Tentative plans were
presented by these architects last
evening.
The building occupies ninety feet
on Second street and fifty-two feet on
Hickory. II will not be enlarged, but
the exterior walls on the street front
will be replaced with pressed brick
walls, with trimmings OF Mankato
stone. On the middle Of the Second
street side will be an arched en-
trance. This will be the main en-
trance of the building. II Will be
trimmed with marble. The entrance
and hallway will be fioored with tile.
There will be winding stairway go
ing from this hallway to the upper
floor.
Will Have Office Rooms.
To the north and south of the main
entrance will be Office rooms, two OF
them. one at each OF the Second
street corners OF the building. These
office rooms will be all that will be
rented out OF the entire building. The
rest will all be used by the Masons
themselves.
The principal part of the lower
floor will be taken up with the dining
room. This will extend along the
north and east walls Of the building,
running rs feet along the north walls
and 80 feet along the east wall. Back
OF the dining room, at the southeast
corner of the building will be the kit
chen, IS by "a feet.
BY taking the dining room down
stairs. much more space will be az
forded upstairs for the main meeting
hall. This will be at the north side
OF the building and will extend so
by so feet. II will be about half again
as large as the present auditorium.
On this same floor will be a club
room, 20 by "a feet, at the southeast
corner OF the building, and ladies'
parlor, IL by "a feet at the southwest
corner. There will be other com
partments unstairs.
More Room For Lodges.
All these changes will afford more
room for the various Masonic bodies
that hold their meetings TN this build
ing. The improvements have long
been needed. for the occupants have
been very much. crowded. When the
building was erected, I'm 1877. II was
ample for the needs OF the Mankato
Masons. but all the local Masonic
bodies have Increased greatly In
membership since that time. The,
lodge rooms are still heated with
stoves. Il Is intended TO put In a
modern, first class heating plant.
1t is expected that all OF these I'm
provements will cost in the neighbor-
hood OF $4,000. To carry out these
plans will necessitate the removal of
now located on the first floor. IL Is
the intention Of this company to
make arrangements to have q new
building erected by some real estate
investments concern somewhere in
Mankato for a new home factory.
The work on the remodeiing of the
Masonic building will probably be
commenced early next spring.
From Saturdays Daily.
David l.. Harris, eighty years old
next Christmas, lies i'll I'm bed at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles
Barnum, 1876 Fulton street, as the
result of struggle that he had with
would-be coat thief on a train at
New Tim last Monday. His nose was
gashed and he suffered the breaking
of one or two ribs. Pleurisy has set
I'm. Yet II Is hoped that he will be
well enough week hence to be NOV
ed to his own home on Pleasant
street. Mr.. Harris Is a retired far
mer. '7-
Mr.. Harris two sons, william and
John Harris OF Cambria, have come
TO the city TO see him on account of
his mishap; also his daughter, Mrs.
Harry Marsh of Palmyra, Wis, with
her two children.
At the time of his mishap, Mr..
Harris was on his way back from
Tracy. where he had attended a
Welsh literary gathering. At New
Ulm he helped lady OF the train
and was just going back to his seat
when he saw the stranger making of
with his coat. He grabbed the coat,
tripped over vaiise and was thrown
violently against seat. The would
be thief fed.
Mr.. Harris was brought 10 Man.
kato at once and was taken to st.
Joseph's hospital. where his injuries
we're dressed.
New York, October Count Won
Bernstorff, the German ambassador
today delivered to Secretary Lansing
a note from the German government
concerning the Arabic case, which, II
is understood, affords a negotiable
basis for settlement OF the question
New York, October 2.-The con-
ference between Secretary Lansing
and German ambassador Won Berns-
torn today lasted only ten minutes
and neither would make any state
ment as 10 the same. ~
Taking a like attitude as Secretary
4 n A.