Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-02
Year Just Past Featured BY
the Amount Paid for
improvements
QUARTER OF MILLION
FOR CONSTRUCTION
Business and Residence
Properties Are Built and
Remodeled in 1914

Figures, obtainable from contrac.
tors builders and architects. place ths
amount expended for improvements on
buildings and residences in Ottumwa
during the year OF 1914 at approxi-
mately a quarter of million dollars.
While the year has not been mark,
ed with the erection of any large pub
lie buildings, hotels, auditoriums
opera houses or office structures. vel
It has Witnessed steady growth, parf
ticularly In the number, character and
expense of private residences. Tha
general appearance of Main street has
also been materially changed by both
the erection Of new structures and rel
modelings and changing of fronts III
others. Second and other businesA
streets have been scenes of considA
cradle change and the business Streets
of South Ottumwa have been altered n
by the erection of new buildings.
Perhaps the most material change
and the one that alters the appear
ance Of Main street to the greatest
extent Is the erection Of the buildings
between Washington and Court
streets on the sites occupied by the
very substantial four-story structures
which were totally destroyed in the
fire on October 10, 1913. The construc.
ton of all of them was begun before
January /, 1914, but none were occu-
pied until after the first Of last year
and may be rightfully included In the
list OF improvements made during the
twelve months just past. The build
ing at the corner of Main and Court s
streets was rebuilt at the full four
story height back to the alley and IS
occupied by the Cooper Furniture Co..
as before the fire. The Ottumwa Cas-
Co. occupies the two-story brick Inn
mediately adjoining, which supplante9 \
the former four-story building. The
Hall-Eckfelt Furniture Co. now has
three-story structure which was
built by the joint owners OF the two
four-story building that occupied that
site before the fire.
Clothing Stores Change.
The next greatest change on Main
street might be included In the recon
struction Of the two clothing stores
now occupied by the Martin Clothing
Co. and the Hub. The former, which Z
is located on Main near Green, is a
handsome double front, done In birds
eve maple and the entire floor space
is the same as that formerly used by
the Martin Furniture Co., who moved
across the street In a new white bricFs-
front structure. The Hub occup
the entire lower floor Of the new
derson block between Market
Court on Main and is beautiful stCi
front finished throughout In KatH
grey oak. The entire three-story frG
of the building has been rebuilt, bS
pressed brick being used with q neN
arrangement for the windows and 9
fees on the second and third fOort.
Another beautiful front is that builk
! for the Sickel millinery store on
Main near Market, being finished IN
mahogany and grey. The Nelson Cloa4
Co. has refinished the entire front q
| its building during the past seaso1
also. The full three stories were CIV
en- stucco coating and the window
trimmed in harmonizing tone
gray. The second floor has Deeh
ch hanged by the addition Of large cas- ].
ment windows, allowing better All u
playing advantages. Solid oak VIII n
dows have been added at the Cress9 y
we'll & frost Clothing Co, the Ottum-ys /.
wa stamp Works and numerous other 4
stores and shops.
On second street, the Carr building |
next to the Sullivan flats near Wash. Y
ington. has undergone considerable q
q change having been built back 70
lthe alley entrance and repainted. The(
Iangdale building, which Is veryR
complete one-story affair, has beene
| finished in the season just past. "
is done in stucco and trimmed IN /
brown and tan. On the south side tns
Knox & Linden garage and the Nord'
gren bicycle shop, both handsom'
/ brick. stone trimmed buildings, nav
done much toward improving the SCI
eral appearance of Church street. 4
Complete Hospital. i
| While the construction work on
Josaph's hospital was begun and il
great measure completed IN 1913,
the building was not ready TOT oct
/ nancy until during the latter part
February, 1914. Since it has be
onened considerable work has bes
done on the exterior, the entire STR
iture having been repainted and
| shrubbery which has been set out. az
/ substantially to the general landscN
appearance.
| st. Joseph's academy, north OF
city. upon which the first constructf
was begun a few years ago,
numerous improvements last year.,
cruzinc the finishing of the cha;
| auditorium and a number OF
rooms. The greater part of the
tcontinued on mage Il "