The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-09-27

Mercantile ESTABLISH
O'DOnnell Takes B
Company Build!
Fire y

Will rave quarters lnIN
inf0rced Concrete and ca
Stores Fully Equipped "a
-----.--.-. ~
One of the handsomest mercq1
tile establishments In Sumter ID tx
building, now rapidly nearing contpt
ton, erected by Neill O'Donnell' on ~
site, to replace the O'Donnell & Cor
pany building, which was destroy3
by FIRE on the morning Of Thanksgf
ing Day last year. The new structul
has cost over $4,000 and provi6
quarters Cor O'Donnell & CompaF
and for the newly organized O'DG1
nell Dry Goods Company. The Iatt6
company, In fact, has already take
up its quarters in the new butA1
and O'Donnell & Company will nr0
ably remove from their present qsls
ters into their new store about q
latter part Of next week. At presa
the carpenters and painters are m
ting the finishing touches to the b,iil
ing and the furnishcrs are instail(
fixtures which will fully equip
stores. Il Il i&
This addition to Sumter's fnstc
tile establishments 10 one OF whtcjE
city may Justly feel proud.
spacious two-story structure Of
proof design. danger Of fire being 81
duced to a minimum. The elEa
structure is of reinforced c9nefl(
walls, floors and roof; there Is MT
ing In the building to burn or to cSt
fire except the goods. In fact the
floor Of hardwood is laid On reinff
ed concrete, the door ana VIM
frames \ "a woodworls N the
|vatdx sl4ft are. III 4 ~ ~ g
d @0iIy El 81 ~ "a
forced with steel beams 1uppoiI
the walls and floors and insure
strength and indestructibility to the
work.
The building has handsome front
fifty-four feet wide and extends back
to depth of one hundred and forty
feet. The front is most attractively
designed. the material being Of white
terra Gotta. to which has been added q
glazed finish. The trimmings and
cornices are of copper, and prism
glass over the show windows and door
ways is used in providing transoms
for light and ventilation. Higher up
or the front numerous windows at
ford plenty of light and ventilation.
The whole is of Gothic design, with
attractive trimmings anG appoint.
ments.
In the center Of the front near the
parapet In raised letters is placed
NELL O'Donnell-1916." indicating
the builder and date of erection.
The large plate glass show windows
catch the eye of the passerby. The
windows are finished with copper
trimmings and the floors are of high.
~ polished oak. An indirect or X-ray
lighting system, we'll calculated to af-
ford bright illumination, is employ
cd to show off goods to best advan-
tage. The store entrance is raised q
few inches above the side walk by a
granite sill, and the vestibules are Of
tile.
Inside of the door, one is at once
struck by the commodious size Of each
OF the two stores and the neatness of
the finish. The fixtures are the most
convenient and modern employed by
any store in the city, the establish
ment being completely equipped ac-
cording to the latest designs. The ma
terials are of an excellent quality. The
furnisher stated that while he had
furnished larger buildings, he had not
seen one any where in the State where
the establishment was better equipped
In point o. quality and thoroughness.
Another workman who is having the
painting done stated that the building
was the best mercantile house in the
State, in his opinion.
On the ODonnell & Company side
OF the building the first floor will be
USED FOR sales room and offices and
the second floor for storing goods. This
side OF the building has been enlarged
from what the former building was
py the addition of an l., which in it.
self Is god sized store room.
On the first floor the O'Donnell
Dry Goods Company will have it's re.
tail dry goods and clothing business,
while the second floor will be used
as store room for goods except for