Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-02
MORE THAN HALF
MILLION SPENT
FOR BUILDINGS
Ottumwa Has Biggest Year
in Property Improvement,
TotaIing Over $650,00O
HOTEL LARGEST OF
CONSTRUCTION JOBS

Notwithstanding H. c. of L., the cal
shortage, the advance of foodstuffs and
several other items, which cost more
than ones ancestors paid for them, OF
tumwa people keep right on building
themselves homes and stores. The
local contractors have experienced one
of the busiest seasons in 1915 than for
several years past New buildings
have been erected and repairing has
been done estimated at a cost of over
$3.50, 900.
Some of these houses are to be oc
cupied by Ottumwans, who, having
gathered some of the worlds goods to
themselves, feel that they now have
outgrown the old home and deserve
something better. Others will be ten
anted by newly married couples, which
speaks we'll for the advancement OF
the city The remainder are CONNER
cial buildings.
The New Hotel.
Perhaps the first building coming in
mind is the new Hotel Ottumwa, which
is being erected on Court and Second
streets, by the J. c. Mardis Construc'
ton Co. The new hostelry, when COM
pleted and ready for its guests, viii
have cost between 1925, 600 and $3.50
600. No city in Iowa can boast OF
finer or more comfortable place for
travellers to put up. It will certainly
be welcome to travelling men and wish
tors stopping off in Ottumwa.
The l. o. O. F. building on West
Main street, furnishes an excellent
home for the Odd Fellows and on the
first and second floor of this structure
are the show and stock rooms OF the
Overland-O ttumwa auto company. The
contractor was the Ottumwa Mill &
Construction Co. The Harper-Brown-
ing building. replacing the one burned
in the Friedman fire IN January, was
also constructed by this company
which had contracts during the year
1916 amounting to $4,000.
Has Much Work.
The l.. T. Crisman Co. is building the
store buildings at 10S-110 East Main
street for J. B. Sax A yellow pine
finish is used with steel ceilings,
maple floors, tile vestibule, plate glass
front set in copper, enamel face brfck
with terra Gotta trimmings. The est.
mated cost is $4,000. The east wing OF
st. Joseph's academy is being finished
by this company at cost OF 10000.
A birch finish is used, with yellow pine,
maple and tile floors and metal cell
ings.
The l. T. Crisn1an Co. had several
other jobs, both new buildings and
large repair contracts. An old house,
owned by Mrs. c. T. Sullivan, Marion
and Fourth streets. was worked into a
modern four apartment fat with vel
low pine floors and finish. A building
at PA East Main street, owned by J. B
Sax, was remodeled, an entire new
front being put in. Plate glass, cop
per sash and mouldfngs and a tile
floor were used. Maple was laid over
the entire first floor. The interior and
front of the Farmers and Merchants
bank on Court and Second streets were
remodeled A safety deposit vanlt
built of brick and reinforced concrete
several new windows, tile vesdbule
and interior fixtures, were some of the
improvements. The basement was fit
ted up to be used as barber shop.
Additions were made to the gas
plant. consisting of steel partition IN
the gas machine room. foundations fof
new water gas machines and an extern
sion of the coke room. An extension
to the rear of the Commercial club
building. eighty feet long. was made
The interior of the first floor was ne
mod eled using the yellow pine finish
throughout. A forty foot addition tc
the rear Of the Sickels millinery store
building. owned by J. B. Sax, was con
structed. birch finish being used. A
new front and an addition was put uE
for William Watson at 221 South Mar
ket street. The addition was made o.
brick with cement floor and me- cell
ings. The entire front was set in cop
per with a tile vestibule. The old fix
lures were remodeled and new fixtures
were made for the Hagberg & Peterson
shoe store. All pine finish was used
Extensive repairs were also made by
this company for John Morrell & Co
The total amount of their contracts
was close to $55.000.
A very successful year was 1916 TO,
Wagner & Satter They erected two
houses on South Willard street for H
A. Snow. both modern; modern
house of A. Rubel. north of the city;
dwellings for c. L. Montgomery and r
l.. Gardner and fiat for Boston Camp
bell These with a miscellaneous re
| pair list of $4,000. gave them contract
amounting to $50 500.
Ira Eaton had eight different con
tracts amounting to about $40, 500 A
r. Mellis had contracts amounting tt
$50, 900 during the year. He Is now en-
gagged in remodeling the rooms for tn,
new independent school on the SECOND
floor of the Commercial club building
for the school board. He bnilt tn,
Foster garage cottage on Sixth street
a new bungalow for l.. d. Kelly OF
Hamilton street. remodeled houses 70
Arthur Devlin. Mcpherson avenue an,
ID. W. Harrison. Ottumwa street: bull
a dwelling house for William Evans
Albany street.
1 Marion Smith had contracts amount
| ing to sol 900. Two eight room house
were built for John Rngg on Ottumw;
| street al eight room house for DR.. L
lG. Holmes on Chester avenue. si
room bungalow for S. P. Wolf on Ham
hilton street. five room bungalow 10
liz. l.. Smith on Hamilton street, 81
lroom house for Bert Wilson on Yves
/ Saocnd 81 roof and n five room cottag