The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-09-13
MAGNIFICENcE WITH AODESTY
Structure is characterized by Quiet
Splendor Indicative of Prosperity
and Propriety Completeness of
Equipment is Really Marvellous.

With neither blars Of bugles nor
flare. of flags, the Offices of the American
Brass Company were quietly moved on
Friday afternoon to the new quarters,
recently completed for them on site
directly opposite from the main build
ing Of the plant. There were no cere-
monies connected with the change of
business rooms. Quietly, as was fitting
in wartime, the equipment of the pur-
chasing, sales, accounting, and execu-
tive departments was moved across
Elizabeth street by employees of the
company and placed in Predetermined
positions in the new building. By
noon today the work of transference
was completely done and the vari-
Gus officials had already accustomed
themselves to the spacious comfort
Of the new Offices. h
The building in which the prosper
Gus industry now has it's headquarters
has required ten months for erection.
Modestly magnificent, it is one of the
many masterpieces Of its architects,
the famous firm of Graham, Anderson,
Probst and White, successors to Graham
and Burnham, of Chicago. At once
beautiful and convenient, artistic and
utilitarian, it is splendid memorial to
the men who built it as well as an
evidence of the prosperity of the plant
that it represents. .
The exterior is striking but not
1ashy Walls of pressed brick rise to
the moderate height of two stories and
lose themselves in a plain cornice of
Bedford stone. A feature of the
facade are the bronze doors fanked by
electroliers of the same material. Ma
jestic but modest, they add touch of
dignifed splendor in every way typical
Of the general nature of the structure
At the rear of the building proper is
a garage, affording parking space for
sixteen cars. Approached by "a con
crete court, enclosed by a picket fence
of iron, it is uniform in conception and
architecture with the main structure
and so adds greatly to the convenience
of the building without interfering with
the subtle art of is appearance.
The interior of the new offices IS
equally admirable. The steps and cor
ridors are finished in Alabama marble
with brass trimmings made in the shop
of the local company. The woodwork
in the various rooms is quarter-sawed
oak or mahogany with occasional
adornments in bronze. The walls are
tinted a dull gray in perfect harmony
with the quiet dignity so apparent in
every feature Of the building.
In equipment the building is com
plete to the most minute of details.
It has its own telegraph and tele-
phone systems, sanitar, water foun-
tains in every corridor, letter-lifts in
every room, electric clocks in every
conceivable place and even vacuum
cleaning system with connections at
proper intervals. Also, every window
in the building is fitted with Venetian
blinds that cannot refuse to rise or
stop when you want them to stop.
Then, too, there are indirect lights to
prevent eye strain, and buzzers to save
walking, not to mention the private
)aths in the rooms of the higher officials. |
In point of furniture there is the |
same completeness in amount and the
same taste in selection. Golden oak 4
predominates, but is superseded by
mahogany and Spanish leather in the
offices of the general and local presi- /
dents. Then, too, in the ladies rest !
room on the second flor, there. is a |
dash of wicker with tapestry, while
the dining hall in the basement is |
furnished in fumed oak with trimmings
of darkest bronze. In keeping with |
the finishing of the rooms most of the
furniture is massive but simple in de-
sign. The, larger part of it was pur- |
chased at Bode Brothers in this city I
and is characterized by the plain Gle
gance so characteristic of their stock. |
The new building speaks eloquently |
of the prosperity of the American
Brass Company. Founded in 1886 as
the Chicago Brass Company it was pur-
chased in 1901 by the present owners,
under whose management it has ac- /
quired ten times the production and
sales of the earlier company. At the
present time it employs 2200 men and |
women and is one of the largest indus
tries in Kenosha. It's new offices were
not built before they were needed. |
The phenomenal expansion of the com
pany's business demanded new head
quarters and this magnificent struc-
ture was erected to meet the growing |
needs of the growing concern 1t will |
house comfortably and efficiently the |
seventy-fve people comprising the of
fee force of the plant. The lower floor J