The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-28


 ance, mortgage loan and investmen constructed of Indiana limestone, u the exterior of most of it's buildings
 The building is now two stories hish, with full depth basement but 1t is built so that 1t can be made 10 stories when the business of the firms may demand or should 1t be desired to add office floors. The foundation is prepared for the 10 stories; the steam, plumbing and gas pipes and mains for future stories are carried up to full height of the pres- ent structure in chases and can be used in future additions without tear ing out aanything; the floor slab of future stories is already. in place. as the roof the present structure, so that additions can be made without any in Preference with the building. Pro- visions are made to install elevators and to run up the stairways, if needed in the future.
 Architecture
 The architecture of the new build- ing is Italian renaissance, which is notable for. the charm and proportions of Its details. The architecture of the building Is very similar to that of the larger real estate and invest ment banking firms in the larger cities of the east, and Is considered the ideal form of structure for a busi- ness of the character of Jemison & Co. and Jemison-Seibels Insurance agency.
 The frame work of the building Is reinforced concrete and the entire hnildjnu ie rb ,a insurance rate on the building Is as tow as can be granted for any kind of building.
 The lobby is finished in Tennessee marble and the entire interior Is fin ished in hardwood. One of the arch itectural features of the building is the marble stairway leading to the second floor. On entering the interior opens through two full stories with the beautiful effect of a mezzanine floor, with balcony railing on three sides. A large skyllght and plenti ful use of plate glass provide ample natural light for all parts of the build ing. Every bit of the material used in the structure Is the finest that can be secured an dthe utmost care was up to the very exacting specifications.
 First Floor
 On the first floor are located the ac- Counting department, real estate and rental departments, the insurance de- partment, private offices for Robert Jemison, Jr, president of Jemison & Co, and H. G. Seibels. president of Jemison- -Seibels Insurance agency.
 On the second floor are located the farm and city loan departments, rep ,resenting the Metropolitan Life In surance company and individual in- Vestors; the directors and conference rooms, library, offices for clerical and adjusting forces of the Travellers Insurance company and other com panies, and additional private offices. Rest rooms for all employees and pri- vate lockers are also provided. All mechanical details are arranged for in the large and spacious basement which has ample light and ventila- ton. City heat Is used.
 The plans for the building were made by Warren & Knight, local architects, and the structure was erected by Smallman- Brice Construc- ton company also of Birmingham. Warren & Knight also supervised the construction of the building. The site, which is considered one of the most valuable business corners in Bir- mingham, potentially, was purchased from the estate of T. B. Lyons, of which Lee c. Bradley is trustee. It was formerly occupied by the Lyons Terry building, which was sazed to make room for the present building No firms are more typical of the growth and development of Birming- ham than Jemison & Co.,. and the Jemison-Seibels Insurance agency. and no institutions have been more actively identified with the develop ment of the city.
 In order to facilitate the transac- ton of business, the Jemison- Seibels Insurance agency and Jemison & Co., have installed 8 private branch tele- phone exchange in the new building, which will be in operation Monday, 1t will have six local trunk lines and one trunk line reserved exclusively for loons distance calls. There will be 30 stations in the building connected with the exchange. ~
 Fire-Proof Vault ''~- A large fireproof safety vault is another feature of the building. A humber of lock boxes have been pro- vided for the convenience of clients who desire to leave their insurance policies, deeds and other valua ble papers there.
 Organized only IS years ago. oc- cupying only one small room in the Woodward building. without real es- tate connections and with only slight insurance connections. these com- ranies have grown into a veritable department store of real estate inc surance. mortgage loans and invest: ment banking, all now housed in their own home. one of the largest and finest structures of its kind n the country used exclusively for such business.
 Extensive Business
 No real estate company does a more extensive business than Jen,- ison & Co It includes departments for appraisals. loans on farms city homes and business property, apart ment houses and suburban homes. rentals and sales. This company rep- resents and manages the property of R5 corpura tions, the total value Of the corporations and individual prop erty managed by them being over $15,0oo, ,000. They represent 375 land lords and have 400 tenants. The value of the investments represented aor managed through their rental department is s1o,0000 900. and the an- nual income from the rental property -managed by thls firm is sS50,00O. < The completion of the new hone smarks the eighteenth anniversary of lhe organization of this company. Soon after it's start in the Woodward the business expanded into larger quarters on Twentw- first street. moved shortly after Co srhird avenue and in 1910 moved Into the quarters 1t is now vacatine at 2I1 Twentieth stret north These offices had been constructed for . bank and were considered unusually large and well appointed for a realty and insurance firm.
 InauFance Depa -sment