The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-08-27
O'BRIEN EXPERT
ON CONSTRUCTION
County Boards Building
Superintendent Super
vised Job Here.
BIG RESPONSIBILITY

"Ask Bill o'Brien. He knowsl"
That was the password on the
grounds of the new courthouse build
ing when it was in process of con-
struction William E. O'Brien was
he county boards building superin-
rendent and it was his duty to see
that all work done on the job was be-
ing carried out according to specif-
cations and that the county was we'll
protected in the standard of labor and
the quality of work which went into
making the courthouse and jail.
And Bill O'Brien knows as much
about construction work as anybody
in Kenosha if one can take the word
of members of the county board. They
have expressed their unqualified sat
isfaction in O'Brien's judgment and
their approval of his efficiency meth
DDS.
Expert In His Line.
O'Brien was born and raised in Ke-
nosha and has shared in almost every
phase of engineering and construc-
tion work in his career He was with
survey party for the Canadian
Northern railroad when that line was
being laid In the wilds of Canada.
And he did that off and on between
attending classes in the engineering
school at Marquette university, Mil
waukee.
He was assistant city engineer when
the first trunk sewer was laid in Ke-
nosha in 1911. From 1912 to 1915, he
was with the Peterson Construction
IL hay
eighteen months he was with the
Westinghouse, Church, Kerr company
Of New York, when they built the
American Brass company building on
Pleasant street. He was the company's
field engineer. In January, 1913, he
became Kenosha county surveyor and
held that position ever since until
last year. He was for ten years engi-
neer for the Kenosha county drainage
board, and he supervised the con-
struction of the Bristol Drainage
ditch in 1914.
On Courthouse April /, 1928.
o'Brien was asked to take the re-
sponsibility of the position Of build
ing superintendent for the county
board in its new courthouse project
on April i, 1923, and he accepted All
gof the estimates on any job done IN
the building have since gone through
his hands, and he has has o. KID all of
the bills for payment that have been
allowed. Bill even went out and SUI
pervised the grading and the laying
Of the magnificent lawn surrounding
the courthouse and Jail. And today
Bill is the authority on any matters
Of any kind in the building. He knows
the edifice from top to bottom and
lucky was the visitor who was given
the privilege of being guided through
the building by Bill O'Brien.
And so the county board owes to
Bill O'Brien distinct debt of graft
tuda and Bill has plenty of justifica-
ton for that beaming countenance
that is seen on his face today.
Other officials ON Building.
When the announcement was made
sometime ago that Fred Becker was
to be named custodian of the court
house general chorus OF approval
went about the county. And since
that time Becker he's shown that he
has placed a proper valuation on the
responsibility that goes with that title.
His work in assembling the relics for
the historical room in the courthouse
is painstaking and careful, and is al
ready producing excellent results.
Theodore Vanderheide is the new
engineer for the building and it will
be his task to watch over the domain
of the power and heating plants in
the building. Vanderheide has had a
long experience in this type of work
and his selection for this position
came only after many applications
had been considered by the county
board and all rejected in favor Of
Yanderheide.