The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-13
LANDMARK GIVES WAY TO MAKE ROOM
FOR MODERN BUSINESS STRUCTURE TO
BEBUILT BY THE TELEPHONE COMP ANY
One of Bismarck's Finest Res
licences in the Early Days Is
Being Observation-Disclosures
ern Bell Company Buys
Property at Corner of
Thayer and Fifth Streets.

One Of Bismarck's landmarks is
giving way to the march Of progress
this week in the removal of the resi-
dence from the lots at the corner Of
Thayer and Fifth streets. The prop
crty has been purchased from Mrs.
Harvey Harris by the Northwestern
Bell Telephone company and mod
ern business building will be erected
there this summer To house the tele-
phone company's offices, switch
boards, Wovkrooms and equipment
The residence was not included in
the transaction and Mrs. Harris is
having it moved to lots at the corner
Of Eleventh street and Avenue R,
where it. will be 'renlodeled into n
modern dwelling. At the time the
| house was built, and for many years
thereafter, it was considered one of
the finest homes in this city. 1t was
erected by John Stowell, an attorney,
in the spring Of 1874, according to
local historians, after the Stowcll
family had lived the previous winter
in rooms above the express office,
which was then located on the pres
ent site of the Eltinge theatre.
Plans Not Completed
Plans and specifications for the
telephone company's building are be-
ing made in Omaha and have not
been completed, consequently Frank
Snyder, local manager, is not yet
certain as to the exact description of
the new structure. It is believed
however, that it will occupy the great
er part Of the property, which is SO
by lao feet in size, and will face
Fifth street. 1t will probably be two
full stories and basement, and for
at least so feet back from the Fifth
street frontage will be the full width
Of the property. The construction
| will be Of brick and stone and will
be fireproof throughout.
The company hopes to advertise for
bids on the construction work not
later than May 20 and to have work
! start Immediately upon the letting
Of contracts, as it is very anxious ia
have the building near enough to
completion on September to ac-
commndatc the local equipment for
a trans.continental telephone and tel
egraph line being built from coast to
| coast this year by the American Tel
ephone and Telegraph company. The
A. T. 4 T. company now haA two such
lines, one over the southern and the
other over the central routes. The
line being constructed this year Is
the third one to cross the continent
and the first one to go through Bis
ma1ck.
L. Changes Location
For several years the telephone
company has owned property on the
| north side Of Thayer street, just west
| of the Methodist church, where it had
/ PLANNED to eventually build its new
office and exchange building. How
ever, because of the high grade at
| that location and the extra expense
| involved in bringing the property
down to street level, it was decided
| this spring to change the location.
Inasmuch as conduits. were laid be-
fore the paving was put in to carry
| the company's lines to the Thayel
! street location, the site just purchas-
ed by the company will prove very
convenient, being just across the
| street.
A complete description Of the pro-
posed building will be available with
in q few days, according to Manager
Snyder.