Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1911 — H. R. KURRIE TO ERECT HOTEL AND THEATRE BUILDING. [ARTICLE]

H. R. KURRIE TO ERECT HOTEL AND THEATRE BUILDING.

Modern Steel and Stone Hotel and Theatre Ballding to Be Erected On Thompson Corner. ' " 1 ." • 'v-'V' H. R. Kurrie was down from Chicago this afternoon and submitted plans for a new building to be erectad on'the Thompson corner on the west side of the public square, where the Republican and other buildings now stand-. Mr. Kurrie has had these plans .under consideration for some time, but has kept them quiet until he could develop them. They are now complete and within a few weeks he will let the contract for a building to cost in the neighborhood of 860,000, or more.

This tract of ground is 200 feet square. Part of the ground is covered by the Republican building and " the small frame buildings now occupied by the Willis garage and Mackey’s implement shop. It Is the intention to tear down all three of these buildings and erect a 3-story steel structure covering the entire tract of ground. The west and north sides of the building will be of Bedford stone and the south and east sides of brick. The building proper will be of steel construction. It is to be used for theatre, hotel and business purposes There will be . a 'basement under the entire building. In the basement will be located the steam heating plant, lighting plant and some small business rooms suitable for barber shops and other purposes. The building will be equipped with two elevators to be run with eieetric power to be generated from dynamoes in the basement. The entire building will be heated with steam and lighted with electricity and all the bed rooms of the hotel will be supplied with telephones and many of the bed rooms will be supplied with a private bath. On the first floor above the basement will be business rooms, the hotel office and dining room, and the, lower floor of the theatre. On the northwest corner will be the hotel office, dining room, sample rooms, toilets, etc. In the rear of this, facing the north, will be four business rooms 20x60 feet. South of the hotel office and about in the center of the building, facing the west will be the theatre entrance, with lobby and two small business rooms, suitable for cigar stands, nqws stands, or business of like nature. The stage will be in the rear of the building, with entrance on the alley. The'auditorium and stage will take up a space of 60x120 feet, and will be two stories in height. South oj! the theatre will be three business rooms 25x100 feet, with storage room in the rear for the business rooms. On the second floor north and south of the space taken up with the theatre will be the hotel parlors and bed rooms and the third floor will also be fitted up for hotel purposes, and will contain a large dance hall and banquet room. The hotel will

contain about 45 bed rooms in all. To fully appreciate the magnitude of this undertaking it 1b necessary to examine the plans, which are now on exhibition at thd commercial club rooms. Mr. Kurrie expects to have no trouble in securing tenants for his new building, as the many inducements and conveniences he will have to offer, he thinks will cause the business men further down the street to closj leases with him. He already has a tenant in view for the hotel and theatre at a price that will pay interest on that part of the^in vestment To tenant* willing to make a contract now he will meet their views as far as possible in the arrangements of theli- rooms. This will necessitate the removal of The Republican office. Arrangements will be made by the publishers to rent one of the rooms to be vacated further down town and it is expected to be in our new quarters before April first of next year.