Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 301, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1914 — EXPECTS TO ERECT THREE-STORY BUILDING [ARTICLE]

EXPECTS TO ERECT THREE-STORY BUILDING

H. R. Kurrie Will Probably Put Up Structure for Militia, Van Rensselaer Club and Lodges. H. R Kurrie plans the erection in the early spring of a good brick building, three stories high, on the lot between the Central Garage and Mackey’s marble works. Although definite plans are not worked out, it is ’probable that the building will be erected as the home of Company M, the Van Rensselaer Club and two lodges, prob ably the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Kurrie has had the building under consideration for some time and the organizations above mentioned have had representatives call on him with a view to securing quarters. He expects within the next thirty days to give a definite answer to the mand at this time there is every prospect that the building ifrill be erected. A part of the first floor will be devoted to enlarging the Central Gprage. The balance will be tor the militia and the arrangement will as nearly as possible will be made to suit the needs of the citizen soldiers. There will be adequate drill hall, an Office, quartermaster ronins and shooting gallery. The drill hah will be used as a place for holding publi? dances and banquets, etc. It is quite probable that a kitchen will ibe provided and dumb waiters operating between it and the Van Rensselaer Club and lodg* ll< ors provided for. The second floor will be for the Van Rensselaer Club and will be arranged in the most modern club style. There will be reading rooms, a billiard room, dance and banquet hall, etc. It has been suggested by Mr. Kurrie that arrangements might be made to have a businessmen’s lunch served there each noon, arrangements being made with one of the restauarnt keepers, to furnish the service. Only members of the club would be entitled o patronize it. Mr. Kurrie suggested tliat this would give businessmen ap opportunity to get together and would eliminate a lot of hard work in the homes where three meals a day are now provided. There are quite a number Of homes in Rensselar at this time where lunch is served at noon and dinner between 5 and 6 in the evening and following the custom made necessary in the cities it has proven very popular and could be adopted generally with profit. (Mr. Kurrie remarked in a joking waiy that our wives see too much of us any way and that morning afid evening meals at home are enough. The Masonic lodge and probable the Knights of Pythias lodge will occupy the third floor. Both of these lodges are now in the K. of P. building, whidh belongs to J. M. Shaffer, of Plymouth, (who has cut the heat off the top floor and increased the rents. Mr. Shaffer also required the militia company to move out because higher rent could not be paid and the quarters they occupied and for which they paid S4O per month have since been vacant The Van Rensselaer Club also occupies quarters in the same building and will move out when the new Kurrie building is erected. The matters rekiting to the erection of the new 'building followed Mr. Kurrie’s obligation as a member of the Van Rensselaer Club Friday evening. x Samuel Fendig and Michael Wagner were obligated at the same tima Forty-two of the fifty active members of the club iwere present. Following the business meeting progressive seven-up was played and Judge Hanley and John. Parkison were suCcessfu Mn winning the greatest numbr off games. C. P. Fate served a cafeteria lundh consisting of baked beans, potato salad, ham, cheese and 'bread and butter sandwiches, cherry and pumpkin >pie, pickles, cake, apples and coffee. Lon Healy furbished piano music and there were a number of songs, the evening in every respect being pleasantly spent. The original by-laws of the club provided a Unfit of fifty members, whirih has now been reached, but it is proposed that the new by-laws, now being prepared, will increase the membership to one hundred. The club has prospered financially and expects to have sufficient money on hand to furnish the new home luxuriously. . '