Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1901 — JUDGE THOMPSON’S NEW BLOCK. [ARTICLE]

JUDGE THOMPSON’S NEW BLOCK.

It is announced that Judge Thompson has an architect at work upon plans for a fine large’ brick and steel block upon his lots upon the corner of Washington and Cullen streets. The structure, it is announced, will be three stories and basement and have a frontage of 140 feet on Washington street and 110 feet on Cullen. The north 50 feet by 140 in length will be occupied by Laßue Bros, department store also the basement underneath and 25x100 on the two upper floors, the space next the streets on the upper floors to be fitted up for office rooms, and the interior rooms to be lighted by a skylight. South of the department store will be the entrance to an opera house located on the second floor and having a stage 40x60 feet and a seating capacity, including the gallery, of from 1,500 to 2,000 people. South of the opera house is to be an European plan hotel with a restaurant in the basement. There will be numerous office rooms on the upper floors and a lodge room or two. The entire frontage will be of plate glass and the block will be supplied with a heating, lighting and power plant for operating the elevators, of which there will be both freight and passenger. A fire and burglar proff vault wili extend from the basement to the upper floors. It is announced that if the proposed plans are adopted, work on the erection of the building will begin soon and that it will be completed bv the first of October next. The cost will be in the neighborhood of 135,000 to 140,000. The matter of its erection will be definitely, decided upon Judge Thompson’s return home early in January. In the event this building is erected, John Makeever, who owns 100 feet fronting on Cullen street on the south corner of the block, will put up a modern business block, moving the houses now occupying the lots to some other place, and may do so, he says, whether Judge Thompson builds or not, but sets no definite time for building. The Odd Fellows will probably build next season, and the K. of P’s may also build upon their lots on Liberal corner, in which event Rensselaer will experience the greatest building Loom in its history, the aggregate cost of the four contemplated structures running up to SIOO,OOO or more.