Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — G. Ittenbach & Co. [ARTICLE]

G. Ittenbach & Co.

The largest and most widely known stone dressers of the central West. Stone dressers and architectural designers. It Is safe to say that no Individual concern has ever been more successful In developing tho finest possibilities of the Imperishable and beautiful stone for architectural purposes than the firm of O. Ittenbach & Co. Knowledge In the line of a specialty makes all the difference between a good artisan and a bungler. The mechanic who seeks to rise should learn the theory of what he Is doing, as well as of the tools and forces he Is operating, and the materials that enter into his handicraft or Its product. This is the culture and the theory which they pursue and the one to which their alls rmlng success Is due. This firm which dates the establishment of Us business back to 1862, has been an influential factor In the development of Indiana's quarry Industry through the magnitude of Its operations as cut stone contractors. The business of tbe house has been expanded In sympathy with the growth of Indiana in wealth and population, and the activity of building operations which have naturally accompanied Us growth. As their business expanded so has their artistic skill kept abreast with modem progression. The end of architecture aa an art Is to arrange the plan, masses and enrichment of structure so as to Impart to it Interest, beauty, grandeur, unity and power. Architecture thus necessitates the possession by the artisan of gifts of Imagination aa well as technical skill. These elements must exist to achieve satisfactory results and It la with a full knowledge of these facts that the Ittenbachs have spared neither pains nor money to secure the most artistic and satisfactory artisans that can be employed together with all the latest devices In the way of modern machinery. The facilities of the house embraces one of the largest and most completely equipped stone working establishments In the central West. The buildings and the yards of the plant cover over 60.000 square feet, haring switch connections with the Big Four railroad. The equipment of this plant well represents the perfection that has been attained In modern stone working machinery In the way of the latest Improved appliances They have In constant use four saws, four planere, two travelers, one lathe and a circular planer, which was made from their own drawings and personal directions. The motive power for this machinery Is supplied by a one-hundred horse power englna In this establishment employment is furnished to one hundred and fifty skilled workmen, who are under the unremitting personal supervision of the members of the firm, Frank and John Ittenbach both haring been “raised” In the stone business, so to speak, being sons of Mr. O. Ittenbach, who was tbs founder of *he business In 1882 and retired In 1891, turrJ lng the business over to his sons, t present owner*, who possessed sonre knowledge of architecture, designed well and showed considerable taste In the execution of ornamental works. To this art they were greatly attached, and upon them he looked for the perpetuation, not only of the family name, but the family profession. The firm has been prominently Identified with the erection of most of the costly and handsome specimens of modem architecture In Indiana. They furnished ths stone for such splendid and much-admired buildings as the Majestic building and the Indiana National Bank of Indianapolis, the United States court house and postofflee buildings at Norfolk, Va., and the church, hotel, bridge and academy for tbe 6lsters of Providence at Bt. Mary's, Ind. They also furnished the stone and did the decorative work on the Public Library, the County Jail, the Power House, the Riverside Pumping Station for the Indianapolis Water Company, the Columbia Club building, • Commercial Club building. Century building and Indianapolis Sentinel building, all of the city of. Iffdl&n&poUs. The firm has secured the contract for the cut stone work for the Claypool hotel of Indianapolis and the Gorman residence In Dayton, 0., which will be the finest residence in the city of Dayton. Many other stone edifices and magnificent structured of their handy work might be mentioned, the site of which attests ths ability of th-jlr workmanship. The firm have their offices locatsd at 918 Morrison.-* t_, Indianapolis, Ind.