Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, January 1, 1916, Page 27

9 e e R A A Record figures that were made in building in Eastern Con- necticut in 1914 were nearly equalled in 1915 and a conspicuous feature of the year was the construction of new dwelling houses in{Norwich, New London, Willimantic, Putnam and Danielson, while the erection of new mill bulldings in various parts of New _London and Windham counties contributed large sums w the total figures. The estimated total for the two counties in 1915 was l’,OSS,SM where -in the year before it was $2,202,777. In the figures for 1915, New London county achieved the mark of $1,700,200 in building operations and for Windham county the estimated fig- ure was $359,300, NDRWICH’BUILDING EXPENDITURES SHOW : APPROXIMATELY $587,600 IN PAST YEAR. @ain of $75,073 Over Preceding Twelve Months—Number of Per- mits Issued By City Fire Marshal Was the Largest Ever— New Dwelling Houses to In Erected in City and Town Were a Feature. Featuring the building operations in the town and city of Norwich in the past year was the erection of new dwelling houses of which the total was 61 at an estimated cost of $220,000, a gain over a year ago when therc were 52 at an estimated cost of $178,700, and at the same time the total bullding figures for the year were in excess of a year ago, both as to number of per- mits .covering building operations and the amount involved. In 1914 the total permits shown were 111 at a figure of $512,527; in 1915 it was 142 permits and an estimated expendi- ture of $587,600, an increase cf $75,073. Nerwich Building Summary. The following shows the summary of approximate amounts in the town under the permits of the year: * No. Permits. Amounts. Mercantile and store property 2% $ 91,750 Manufacturing und store prope: 5 136,400 New dwellings ............... s 61 220.000 Dwelling -additions and alterations. .. 21 21,825 *Church property 2 83,000 Barns, garages-.and repairs 25 27,625 Hospital buildings 3 7,000 Potals -, ..o 142 $587.600 Fire Marshal’s Permits the Most Ever. In the city limits under the jurisdiction of Fire Marshal Howard L. Stanton, the total of permits issued was the largest on record, numbering 124, apd representing a total estimated ex- penditure of $427.600. In this fine showing, the last quarter of contributor as 39 permits were issued in that number that Fire Marshal Stanton has ever : period. The largest previous building year 909 when 92 permits were issued. P.mlh For City Buvldh\w-. 1st. 2nd. 8rd. 4th. Total 16 10 k¢ 1 13 Asteel)) 08, etc, frame s, etor, brick . 31 15 19 59 124 F/the 51 permits covering on new awelling houses to be vas represented an cstimated outlay of $200,000, the 21 ui for- repairs or alterations to dwellings meant an expen- 'of mabouit 821,825, thero was $28,750 in work on mercantile property under 19 permits, about $136,400 on property for mq‘mnrmg purposes under 5 permits, about = m of chureh’ property, and about $27,625 in 25 u:?fl on barns; garages, repairs, etc. e Shed For Shetucket Company. te :ne neiderable single piece of construction work that was started diflng the year in tbe city was the new weave shed for the Shetucket company, a two-story brick building of mill consfruction, 356 feet long, about 85 feet wide and ¥ a general hefght between floors of 15 feet. The building was begun ln the flx‘!t weck in October and is to be completed in 120 days. allow for a rearramgement of the machinery in the old mill “#Some of the departments are to be transferred to other locations “when the fiew mill is completed and others arc to be enlarged. Dhis will be true of. the finishing department, which now occu- pies one floor and part of the second floor of one of the mill ‘buildings, the remainder of the second floor being at present oc- ipied by: spoolers and warpers. These machines are to be re- amoved to another part of the mill and the partition on this floor * The now bullding is to be used entirely for weaving and will NEW WEAVE SHED FOR SHETUCKET COMPANY COTTON MILL is to be torn down throwing the entire floor into one large room which will be occupled by the finishing department which is con- sidered as ranking among the best equipped in the country. The main entrance to the new building is to be loeated in the tower or east end elevation. A trussed bridge 10x10, will connect the new weaving mil with No. 2 weaving mill. At each end of the bridge there will be fire-proof doors. ‘When completed, steps will at omnce be taken for the removal of the 650 looms now-in-operation to the new mill and this num- * ber will be increased to 1,000. The mill will be equipped with electric motors, like other departments in the plant, the electric power being generated by the company’s own generators and more are contemplated. It is also planned to increase the present 30,000 spindies in the plant by another 10,000 making a total of 40,000 spindles in all. Hépkine & Allen Buildings. - Another manufacturing establishment, the Hopkins & Allen Arms company, has already made or is planning some small ex- tensions to the buildings of its plant in the erection of a #0x80 foot brick building for a dry kiln, a 24x38 foot brick oil pump house, and a 12x18 foot brick boiler house, and has just announced that a one-story brick building 180 feet long by 60 feet wide is to be erected for a firing range. It is to be of fire-proof construction with foundations adequate for a five-story building. After the firing range is built it is probable that the other four stories will be continued to complete the building. Norwich Housing Company. In connection with the big growth promised for the Hopkins & Allen company, the 20 contracts that have recently been let for the erection of two-family dwellings by the Norwich Housing company have played a large part in the volume of business for the year in the erection of new dwellings. St. Nicholas Church. On Convent avenue the new St. Nicholas church erected by the Orthodox Greek Catholic congregation has been erected dur- ing the year at a cost of about $13,000 and has been in-use for services since ecarly in the fall. It is a commodious structure for the congregation of about 500 members. The building is of dark red brick, 40x72 feet in size overall, with a 10 foot square brick vestibule at the front surmounted by a tower. The tip of the Russian cross on the belfry top is 75 feet from the ground. It is finished in gold leaf and is set on top of the customary Russian church form of tower. The audi- torium is 20 feet high, and is in arched form, having trussed roof over the arch. There is a gallery extending across the rear of the auditerium, 12 feet in width, with a stair entrance from the auditorium flcor. The basement is the full size of the build- ing, and 10 feet in story height. It is floored and finished to matched the main floor. At the front entrance is a covered porch, with reinforced steps and balusters to grade. NEW BUILDINGS REPLACE a BIG FIRE LOSSES IN TAFTVILLE Appraximately $50,000 in New Buildings on Merchants Avenue and Hunter's Avenue—New Sacred Heart Church Approach- ing Completion. On the triangular tract of land made by the corner of Mer- chants avenue and Hunter's avenue at Taftville, where a fire wiped ocut half a dozen pieces of business and dwelling property on Sunday night, May 30th, the property owners interested have been restoring the buildings since at a probable total expenditure of about $50,000 in new and repaired structures. The new build- ings give the village some fine new business and dwelling prope: ty. With the $70,000 new Sacred Heart church just across Hunter's avenue from this corner, they make the most considera- ble building period that Taftville has known for some time in this type of buildings. Amede Bion Builds Anew. One of the new buildings erected since the fire is the three- stopy frame block, 40x80 fcet, belonging to Amede Pion, on Hunter's avenue. His furniture store occupies the main floor, there are tenements on the second floor, and the third floor is used for display in conncction with the store. The Pion block has stcam heat, electric wiring, open plumbing in bath rooms and kitchens, hardwood floors and plate glass front. Moving Picture House and Corner Block. One other new building erccted since the fire and already in use is Dr. George Thompson's moving picture house on Merchants avenue, which was opened last week. It covers a plot, 45x88 feet, and the auditorium has a larse gallery in it, the whole providing 496 seats, 350 jon the main floor and 136 in the gallery. The stage at the rear is a large one with a proscenuim arch 16 feet high and 24 feet wide. The moving picture booth is fire-proof and every precaution called for by state law is provided for as to ventilation, heating and lighting. b Dr. Thompson has also had remodelled the fire- damaged building at the corner of Merchants avenue and Hunter's avenue, After the fire only about 40 feet of the two-story wooden build- ing remained standing. The block is now completely restored and has had an additional story put on while the building’s length has been increased to 88 feet. It is occupied by stores and tenement dwellings. Marsan Property Rebuilt. Joseph C. Marsan on Hunter's avenue was another to suffer by the fire but soon thereafter prepared plans for a new building which is now well on the way towards completion. The new building is 60x60, frame, with stores on the ground floor and flats above. There are to be metal céilings throughout, steel beams for supports, electric wiring, plate glass windows for the three-- store fronf James Graham’s Bleck. Another new building on Merchants avenue that replaced one burned was the big Graham block, erected by James Graham, a well built frame structure three stories in height with a street frontage of 100 feet and a depth of 125 feet. On the ground floor it contains-three stores and the two upper stories furnish the -rooms for four fine flats. Extra heavy timbering insures stability to the building, there is electric lighting throughout and along the second and third stories there are balconies for the whole of the front of the building. All the store fronts have plate glass windows and each flat has all the modern conveniences. -~ Deslandes’ Building on Hunter's Avenue. Another Hunter’'s avenue building is the frame building, 26x50, three storles in height, erected by A. Deslandes. It has two stores on the main floor and tenements with all modern im- provements on the upper floors. Sacred Heart Church. In the middle of April work was started on what is to be the most imposing, the largest and handsomest church edifice in Taftvillé. This is the: new Sacred Heart church on Merchants avenue .at the corner of Hunter’s avenue which it is expected will be: finisned- about :the first ot March, 1916, and will cost ap- proxlm&!ely $70,000. {The ‘buflding is of wire cut Burlington brick, with terra cotta trim, copper cornices; slate Toof and, steel frame. In size it is 8514’ feet wide and 124 feet long with a chapel, 30x30, at the southeastérn end.. ‘The average height of the church is 65 feet and there is td be a 82 foot tower, 18x18, at the eastern end, with a gold cross at the top. For the present the tower is to be carried’ up only paft ‘way, to be completed at a later date. The church proper will provide seating accommodatiors for 800 people and there'is a gallery also 35x25 which will provide additional room. . The .three main inl'lncej -at the front are led up to by granite steps, and above the main entrances there is a large rose window 12 feet in diameter. There are also side entrances to right and left of the main entrances. The church windows wiil be of ribbed glass. The interior will be finished in white oak, with marble, stucco and plaster. The ceiling above the auditprium ‘will be constructed of wooden panels and the sanctuary ceiling ‘will be of stucco. ‘While the construction work has been going on, services have not been interfered with but have been conducted in the base- ment upon which the main church structure is erected. It is expected that the new church will be completed by Easter of this year. WILLIMANTIC BUILDING OPERATIONS SHOWED TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT $124,300. Figure Was Somewhat Smaller Than in 1914 Though Normal In- ort in City’s Buildings Was Indicated—Numerous New Dwellings. Building operations in Willimantic during the past year were at a normal figure, shown by a greater number of building per- mits issued than in the preceding year but a somewhat smaller HOTEL JOHNSON BUILDING, WILLIMANTIC value in the structures represented. The whole number of per- mits for the year was 62 representing an approximate expendi- ture of $124,300, where there were 45 permits and 8135 450 ex- pended in 1914. Willimantic Building Summary. No. Permits. Value. New dwellings; frame. ............. 19 $588,500 New dwellings, brick or concrete 1 7,000 Dwelling additions and alterations. 22 14,000 Hotel alterations 1 10,000 New mercantile buildings 4 12,500 Mercantile additions and alterations 1 5.000 School and church buildings 2 8,200 Rarns, garages, etC........ . 12 - 9,100 Totals ............ ceessesssans 62 $124,300 In the summary shown above the total of 20 new dwelling houses at an approximate expenditure of-$65,500 is below that of the year 1914 when the erection of new dwellings was one of the big items as there were 31 ot $102,000 in value. The four new buildings for inerchantile occupancy erected at a cost of about $12,500 were one more in number than in 1914 but of somewhat less value simce those of a year ago cost $23,000. More barns, garages and other small frame buildings were ereéted in 1815 than in 1914, a dozen at a value of $9,100 in the formnr year and 5 at a valuation ¢f $6,000 in the latter year. Among the more notable buildings credited to the construc- tion work in Willimantic during thé past year were the fine four- story frame building for the Hotel Johnson, two garages, one for the Thread City garage and the other for the Elmer Automobile company, a modern brick block three stories high, and the oil tanks and plant for the Gulf Refining company. DANIELSON ENTERING UPON ERA OF i HOME BUILDING IN 'I'HIS YEAR. Growth of Mnnuhctunnu Plants Cllll For me For Addllioml " Operatives. _ Danielson during 1915 entered upon the ‘edge of what is taken by many to indicate an 2ra of bullding. An even dozen dwellings represent the construction of homes in the borough during- 1915, but these are but the'advapce group of’ the many dwellings that Danielson must have in addition to what # now possesses t§ meet the demand for homes. The Danielson Cotton company | miles long. J. Puize, George Lmn..u—ummm—n' Portias, J. B. Guinols and Mary Reynmolds, some #Mmmmwmumh—.‘- I nu;mmm m -\mufin e w addition to mnli!im.; T ¥ _GREAT }co«wnucflou nluoo FOR | NEW DWELLINGS IN NEW LONDON. One Hundred and Eleven at Estimated Valuation of $568,000— Total Building Operations in City Represented $937,600 Expended. In th> matter of new dwelling houses and in the alterations and additions to others, the year 1915 has been a banner year for New London in that progressive line, for an increase in dwelling places is a sure barometer of the increase of business and general progressiveness. The year 1914 established a record for business blocks and buildings of a semi-public nature and this year it is a top record for dwelling houses, and an unpre- cedented year of business for the building trades;- and the end is not yet, for there is even now a scarcity of tenements suitable to the wants of the skilled workmen who dre adding to the pop- ulation almost daily. There does not seem to be any special boom in the building line, at that. It js a steady and heaithy growth, but on so much a larger scale than in the past that con- tracting builders have difficulty in getting workmen enough to satisfy the demand. It seems to be the rule, rather that the ex- ception, that just as soon as the “staking out” for a new dwell- house is commenced, there is a stream of applcants for the house when completed. Capitalists, or those with moderate sums of money in the banks at regulation interest, are becoming satisfied that the business prospects of the city are brighter than ever, and are erecting houses that will bring them a better return for their money than from the banks of deposit. It is predicted that the record of 1915 will be outdone by the record of 1916, based on the ground that there is a better start than at this time a year ago. New London Building Summary. In this connection the following summary ‘of the - buflding operations for the year 1915 in New' London wfl‘l be ‘of interest: Dwelling, frame ...... 105 $528,000 Other frame buildings: 40 > 35,700 Dwellings, brick, cement 6 30,000 3 Brick or cement, mercanti 6 90,000 J‘ Other cement bulldings - 21 59,200 ¢ Additions and alterations ... 58 94,600 Y. M. C. A. building ..isseems 1 100,000 | — —_— 237 $937,800 By reason of the erection of several large. buildings for commercial and other purposes, '1914, -was the banner year for that line in New London. Still there were only, 144 per- mits as against 237 in 1915, but the values in 1914 were $1,311,800, as against $937,600, or $378;000 greater than in 1915. 'In 1914 there were 72 permits for ‘dwellings.and the value -was -$351,000, while in 1915 the permits numbered :111 and the wvalues:3558,000, an increase in values of $206,400. In ;1914, there were 38 permits for additions and alterations with valties of $21,000, while in 1915 there were 58 permits and the valuations $94,600, an increase of $73,600. In this sum is included the alterations of the First Bap- tist church. The only new -building, of a ‘semi-public nature is that of the Young Men’s Christian association- which will' be soon in complete operation. This building is three-stories, of brick construction, located at Church and Meridian streets, in the rear of the Mohican building, and is to be camplete in furnishings and equipment to carry on the work of the orgamization. ey ELMER GARAGE BUILDING, WILLIMANTIC EXPENDED $200,647.02 IN IMPROVING EASTERN CONNECTICUT ROADS. $156,262.72 in New London County—$44,384.30 In Windham County. In the year that has passed improvementss:of roads under the direction of the state higshway commissioner has proceeded in both -New London and Windham counties, where a total expen- diture in road work has been made amounting to $200,647.02.. Of this amount $156,262.72 was in New London county and $44,- 384.30 in Windham county. tn New London County. In New London county the expenditures were divided as follows: 8.4 miles of trunk line.roads.. $101,313.63 7.4 miles of state aid roads... 47,025.89 Trunk line bridges 7,445.31 Railings -........ 477.84 Total $156,262.72 In Windham County. In Windham “county tho following was.the division of the money expended: - 15 miles of trunk line roads... "$17,315.0¢ 3.9 miles of state aid road: 24,106.64 Trunk line bridges 2127.85 Railings . 5 834.37 The most important improvement in the ‘counties is the con- erete road in Stonington, beginning in Stonington borough and extending to -the railroad station in Mystic, four and one-half This improvement will completé thé state road from ‘Westerly to Mystic: In this connection, the’town of Stonington recently voted the sum of $7,000 under “‘Chapter 109 of the Public Acts of 1913 to continue the’ Ifllmt to the Mystic bridge. Under this law, the town will advance the money for the work, and threée-quartérs. of ‘the cost up to $7,000 will be reimbursed by the state from' d:oapmmfionnmmmwmn legislature for the improvement of public roads. | <. As compared with 1914 the expenditures last year were less, for the total then was $446,796, of which $271,000 was in New London county and $175,706 in Windham county.