Post by David Sechrest on Jul 22, 2013 20:24:02 GMT -5
Early Columbus history is filled with reference to "Blocks." Buildings were identified by the man who owned them. Here are a few:
Keith's Block -- southeast corner of Tipton (Third) and Washington Streets
McEwen Block -- northwest corner of Tipton (Third) and Franklin Streets
Griffith's Block -- southeast corner of Walnut (Fourth) and Washington Streets
McCabe Corner -- northwest corner of Third and Washington Streets
One area of downtown Columbus was known as Commercial Row.
Commercial Row was built in 1849. It was owned by Francis J. Crump I. Francis shared a humorous story about the building of Commercial Row. He had contracted James Hall, brick mason, to lay the brick. In the contract drawn up, Crump promised to furnish everything on the ground. He had a well dug on the property so Hall would have access to water for mixing mortar. Hall, however, complained that the water he needed was at the bottom of the well, and was not "on the ground" as the contract stated. So, Francis either pumped the water himself, or hired a man to pump water for Hall.
In March 1881, F. J. Crump announced that Commercial Row would be remodeled. He hired architect L. L. Levering to draw up a sketch, which was displayed in the store window of Storey's book store. Francis Crump would die 6 weeks later and never see it completed.
In October, 1881, Mrs. J. B. Cobb* announced her intentions of having a new building erected on her portion of Commercial Row. Her building would be 25 feet x 125 feet, built of brick, and be in accordance with the wishes of what F. J. Crump wanted. The north side of her building would be constructed so that another building could adjoin it.
In January, 1882, Architect L. L. Levering began working on plans and specifications for a new Commercial Row.
By February, 1882, John Crump (who had inherited the Commercial Row property from his late father), announced that his portion of the Row would be built new from the ground up. His building would adjoin Mrs. Cobb's, and would also be constructed so that another building to the north could adjoin his.
On February 9, 1882, demolition began on the frame buildings at the rear of John Crump's portion of Commercial Row. John Crump told an Evening Republican newspaper reporter: "This will not be a remodeled house at least so far as my portion is concerned, for the walls will be torn down and a new building entire from the ground to the roof will be erected in its stead." After explaining some of his plans in detail, he then said that instead of having three rooms in his portion of the row, the new building will have but two rooms, one of which will be 10 x 125 feet and the other 39 x 125 feet in size. The new building will be two stories high to a depth of 75 feet with a one-story extension of 50 feet and will be of brick and iron with a metal or slate roof and a highly ornamental front. **
In March, 1882, John Crump contracted with John Adams of Madison, Indiana to provide the iron work which would grace the front of the building. The Busch foundry, Columbus, provided the iron front for the new building.
On April 18, 1882, bids for John Crump's portion of Commercial Hall were opened. The bids were as follows:
Keller & Brockman - $8,098.00
Dunlap, Gilmore & Coats - $8,123.00
J. A. Glanton - $8,512.00
Hege & Company - $9,510.00
Keller & Brockman were awarded the contract.
April 20, 1882, L. L. Levering was awarded the contract for designing the new Schwartzkopf/Keith building, which would adjoin John Crump's building to the north once Crump's was completed.
Mrs. Cobb and John Crump's buildings opened in the fall of 1882. Schwartzkopf's building would open in early 1883.
These are the three buildings beginning at the southeast corner of Third and Washington Streets, and are the buildings we see today.
* Mrs. Cobb was the wife of James or John B. Cobb. J. B. Cobb opened Columbus, Indiana's first bookstore in 1865.
**From the Evening Republican, February 14, 1882
Picture from "Bartholomew County: Steps Through Time," © 2007, The Republic
Keith's Block -- southeast corner of Tipton (Third) and Washington Streets
McEwen Block -- northwest corner of Tipton (Third) and Franklin Streets
Griffith's Block -- southeast corner of Walnut (Fourth) and Washington Streets
McCabe Corner -- northwest corner of Third and Washington Streets
One area of downtown Columbus was known as Commercial Row.
Commercial Row was built in 1849. It was owned by Francis J. Crump I. Francis shared a humorous story about the building of Commercial Row. He had contracted James Hall, brick mason, to lay the brick. In the contract drawn up, Crump promised to furnish everything on the ground. He had a well dug on the property so Hall would have access to water for mixing mortar. Hall, however, complained that the water he needed was at the bottom of the well, and was not "on the ground" as the contract stated. So, Francis either pumped the water himself, or hired a man to pump water for Hall.
In March 1881, F. J. Crump announced that Commercial Row would be remodeled. He hired architect L. L. Levering to draw up a sketch, which was displayed in the store window of Storey's book store. Francis Crump would die 6 weeks later and never see it completed.
In October, 1881, Mrs. J. B. Cobb* announced her intentions of having a new building erected on her portion of Commercial Row. Her building would be 25 feet x 125 feet, built of brick, and be in accordance with the wishes of what F. J. Crump wanted. The north side of her building would be constructed so that another building could adjoin it.
In January, 1882, Architect L. L. Levering began working on plans and specifications for a new Commercial Row.
By February, 1882, John Crump (who had inherited the Commercial Row property from his late father), announced that his portion of the Row would be built new from the ground up. His building would adjoin Mrs. Cobb's, and would also be constructed so that another building to the north could adjoin his.
On February 9, 1882, demolition began on the frame buildings at the rear of John Crump's portion of Commercial Row. John Crump told an Evening Republican newspaper reporter: "This will not be a remodeled house at least so far as my portion is concerned, for the walls will be torn down and a new building entire from the ground to the roof will be erected in its stead." After explaining some of his plans in detail, he then said that instead of having three rooms in his portion of the row, the new building will have but two rooms, one of which will be 10 x 125 feet and the other 39 x 125 feet in size. The new building will be two stories high to a depth of 75 feet with a one-story extension of 50 feet and will be of brick and iron with a metal or slate roof and a highly ornamental front. **
In March, 1882, John Crump contracted with John Adams of Madison, Indiana to provide the iron work which would grace the front of the building. The Busch foundry, Columbus, provided the iron front for the new building.
On April 18, 1882, bids for John Crump's portion of Commercial Hall were opened. The bids were as follows:
Keller & Brockman - $8,098.00
Dunlap, Gilmore & Coats - $8,123.00
J. A. Glanton - $8,512.00
Hege & Company - $9,510.00
Keller & Brockman were awarded the contract.
April 20, 1882, L. L. Levering was awarded the contract for designing the new Schwartzkopf/Keith building, which would adjoin John Crump's building to the north once Crump's was completed.
Mrs. Cobb and John Crump's buildings opened in the fall of 1882. Schwartzkopf's building would open in early 1883.
These are the three buildings beginning at the southeast corner of Third and Washington Streets, and are the buildings we see today.
* Mrs. Cobb was the wife of James or John B. Cobb. J. B. Cobb opened Columbus, Indiana's first bookstore in 1865.
**From the Evening Republican, February 14, 1882
Picture from "Bartholomew County: Steps Through Time," © 2007, The Republic