The Extent of the Building Done in 1863

EMERSON, SHIELD, MULLANY, KING, SMYTH, KEENAN, SCHULTE, RYDER, TIERNEY, LENEHAN, WALSH, WOOD, PEROT, HODHDON, PARKER, OBRIEN, MASON, MATTHEWS, TISDALE’S, MARTIN, CLARK, STAMMEYER, FRICK, MCLAREN, BURT, PLEIN, BEACH, STEWART, MCQUILLEN, COOPER, DUFFY, NOYES, CUMINGS, WOODWORTH, HOLMES, JAEGER, STOLTENBEIN, PETERSON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 5/26/2016 at 16:52:50

Dubuque Democratic Herald – Jan. 1, 1864

BUILDING IN DUBUQUE
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The Extent of the Building
Done in 1863
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List of the New Buildings Erected
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Buildings in Dubuque during the past year has not of course been anywhere near the extent it has been in some years in the past, when hundreds of thousands of dollars had been extended in a single season. There have been a large amount of repairing and ornamentation. People have not been so anxious to launch into new enterprises of buildings, as to beautify and render convenient the residences and places of business that already have. And yet it will be necessary during the coming season to erect more houses, if one may judge by the demand of tenants during the past fall and even at the present time. Every available house in town is taken and is now occupied, and the demand exceeds the supply. This indicates steady and healthy growth that promises well. Already we have learned of the letting of several contracts for the erection of houses in the spring, and some of our builders are now getting out the material for them.

We present below a list of all the principal improvements during the year. The most expensive job of the year has been the rebuilding of the Peosta House, by Emerson, Shield & Co., and the work done under the supervision of Mullany & King. The building is to be completely changed throughout its whole interior. Another story has been added, a different kind of roof put on, and when completed it will be scarcely recognized as the same building. In the third story there is to be a hall, which when completed will be by far the best in the State. It will be 112 feet long, 62 feet wide, and is constructed on the same approved principal of acoustics. The ceiling is arched, and in the centre will be 35 feet from the floors and at the sides 23 feet. The hall will seat 1,100 persons comfortably. And is just such a one as Dubuque has needed. The lower story is divided into three stories, the second story will be used for offices, &c. This work will cost, when completed, $18,000. Work has been progressing since the first of December, and it will not be finished until spring.

During the season Bishop Smyth has built an elegant residence on Bluff Street, between Second and Third, next door to the Cathedral, at a cost of $9,000. It was designed and built by John Keenan. It is of brick, three stories high, 50 feet front, and 45 feet depth. It was commenced in May and finished in December. The cut stone work was done by Doner & Schulte, the plastering by John Tierney, the painting by T. P. Walsh, the stone work by Joseph Ryder, and the smith work by D. P. Lenehan. The iron work was finished by Wood & Perot, the fence as it stands alone costing over $1,000. It so is far completed that the Bishop already occupies it for his residence, though we believe more work yet remains to be done in the upper stories.

Gen. Hodgdon has erected a house on the corner of Locust and Fourteenth Streets at a cost of from $5,500 to $6,000. The work has been done under the superintendence of P. Mullaly. It is of 42 feet front and of an average depth of 48 feet, with kitchen, wood shed, and stables all connected and of brick. There is a cellar under the whole house except the kitchen. It was commenced in July and is now nearly completed. It will be finished and occupied in the spring.

Mr. Mullaly has also put up a two story brick house for Capt. J. W. Parker on alpine Street between Julien Avenue and Tenth Street. It is 27 feet front and 40 feet depth, with a one story kitchen also of brick. It was commenced in April and finished in September and cost $4,100.

He has also erected a double brick house for himself on Locust Street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth, one which was commenced in 1862, but was completed last season, while the other was built entire during the year. They are of 44 feet front and 51 feet depth, two stories high including the wood sheds. They cost altogether $4,500.

Richard O’Brien has built a double brick two story house on Locust between Fourth and Fifth Streets. They are of 40 ½ and 32 feet depth, with a back building two stories high for kitchen and &c. It was designed and built by John Keenan, and the same men for most part did the work as on Bishop Smyth’s home. It cost $3,600, and was rented before it was finished, one of the houses to Mial Mason and the other to J. W. Stewart.

Another story was added to the house of Ald. G. L. Matthews on Locust between Eighth and Ninth Streets, and other improvements made to the amount of $600 by Mullany & King.

The same party also made improvements upon L. Tisdale’s house on Clay Street to the amount of $400. They estimate that various other jobs of repairing they have done during the year will amount to $1,200.

In the month of November W. W. Martin, the agent in charge of the building, received order from Washington to proceed with work upon the Customs House building sufficient at least to preserve that which has already been done. He did so, and workmen have been employed upon it since. It will cost $35,000 to finish the building ready for occupancy.

Dr. E. L. Clarks is putting up a house on Seminary Hill at the head of Main Street, which will probably cost $4,000. It is of two stories and wood.

The store No. 104 Main Street, between Fifth and Sixth, occupied by Joseph Stammeyer, was built last year by Wm. Ruff, at a cost of $2,400. It was built by Anthony Frick.

The Julien House has been completely refitted both externally and internally, it being repainted and papered throughout. And a good portion re-plastered. The carpenter work was done by Wm. McLaren and painted by Rand & Brother. The whole outlay has been $4,500.

Sheriff Cuming has rebuilt his house on Seventh Street, between Locust and Bluff, that it is almost wholly new from garret to cellar. Another story has been added. The cost will be not far from $3,000.

W. Stoltenbein has put a two story brick house on the corner of Eleventh and White Streets, at an expense of about $2,000.

J. P. Peterson completed his house on Thirteenth Street on the bluff, which has cost him $250.

The engine house occupied by companies No. 1 and 2 in Washington Park has been rebuilt with an outlay of $2,000.

Woodworth & Jaeger have built a brewery on the shore of Lake Peosta within the city limits, which, with the machinery and all, involved an expenditure of $5,000. The building is of wood.

D. P. Noyes has erected a house on Thirteenth Street on the bluff which is not yet completed. The building is of wood and has thus far cost $700.

The Round House of the Dubuque and Sioux City Road has been finished during the year at an expense between $5,000 and $6,000.

The house of Rev. H. Holmes, on the corner of Ninth and Locust Street, has been raised, repaired, and refitted throughout, at an expense not far from $500.

The building occupied by Mial Mason for his tobacco works on the corner of Iowa and Third Streets, had another story added to it and has been otherwise improved. The work was done by McQuillen & Duffy.

The residence of A. J. Cooper on Locust, between Third and Fourth Streets, has been extensively refitted at an expense of $1,500. The work was done by James Lenehan.

Repairs have been made on the warehouse of Judge Burt, Wm. G. Stewart and others which together aggregate a considerable amount.

Pleins & Beach have erected a large soap and candle factory in the lower part of the city.

There have been, aside from these, a number of other buildings that have been erected or have undergone expensive repairs, but this list is all we present at this present time.