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pied by different lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The entire building is eighty feet on Third street, and has a frontage on Main street of eighty-three feet. It is substantially built, well supplied with all the modern improvements in the matter of gas and water works, and is an ornament to the city. The cost of construction was $35,000 and the valuation of the lots $16,000, making a total valuation of $52,000.

Levy's Block-Located at the northwest corner of Pearl and Front streets-a most valuable property and an ornamental addition to the business portion of La Crosse. It was commenced, so to speak, in 1865, and completed in 1871. During the former period, Mr. Levy erected the corner building of the block, the same being of brick, two stories high, with dimensions 35x100, and costing $10,000. Five years later, commercial demands for more room in this part of the city induced Mr. Levy to complete an addition to the original improvement at an expense of $22,600. The building is also of brick, two stories high, 100x1371, and furnishes roomy and convenient quarters for trade and commerce. The block is occupied for wholesale grocery, warehouse and other purposes, is valued at $40,000, and produces a net income of $3,000.

The La Crosse National Bank Building-In progress of completion, and one of the most spacious, elegant and prominent edifices in the city, is located at the southeast corner of Main and Third streets. The corner building was put up by the National Bank, while the east forty feet is devoted to the occupation of premises erected by G. C. Hixon, all under the superintendence of C. F. Struck, architect.

The improvement was commenced early in June, 1881. The foundations are of stone, securely laid in cement, the upper stories being built of St. Louis pressed brick, faced with La Crosse limestone.

The first floor is occupied for banking purposes. The room is 38x213 feet, entered from the corner through a doorway flanked on either side by polished granite pillers, and lighted by windows similarly ornamented.

To the rear of this is the directors' room, 21x12 feet, handsomely finished and furnished, and fronting the vault constructed in the walls, 7x10 feet, and of the most approved material, including the lining, which is of hardened steel, thus rendering it absolutely fire and burglar proof.

The second story is devided up into offices, single and en suite, which for finish and elegance are unsurpassed by any in the city. Hixon's building has a front of 40 feet on Main street, and is two stories high. The ground floors are to be occupied as stores, the upper story for

offices.

The buildings are heated by steam, and supplied with every improvement which skill or fancy can suggest.

Gile's Block.-To the enterprise and liberality of Abner Gile is the city of La Crosse and the admirers of architectural superiority visiting the city indebted for the erection and ornamentation of this handsome edifice, located at the northeast corner of Main and Fourth

streets.

Previous to 1880, the Gile's Block site was occupied by a row of unpretentious frame buildings, low and forbidding in appearance, the homes of limited accomodations, if not of misery. In 1879, negotiations for a purchase of the premises were begun between Mr. Gile and the late John Hays, the owner, which were concluded during the same year, and the transfer made for a valuable consideration. Thereupon Mr. Gile contracted for the building of the block which bears his name, after plans and specifications furnished by C. F. Struck, and in the spring of 1880, the old buildings having been razed, meanwhile the foundations were laid and the premises speedily crystallized into one of the most convenient and elaborately finished improvements in the West.

The building is of brick, with a frontage of 106 feet on Main street by 80 feet on Fourth street, is three stories high, the windows and exterior walls being finished with stone trimmings. It is fashioned after the modern gothic style of architecture, with four galvanized iron pediments

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on Main street and two of the same material on Fourth street, ornamented with zinc castings, and presenting the appearance both pleasing and finished. At the corner of the streets the building is finished with a tower 90 feet high from the grade of the street, ornamented on four sides with dormer windows with place for a town clock, visible to the inhabitants for miles around.

The interior of the building is finished in harmony with the elegance characterizing the entire job, at the same time substantial beyond comparison. The ground floor on the corner of Main and Fourth streets is occupied by the post office, adjoining which, on the east, is the dry goods store of John Smith & Co., for which the second and third stories of the building on Main street are also reserved. The remainder of the second floor is devoted to the occupation of offices, and the third story to the uses of an armory by the La Crosse Light Guards.

The lot and improvements cost a total of $40,000, and a handsome percentage is realized on the investment.

Germania Hall.-The present hall of the German societies is situated in their beautiful garden on Fifth street, between Ferry and Market streets. The design of the building was executed by the architect, C. J. Struck. The building was constructed in 1877, and is an ornament to the city. It is 62x110 feet, two stories 30 feet high, and with a basement. It has a piazza and large pillars in front. The basement contains two parlors, dining-rooms, and the necessary apartments, and is neatly and tastefully arranged. The main hall is 50x40, with a large ballustrade for promenading leading around it. This is adorned with pillars which support the galleries and are commodious, is pleasant, giving those who do not desire to participate in their sports a fine place to promenade. The galleries are spacious and well arranged. The hall is lighted during an evening by a sun-burner which gives an excellent effect and an abundance of light. The rooms for ladies are arranged so that every necessary comfort is at hand. The building is of brick, and represents a total cost of $15,000.

The International Hotel.-The site of the International Hotel was first occupied for residence purposes in 1842, when a man known by the heroic title of "Col. Mills," and hailing from Dubuque, settled in future La Crosse and erected a frame house at the corner upon which the International is now located. The premises where subsequently occupied by Dr. B. Bennett and family, who came from Detroit in 1844. It was afterward owned by Jacob Spaulding, of Black River, of whom it was purchased in 1846, by John M. Levy, whence its history as a hotel dates.

The International was originally built in 1867, at an expense of $70,000, and was considered at that time one cf the most complete hotel structures in the State. But with the advance of time it became apparent that the building was inadequate to the demands of a traveling public, and, in the winter of 1877-78, plans were perfected for a complete re-building and re furnishing of the structure. The work was accordingly commenced under the direction of C. F. Struck, an architect who furnished the designs for Germania Hall and other buildings in La Crosse, and, when completed, furnished additional evidence of the skill and enterprise to be found in the "Gateway City.'

The house is four stories high, with a frontage of 65 feet on Front street, and a depth of 150 feet on Pearl street, and so re-modeled and decorated as to defy comparison with its former appearance. The dingy brick work was pointed off, the cornices and other iron work tastely pointed and sanded, and French plate substituted for the contracted panes of glass which served to illuminate to a limited extent the interior.

The arrangements of the house are complete and in detail. The office is remarked and admired by all, the English tiles which furnish a sure and handsome foundation in the vestibule are extended into this department, and laid in handsome patterns. The colors are French gray, chocolate, yellow and slate color, affording sufficient contrast to define the patterns distinctly, but harmonizing well with the dark and light wood-paneled wainscoting and finish of the room. The woods used are of black walnut and butternut, relieved by light moldings of yellow pine. The heavy carved counter on the right of the office is even more ornate, and in its construction, other

woods are used though harmonizing with the other fittings of the room. The stairway, leading by easy flights to the second floor, is constructed of the same woods and in the same style. Opening onto Pearl street and adjoining the office, is the ladies' reception-room, finished in the same style, tastily furnished, and intended as a convenient and comfortable retiring-place for lady guests. Adjoining is a toilet-room provided with mirrors, hot and cold water, and every convenience.

The dining-room is on the same floor, opening on to Front street, and is 40x50. The wainscotings and window-casings are of fancy woods, the windows of heavy plate-glass shaded by inside blinds, and the furniture and equipments of walnut and oak. This apartment is pronounced by travelers and connoisseurs as one of the largest, best arranged, ventilated and finished, of any in the West.

The second floor, also re-built, contains bath-rooms, sample-rooms, suites and the parlors, furnished in the latest style, in the newest and most fashionable designs. The upper floors are appropriated to the demands of guests.

The house contains 75 sleeping-rooms, including 4 suites, and 12 others capable of being made into suites for the accommodation of large parties. Of these, 25 are parlor bedrooms

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each furnished in elegant style, but no two of them with the same pattern. The floors are carpeted with Brussels, the walls papered with designs representing fern-leaves, the arrangement and shade of the background being different. The furniture in each of these rooms is of the most fashionable drawing-room styles, including sofas, divans, easy chairs, marble-top tables and washstands, magnificent panel beds, etc. The remaining sleeping apartments are neatly but not so elaborately furnished, but far in advance of the best rooms ordinarily furnished guests in towns of 15,000 inhabitants.

The house is handsomely furnished and carpeted from cellar to garret, provided with elevators, billiard, reading, writing and consultation rooms, lighted with gas and afford a place of elegant retreat to the traveler or citizen from the cares and anxieties of business life.

The property is owned by John Gund, and is valued at $75,000.

Cameron House.-This hotel is situated on the corner of Second and Vine streets, is at the extremity of the Y extending from North La Crosse, on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, to which it belongs, and is modeled on the same plan as the Minneapolis Hotel of the same company. It is 56x140, and is built of Milwaukee brick, is four stories in height, surmounted with towers and a mansard roof, which is nearly sixty feet from the ground. The building was designed

by

Long, and had for its builder, F. A. Fisher, of Minneapolis.

It is near the river, of which it commands a most extensive view from its towers and from which it is very accessible. The rooms are unusually large, light and airy, and in all its appointments the hotel shows that it was planned far more with a view to the confort and convenience of its guests than to the number it could be made to shelter inside its walls. The first story contains the hotel and railway ticket offices, reception and waiting rooms for both ladies and gentlemen, railway eating-room, dining-room, kitchen, hall, etc. It is 16 feet in height. The second story is 13 feet. It contains twenty-four rooms of an average size of 11x17, the projections of the building adding to the size of the rooms abutting upon them. A large parlor and a hallway of 10 feet in width complete the story. The third story is 14 feet in height, and contains nineteen rooms of the same size as those underneath. In the fourth story, which is inclosed by the mansard roof, there are five large rooms. The main tower has a room of 23x23, and is known as the engineers' room, it being devoted to that class of the employes of the railway. The first story is finished in red oak, while the upper ones are in pine. These are all connected by a wide, massive stairway, with large, square landings midway of each story, from which an outlook is had of all that passes on below. The whole establishment is in charge of W. D. Fox, an experienced landlord, who has been in the business for twenty-one years, much of this time under the auspices of the present company, whose officials, on their recent annual tour, indorsed him by most complimentary resolution, and expressed the hope that he would long continue in his present position. The expenses of the hotel average $1,000 per week. The cost of the building and grounds is estimated at $60,000.

GAS WORKS.

The La Crosse Gas Works were established in 1860, by Daniel Wells, who furnished the necessary finances, and Arnold & Blanchard, who furnished the iron and coal, with Brewster & Bokee as Superintendents. They erected three buildings on the west side of the lot, between Grove street and the La Crosse River, one being used as a retort-house, another as a purifyinghouse, and the other as an office. They at once began the manufacture of gas, first by oil and charcoal, and then by means of oil and wood (blocks and sawdust), these both proving failures. They had just begun the manufacture of gas, and before the gasometer had been lifted, Mr. Bokee, while testing it to see if there were any leaks, lighted a match, from which the gas instantly ignited, causing an explosion which almost destroyed the gasometer, and might have resulted fatally to Mr. Bokee, had he not in falling been caught in a large tank of water. Subsequently, a Mr. Clark came from Milwaukee to make the necessary repairs and superintend the works.

John Greenleaf purchased the entire works in 1865, and erected on the corner of Second and State streets a small building for the manufacture of gasoline, which, however, proved a failure. Walker & Brown then purchased the works, but no reliability was placed upon the manufrcture of gas until 1869, when A. & D. D. McMillan purchased a half interest in the works, purchasing the remaining interest soon afterward. In the fall of 1869, a skating rink was built back of the gas works on the bank of the river, but this not proving a valuable investment, the building was used as a coalshed. About eight hundred tons were stored in this building, which bore so heavily upon the posts that supported it, that it suddenly gave way, precipitating the coal down the river bank, a small portion of it going into the river. Subsequently, in 1873, two new sheds were built, each 30x72.

As soon as the McMillans purchased the works, they began extensive improvements by laying new pipes throughout different parts of the city, also enlarging the grounds to double their area, so they now occupy all the space between Grove street and the La Crosse River on the south and north, and Second and Third streets on the west and east. They built a brick retort house in 1880, 36x40, at a cost of $5,000. This contains four arches, three of them being filled with five retorts each, the fourth being vacant, but capable of holding five more retorts also.

The gasometer, cylindrical in shape, is 35 feet in diameter, and 16 feet deep, inclosed within an octagonal building, 45 feet in diameter. The purifying house is 22x28; lime house, 16x28;

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