Fort Worth Telegram, February 5, 1906
Ten-Story Office Building Planned for Fort Worth Business
District
Architects Complete Lines for New Structure
SHAPED LIKE FLATIRON
Will Face Carnegie Library. Bacon Saunders to
Be the Builder
Fort Worth is soon to have the tallest building in
North Texas in a ten-story office structure which will be erected
within a short time on the southwest corner of Houston and Ninth
streets. Not only will Fort Worth have the highest building in this
part of the state, but the building will also be a smaller example
of the famous Flat Iron building of New York city.
At least this is in accordance with present plans
and there seems to be no doubt but that these plans will
materialize.
The new building will be erected by Bacon Saunders
upon the property which is now occupied by a two-story brick
building., which will be torn down to make way for the new
structure. It will have ten stories, besides the basement. The
frontage on Houston Street will be the same as that of the present
building, eighty-two feet. It will be triangular in shape, as it is
to be built upon the lot peculiarly shaped for which the division of
the Jennings and the Daggett surveys at this point is responsible.
Plans Completed
Plans that have been drawn and the preparations that
have been made call for a ten-story, fireproof office building, to
be constructed in the most modern way and equipped with all modern
conveniences, and a building that in every respect will be a great
ornament to the city.
The appearance of the building fronting Hyde park,
which will also practically front the Carnegie library will be made
most attractive and beautifully artistic. In order that this idea
may be carried out there will be no signs permitted on the building
other that the gilt, or gold, sighs that may be printed in the
office windows. The side of the building facing the library will be
made practically as ornamental as the side fronting on Houston
street. A sidewalk will also be built on the western side of the
building, along Hyde park, if the city desires.
Present Building
The present building on the property was built in
1887 by W. T. Maddox upon lines furnished at that time by W. B.
King, the city engineer. It has been the property of Dr. Saunders
for some time, as was also the building on the northeast corner of
the same streets, which was sold by him a short time ago for
$52,500.
The corner is one of the best in the rapidly growing
business center about City hall. The buildings erected within three
blocks of that corner within the past three years have been more
numerous, probably, than in any other section of the city.
Plans have also been drawn for the erection of a
three-story building on the northwest corner of the same streets and
work has been started on the three-story, 150-foot building that
will be erected on the corner of Eleventh and Houston streets.
A Fine Block to be Built
Drs. Thompson & Saunders have had plans drawn and
possibly by this time the contract is let for what will be one of
the finest business blocks in this city. The building is to be at
the northeast corner of Ninth and Houston streets, and in size 50x95
feet.
On the lower floor there will be two stores, one on
the corner, a drug store 28x56 feet, the other store having a front
of 22 feet on Houston and extending back 95 feet with an ell having
a frontage of 33 feet on Ninth street.
Between this ell and the drug store is a marble
stairway 6 feet broad leading from Ninth street to a central lobby,
on the second floor 9 1/2 feet wide by 56 feet long. This is to be
finely finished tiled and wainscoated. The suite of rooms for Drs.
Thompson and Saunders will extend along the Ninth street side and
will consist of general office, labaratory [sic], ladies parlor and
retiring rooms, operating room and consultation room, six in the
suite.
The balance of the space given to offices will be
taken by two suites of three rooms each, with a general laboratory
between them.
All will be thoroughly lighted and ventilated
externally and by the central hall, which has a large skylight as
well as windows. The transoms will be very large.
The lighting will be by electricity and the heating
with hot water. Hot and cold water will be laid on in each office.
The building material will be brick, stone, terra
cotta and structural steel. The roof will be of tin.
The best plate glass will be used for windows and
some of the door panels. The latter are to be of bevel glass.
All the woodwork is to be of hardwood, oak, with a
cabinet finish. The transom and window sashes are to be of the art
class.
The floors of the drug store and Drs. Thompson &
Saunders offices are to be of parquetry.
The plumbing and fittings of all kinds are to be of
the best and most modern style.
As an evidence of the determination to have the
best, it may be mentioned that the plate glass...
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