Brookings’ long-delayed new government building is ready for occupancy at last. The bill for a government building in Brookings was introduced by Hon. Philo Hall of this city in 1908. An appropriation was made at that time for the site, and this was followed later by a larger appropriation for the building. It was not until the spring of 1913, though, that work was started. Further delays in construction pushed the opening date to this week.
The building stands on one of the most prominent corners of the city, being located at the corner of Main and Fifth streets. It faces to the west on Main Street. It is a very handsome structure and a splendid addition to the downtown. The building cost $75,000, exclusive of the site. The General Construction Co. of Milwaukee are the contractor.
The architecture of the building is pure Roman Ionic, and it has a handsome and massive appearance. Its ground dimensions are 57x74 feet, and it is one story and basement. The height of the building is 26 feet to the parapet wall. The portico is supported by six 17-foot columns.
The building is constructed of Indiana Bedford stone. The foundation is of gray granite and is waterproofed. Twelve-foot cement walks have been laid on both the west and south and the steps leading to the main entrance on the west and the side entrance on the south, are of granite. The two main entrances have revolving doors, with other outer doors of metal. The windows, which are large, are fitted with narrow-pane glass. The roof is of red shingle tile, with copper decks and gutters. A 25-foot flagpole is mounted on the roof. At the rear is a court paved with brick on cement.
The exterior decorations include the Ionic cap and Grecian fret, with egg-and-dart moldings, and the cornice on the west and south is trimmed with small lion heads. The west and south sides are decorated with seven panels and festoons, with marble disc in the center, and there is the conventional scroll work over the doorway.
The building is heated with steam, the plant being located in the basement. It will be lighted by electricity and is also piped for gas. The light fixtures are of solid brass.
The lobby is a handsome room, 34x15 feet. The ceiling in on the main floor is 19 feet high. The lobby is separated from the work room on the east by an oak and glass partition that reaches to the ceiling. In this wall are located general delivery and stamp windows, the lock boxes, and the letter and package drops. At the north end of the lobby are the registry, post savings, and money order windows.
The walls of the lobby are tinted a light green, with 3-foot Vermont marble wainscoting of the same color. The floor is what is known as the Terrazzo floor. The woodwork in the room is fumed white oak with wax finish.
The work room, on the east side of the main floor, is 57x41 feet. Directly north of the lobby is a separate room, 15x23 feet, for the money order, registry, and post savings departments, and all of the work of the office will be done in these two rooms. The rural and city carriers will have their work cases in the south part of the main room and the other work of the office will be done in the remaining space.
The floors of this room and the money order room are of hard wood, with a 7-foot wainscoting of imitation fumed oak, and the walls are tinted in yellow. The fixtures in these rooms are oak. A sanitary drinking fountain and a hose for protection against interior fires are provided in the main room. The postmaster’s office is just off the room on the south, with an entrance from the lobby. It is a room 15x15. The post office is provided with two vaults, one in the postmaster’s office and the other in the money order room. Off the work room is a ladies’ rest room.
The basement is divided off into a number of rooms, not all of which will be used at the present time.
There is a fine large loafing room for the carriers on the north and off this is a lavatory for men. There are two or three large rooms and a coal room and boiler room. The entrance to the basement from the outside is at the northeast corner.
