Hon. TJ. Ramsdell is having the old building on the corner of Maple and River streets, known for nearly twenty years and the "Lumberman's clothing store," torn down preparatory to the erection of a handsome brick block in its place.

Fred Hollister, of East Saginaw, who designed the High School and Engine House, is furnishing the design for T. J. Ramsdell's new building, corner of Maple and River streets.

The fireproof building will be 26 X 100 feet, three stories and basement at a cost of between $30,000 and 40,000. The work will be commenced as soon as the frost gets out of the ground.

Architect F.W. Hollister of Saginaw says T.J. Ramsdell, let a contract today to Carnigee, Phipps & Co. of Pittsburgh, for $5,071 worth of steel beams; to the Northwest Terra Cotta Co. of Chicago and $10,000 worth of granite, for his new building. Work on the building will probably be delayed five or six weeks, or until the materials ordered today arrive.

The steel joist for all the floors of the new Ramsdell Building have arrived and are being hauled today, the 26 foot ones weigh 1,300 pounds and are to be used 6 feet apart.

Work is progressing gradually on the new Ramsdell block at the comer of Maple and River streets. The building will be four stories high. The first stories will be built of granite, and the other two of brick. Mr. Jas. Brain is doing the masonry. Mr. Ramsdell expects to have the roof on the building by October.

"Today we will try and give our reader a description of the building, which the above cut represents, but it is not by any means complete as we are unable to learn what the different apartments are to be furnished in."

The Basement...will be used as a brokers office and safety deposit vault.

Main Floor...dimensions 54 x 24, will be used by the First National Bank when completed. This bank is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the city, and by judicious and careful management has succeeded in working up a business that the management can well feel proud of and is today doing large and profitable trade. The bank has a capital stock of $100,000 and a surplus of $60,000. The officers are T. J. Ramsdell, President; James Dempsey, Vice-President; and George Dunham, Cashier. The Directors are TJ. Ramsdell, E.N. Sailing, James Dempsey, R.R. Blacker, Wm. Wente, A.B. Leonard, and Geo. A. Dunham. A bank under such efficient management can not help being successful.

Second Floor...90 x 24 will be cut up into apartments, which will be converted into offices.

Third Floor—dimensions 90 x 24; this floor will also be used for offices.

"The building will be made fireproof, and the outside finish of the first two floors will be of Granite, and the remainder red pressed brick and Terra Cotta trimmings. The approximate value of the building will be between $45,000 and $50,000 which is quite a fortune to put into a building of its kind. The building will not be complete until next fall, but will be a beauty when completed."

Click here for more history