Dublin Core
Title
Correspondence W.G. Robinson Architect, to Julius Steinberg, November 3,1891
Subject
Architects--United States
Construction
Architecture
Description
Handwritten correspondence on letterhead from W. G. Robinson, architect, written in another hand to Julius Steinberg instructions for the construction of the Grand Opera House, specifically the gallery.
Date
11/3/1891
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Document
Identifier
2024.11
Coverage
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, United States Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan, United States
PDF Text
Text
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Paper
Transcription
Office of
W.G. Robinson.
ARCHITECT.
Rooms 62 and 63 New Houseman Building.
Telephone 142.
Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 3 1891
Mr. Julius Steinberg
Dear Sir.
We have your letter
and noticed contents. Now in regard to chord at
sides of gallery you will notice on plan of gallery
last sent you that flues are to be drawn towards
rear about 8 inches and if that is not enough shift
them as much as necessary to allow chord to
get necessary bearing on wall and have at least
8 inches brickwork between same and smoke flue to avoid
danger by fire in case those flues should ever
be used.
Now about change in gallery. I think we had
better built same as talked of. that is, we will
put in a chord at level part of gallery following
same circle supported by rods on small girders
above as this will take a good deal of the weight
and strain otherwise coming altogether on the
front wall which is quite cut up and has
enough to take care of as it is and I also
2.
think that the 2 small columns that we propose
to put in to support chord at inner edge of
gallery will look much better than so
many rods up above, for we couldn’t get along
with any less than four as you are probably
aware of. The columns could be made quite small
and wouldn’t interfere with the view but little
and besides this is very common think in an
opera house more so than the rods.
Window sills you speak of are allright the
way they are. The main thing is to get a
tight joint and this with the paint will prevent
any water from entering under same. All better
class of buildings have nothing but level sills
and never have any trouble about them. Gal iron
sills coming under these windows should
have a good and true foundation provided for
them so that frames may set right tight on
them.
3.
The roofs over bay windows will be made to
the outline as shown and no flashing will
be required but the iron will enter into brickwork and made secure and watertight in this
way. This of course we be done by weatherly
& Pulte whose contract requires them to put
up the work.
Set triple windows in centre of building
as required by cut stone and if the wall
is not thick enough to receive them entirely
the same can be furred out which would cost
very little as there isn’t very much of it.
We had to set those windows in that far
in the first place to get good effect in the
appearance and furthermore to get strength
enough in the piers themselves, which are
quite narrow, to carry weight coming on them
as the box required for weights cuts away nearly
all brickwork between them.
4.
Have received the sections we asked for and
we will return same to you tomorrow
with all changes required on them. We
are also making other drawings for your
building and will send them along as fast
as we can make them.
Resp. yours
W.G.Robinson
Architect
Per. C.G.V.
W.G. Robinson.
ARCHITECT.
Rooms 62 and 63 New Houseman Building.
Telephone 142.
Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 3 1891
Mr. Julius Steinberg
Dear Sir.
We have your letter
and noticed contents. Now in regard to chord at
sides of gallery you will notice on plan of gallery
last sent you that flues are to be drawn towards
rear about 8 inches and if that is not enough shift
them as much as necessary to allow chord to
get necessary bearing on wall and have at least
8 inches brickwork between same and smoke flue to avoid
danger by fire in case those flues should ever
be used.
Now about change in gallery. I think we had
better built same as talked of. that is, we will
put in a chord at level part of gallery following
same circle supported by rods on small girders
above as this will take a good deal of the weight
and strain otherwise coming altogether on the
front wall which is quite cut up and has
enough to take care of as it is and I also
2.
think that the 2 small columns that we propose
to put in to support chord at inner edge of
gallery will look much better than so
many rods up above, for we couldn’t get along
with any less than four as you are probably
aware of. The columns could be made quite small
and wouldn’t interfere with the view but little
and besides this is very common think in an
opera house more so than the rods.
Window sills you speak of are allright the
way they are. The main thing is to get a
tight joint and this with the paint will prevent
any water from entering under same. All better
class of buildings have nothing but level sills
and never have any trouble about them. Gal iron
sills coming under these windows should
have a good and true foundation provided for
them so that frames may set right tight on
them.
3.
The roofs over bay windows will be made to
the outline as shown and no flashing will
be required but the iron will enter into brickwork and made secure and watertight in this
way. This of course we be done by weatherly
& Pulte whose contract requires them to put
up the work.
Set triple windows in centre of building
as required by cut stone and if the wall
is not thick enough to receive them entirely
the same can be furred out which would cost
very little as there isn’t very much of it.
We had to set those windows in that far
in the first place to get good effect in the
appearance and furthermore to get strength
enough in the piers themselves, which are
quite narrow, to carry weight coming on them
as the box required for weights cuts away nearly
all brickwork between them.
4.
Have received the sections we asked for and
we will return same to you tomorrow
with all changes required on them. We
are also making other drawings for your
building and will send them along as fast
as we can make them.
Resp. yours
W.G.Robinson
Architect
Per. C.G.V.