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Show ~B DESCRIPTION CHECK ONE CONDITION _EXCELLENT ..1)Gooo . CHECK ONE _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED x..ORIGINAL SITE _RUINS XALTERED _MOVED DATE"-_ __ _UNEXPOSED _FAIR DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND OHIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The J. G. McDonald Chocolate Company Building is a four-story brick and stone factory and office structure ''lith a split-level entrance and raised basement. The building has a post and beam structural system with a single row of posts nmning the length of the building at midspan. The symmetrical facade combines elements of the Commercial and Sullivanesque styles and is four bays ,ride. The bays are separated by orick piers l ....hich culminate in Roman arches at the third floor level. Each level of the facade has its Olm unique type of fenestration. On all but the third level, however, the bays are square. The first floor bays contain large fixed-sash storefront windows. The second floor has a rmv of 2 over 2 double-hung sash windows "lith fixed sash transoms above. The,.,rindows on the third floor are contained by the arches and have a central lover 1 sash window flanked on either side by 2 over 2 double-hung sash '<lindmvs. In the arched area of the bay are quadrapartite \'lindm" lights held in place by heavy 'wooden mullions. The fourth floor, which ,<las added about 1909, contains a row of eight small lover 1 double-hung sash lvindmvs with sills l{hich rest on the cornice line of the original facade. The facade benefits from detailing which relieves \. . hat could othen\'i.se have been an austere composition. Ornamental features include several dentil bands, the "letter '~r' in brick relief at the tops of the outer piers, classical wooden mouldings, and a modest arrount of corbeled brickwork. The above detailing has a minor impact on the flat surfaces and clean lines of this early modern factory. The side elevations have a tall coursed rubble rock foundation supporting the brick superstructure. The brick is laid in a common or American Bond pattern ,dth five stretcher courses to every header course. Windows are segmentally arched, and contain .2 over: .2 qouble-hUl')g .sashes. Some of the original bays have been filled in, enlarged, or have had the wooden sashes replaced with metal frames. The original building ''laS three stories tall, excluding the elevated basement. A fourth story was added about 1909 and featured a roof garden and a tm<ler ",ilich served as a vestibule. The fenestrated tower located over the east wall of the original building is still extant. Additions were made to the rear of the original factory as the business rapidly expanded after 1901. The first of the three major additions is four stories tall, including the basement. The style, brickwook and windmv types of this addition are identical to that found in the original building. The second addition is much the same as the first and \'laS builtin 1920 using "fireplace construction." It has large square l<lindm<l bays and is void of detailing. The sills and lintels are concrete. Structurally there are nvo rm.,s of concrete· posts nmning through the building at one-third spans. A one-story brick loading dock and boiler room have been added to the rear of the last addition and are L~ediately adjacent to the railroad spur which runs directly south of the .building. . . The original front facade remains largely intact, although some alterations have been made. The original exterior stairs leading to the entrance have been moved inside and the basement windmv wells have been filled in. The original polychrome facade has been painted white. The original projecting cornice over the third floor was removed lmen the fourth floor was added. I |
