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National House |
With such a
huge work force, finding suitable housing was a
concern. Construction began in the spring of 1867 on The National House, which was across
the street from the watch factory. Originally, National House was a three story building
with an attic and a French roof and dormer windows. The cost of construction was ten thousand dollars and was established to provide
living quarters for
single employees. A few suites were available for families.
Over the
years, National House would expand to include a fourth floor with 150 rooms. By 1883, the
newly expanded dining room had the ability to serve 500 guests at one time. To help provide fully rounded employees and citizens of Elgin,
The National House included a billiards room, a smoking room for gentlemen and a
library. Meals were also served to non-borders at prices below the carriage
trade.
The next card
shows the Watch Factory and National House. It is easy to see how close
they both were to each other.
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