This article listing the bids and bidders for the construction of the new school appeared in the Evening Leader on December 22, 1937, less than two months after the voters of New Knoxville passed a bond issue levy in the November General Election. Only one local company submitted a bid to be the general contractor for the job.
CONTRACT LET FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW KNOXVILLE SCHOOL BUILDING
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Bellefontaine Firm Wins General Contract
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TOTAL $122,196
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Cost Will be Less Than Estimated by About $1,000—Contractors Have 330 Calendar Days to Complete Building for Occupancy
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(Special to The Leader)
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New Knoxville, Dec. 22—The New Knoxville board of education yesterday afternoon let the contracts for the construction of a new grade and high school building to be erected there on the “old brickyard” site. The total of the contracts awarded amounts to $122,196 which is about $1,000 below the estimated cost of construction.
The village school district has authorized the issuance of $77,200 worth of bonds for the school construction and the federal government will award the school district a grant of $63,800 through the PWA, making a total of $141,000 available for the building. Necessary equipment and other incidentals will be bought with the funds remaining in the bond issue after the construction costs are paid.
The contracts let yesterday are subject to the approval of the federal government PWA.
The Knowlton Construction Company of Bellefontaine, O., received the general contract for the building construction at its bid of $97,200. The original bid of the company was $98,700, but using Alternates A and B the bid was for $97,200.
The heating and plumbing contracts were combined and awarded to the B. Withers Company of Newcastle, Pa., at its bid of $20,640, this bid being in consideration of alternate A. The Barmes-Joy Engineering Company of Lima received the electrical contract for $4,356 with alternates A and B being taken into consideration. Its original bid was $5,346.
Six bids were received for the general contract, as follows: Opperman and Harmeyer, New Knoxville, $99,768; Knowlton Construction Company, Bellefontaine, $98,700; L. M. Leonard Company, Columbus, $112,300; Bitler Brothers, Lima, $105,000; Heisey and Bebolt, Van Wert, $109,000; Norton and Madalin, Columbus, $105,750.
Seven plumbing contract bids were received and are: Charles Danner, Lima, $7,794; Eastern Plumbing and Heating Company, Columbus, $8,147; Handley Plumbing Company, Columbus, $$8,318; Williams Brothers, Lima, $8,235; Samuel A. Esswein company, Columbus, $9,311; Joseph Lige, Auburn, Ind., $10,447; B. Withers Company, Newcastle, Pa., $8,590.
The bids received for the heating contract were Charles Danner, Lima, $14,000; Eastern Plumbing and Heating Company, Columbus, $15,000; Handley Plumbing Company, Columbus, $13,950; Williams Brothers, Lima, $13,971; Samuel A. Esswein company, Columbus, $15,165; Joseph Lige, Auburn, Ind., $14,720; B. Withers Company, Newcastle, Pa., $13,760.
Bids for the electrical contract were; Electric Power Equipment Company, Columbus, $6,431; Gustave Hirsch Company, Columbus, $6,767; Robert N. French, Sidney, $5,350; Central Electric Service Company, Columbus, $5,957; Ginn Electric Company, Cincinnati, $5,680; Barnes-Joy Electric Company, Lima, $5,346; Reynolds, Lima, $6,705.
The contracts specify that the work must be completed within 330 calendar days which means that the school building should be ready for occupancy about Thanksgiving time next year. Plans and specifications for the structure were completed by Thomas D. McLaughlin and Associates, architects of Lima.