A Brick Future for Second Street
Investor J. L. Rosenfeld is set to build a new two-story brick building, signaling a permanent shift away from the city's wooden past.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
J. L. Rosenfeld has purchased two lots on the corner of Second and A streets, opposite the Syndicate block, from William Ker. He plans to erect a two-story brick building this fall, intending to occupy the lower floor with a general merchandising stock. Second Street continues to move right ahead and gives every indication of fulfilling its promise as one of the best business streets in the city. A major factor in its favor is the scarcity of wooden buildings to impede the construction of permanent brick structures.
“Second street continues to move right ahead, and gives every indication of fulfilling the promise of its friends of being one of the best business streets in the city.”
This reflects the 'boosterism' era of North Yakima, where the transition from wood to brick was a marker of civilization and economic permanence. This transition remains a critical part of the urban history of Yakima’s downtown core.
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