Post by alxeu on Feb 16, 2023 17:23:18 GMT -5
Kazimierzgrad, being an old city, had once been encircled by defensive walls. In times past, those walls had been to defend the city from attack. Such defenses were woefully inadequate to defend against artillery even by the 17th century, and so as the city's population expanded and more space was needed for housing, shops, markets, and gardens, the old walls of the city were torn down, creating a broad open area encircling the previously walled segments of the city that the Lord Mayor decided to pave using the cobblestone from the dismantled walls, forming what was known hence as "Wall Street."
The northern part of Wall Street grew into an economic hub of sort where it intersected the North Highway, as it had been the location of one of many farmers' markets. As housing and more permanent shops began to overflow into the newly available space, it was at this intersection that a tavern was founded, the Wall Street Tavern. Though not the first "Wall Street Tavern," it was the most successful, as the owner of the tavern lucked into a brilliant idea of setting up an office for a government notary to permanently utilize within his tavern, which turned the tavern as much into a place to do business as it was to get wasted. Insurance, contracts, stock exchanges, you name it, it was a type of dealing done in the tavern.
In 1894, the old couple who currently owned the tavern sold it to a new owner, who shut the tavern down to remodel it and reinvent the property. A two-story building with an extensive basement was the result. Entertainment of all kinds were encouraged on the main floor, where originally ragtime music was played to a crowd in an extensive bar and club. On the second floor, all the traditional business dealings that the building had become known for continued, this time with a more extensive legal team to facilitate more dealings and formalize the location's part in these dealings even further.
The basement, however, was the site of the real passion of the new owner. Though this fact was not known to his parents, Levi Aldimaras was a devoted socialist, and was of the opinion that the socialist movement in Lusatia was always moments away from being suppressed. Thus, in the basement of his new Wall Street Club, Levi created a headquarters for the Socialist Labor Party that turned into a hub for all party operations in Kazimierzgrad. Primarily, the basement was used for two purposes by 1932: a shooting range for firearms practice (along with a significant stockpile of weapons and ammunition), and a meeting room where discussions of events in the city and country were held. Though no connections were found between the Club and the General Strike the year before, it was still highly likely that it had some part to play in the events of that time.
A cold, snowy night, Wall Street, Kazimierzgrad, 1932
Police Lieutenant Tobias O'Higgins wanted little more than to be home this night. His apartment over in the Fisherman's Heights was well-insulated and heated, and his fiancée had promised a hearty beef and potato stew would be ready for him when he returned home. "Just have to go in and out," he muttered under his breath, the cold evident by the vapor that he exhaled. Approaching the location, he pushed his way through a line of people to a bouncer standing at the entrance of the club. "KPD Lieutenant O'Higgins." he stated, pulling out his badge, "There's been rumors of illegal firearms in the basement of this establishment. I'm here to investigate."
The bouncer looked at his badge, shrugged, and stepped aside, opening the door. Tobias entered the club to the sound of jazz. Looking around the busy establishment, he received more than a few uncomfortable stares from the patrons - nothing new to him, especially after last year. Making his way to the bar, he recognize the bartender for the evening as the club's owner. Hailing the man while taking off his winter hat, Tobias waited until he arrived to introduce himself.
"Mr. Aldimaras, right? I'm Lieutenant Tobias O'Higgins with the city police. I was hoping you could give me a tour of your basement here."
The older man behind the bar scoffed as he looked up and down the young officer. "For what reason? Did someone complain about the alcohol being watered down again?"
"Hardly, sir. There's reports of illegal firearms in the basement. Now, if you would..."
Levi looked over the officer again before sighing and turning to shout at another worker behind the bar, "Cover for me, will you? I've got to escort one of 'Lusatia's best and brightest' through the basement so he doesn't get lost." Grumbling, he led the officer back into the kitchen and to a stairwell, before descending into the basement.
The first room they entered was another dining room, though much smaller than the one upstairs. Attached to the room were two others, both appearing sizeable, with a hallway going along the length of one of the rooms before another entrance on the far side. Levi explained, "This is the members' dining area for when they want private discussions over dinner as opposed to the noise upstairs. There's another meeting room for VIPs across from us, and to our right is the firing range."
"Firing range?"
Levi seemed, somehow, even less approving of the officer now, "Did they really send someone who doesn't know what the basement for this building is used for? The police are getting more incompetent every year. This is a meeting and shooting location for members of the Socialist Labor Party. Everything we do down here is legal, before you ask."
"I... see," Tobias said, coming to terms with the basement. Recovering, he responded, "Well, I'll need to look through the entire basement to be certain of no contraband."
It took a couple hours for the search to conclude, the noise upstairs dying off after one. Finding plenty of rifles, but no illegal rifles, the officer grumbled about a waste of time before returning to the entrance of the basement where Levi was standing. The older man was smoking a cigarette, which he crushed out as Tobias approached.
"I take it there were no problems, officer?"
"None, Mr. Aldimaras. I'll pass my result back to my superiors and the claim against you will be dropped."
"Good, good. Pass this along to your bosses, too, for me?" Levi said, pausing before continuing, speaking deliberately, "If they send another one of you 'Boys in Blue' to rummage around in the basement of my establishment without cause, There. Will. Be. Hell. To. Pay. I will not have you or anyone else violating my property rights constantly because my politics disagree with those in power. Is that understood?"
Stunned, Tobias just nodded.
Levi smiled, "Good. Now get out and don't come back. Have a good night, Officer O'Higgins."
The northern part of Wall Street grew into an economic hub of sort where it intersected the North Highway, as it had been the location of one of many farmers' markets. As housing and more permanent shops began to overflow into the newly available space, it was at this intersection that a tavern was founded, the Wall Street Tavern. Though not the first "Wall Street Tavern," it was the most successful, as the owner of the tavern lucked into a brilliant idea of setting up an office for a government notary to permanently utilize within his tavern, which turned the tavern as much into a place to do business as it was to get wasted. Insurance, contracts, stock exchanges, you name it, it was a type of dealing done in the tavern.
In 1894, the old couple who currently owned the tavern sold it to a new owner, who shut the tavern down to remodel it and reinvent the property. A two-story building with an extensive basement was the result. Entertainment of all kinds were encouraged on the main floor, where originally ragtime music was played to a crowd in an extensive bar and club. On the second floor, all the traditional business dealings that the building had become known for continued, this time with a more extensive legal team to facilitate more dealings and formalize the location's part in these dealings even further.
The basement, however, was the site of the real passion of the new owner. Though this fact was not known to his parents, Levi Aldimaras was a devoted socialist, and was of the opinion that the socialist movement in Lusatia was always moments away from being suppressed. Thus, in the basement of his new Wall Street Club, Levi created a headquarters for the Socialist Labor Party that turned into a hub for all party operations in Kazimierzgrad. Primarily, the basement was used for two purposes by 1932: a shooting range for firearms practice (along with a significant stockpile of weapons and ammunition), and a meeting room where discussions of events in the city and country were held. Though no connections were found between the Club and the General Strike the year before, it was still highly likely that it had some part to play in the events of that time.
A cold, snowy night, Wall Street, Kazimierzgrad, 1932
Police Lieutenant Tobias O'Higgins wanted little more than to be home this night. His apartment over in the Fisherman's Heights was well-insulated and heated, and his fiancée had promised a hearty beef and potato stew would be ready for him when he returned home. "Just have to go in and out," he muttered under his breath, the cold evident by the vapor that he exhaled. Approaching the location, he pushed his way through a line of people to a bouncer standing at the entrance of the club. "KPD Lieutenant O'Higgins." he stated, pulling out his badge, "There's been rumors of illegal firearms in the basement of this establishment. I'm here to investigate."
The bouncer looked at his badge, shrugged, and stepped aside, opening the door. Tobias entered the club to the sound of jazz. Looking around the busy establishment, he received more than a few uncomfortable stares from the patrons - nothing new to him, especially after last year. Making his way to the bar, he recognize the bartender for the evening as the club's owner. Hailing the man while taking off his winter hat, Tobias waited until he arrived to introduce himself.
"Mr. Aldimaras, right? I'm Lieutenant Tobias O'Higgins with the city police. I was hoping you could give me a tour of your basement here."
The older man behind the bar scoffed as he looked up and down the young officer. "For what reason? Did someone complain about the alcohol being watered down again?"
"Hardly, sir. There's reports of illegal firearms in the basement. Now, if you would..."
Levi looked over the officer again before sighing and turning to shout at another worker behind the bar, "Cover for me, will you? I've got to escort one of 'Lusatia's best and brightest' through the basement so he doesn't get lost." Grumbling, he led the officer back into the kitchen and to a stairwell, before descending into the basement.
The first room they entered was another dining room, though much smaller than the one upstairs. Attached to the room were two others, both appearing sizeable, with a hallway going along the length of one of the rooms before another entrance on the far side. Levi explained, "This is the members' dining area for when they want private discussions over dinner as opposed to the noise upstairs. There's another meeting room for VIPs across from us, and to our right is the firing range."
"Firing range?"
Levi seemed, somehow, even less approving of the officer now, "Did they really send someone who doesn't know what the basement for this building is used for? The police are getting more incompetent every year. This is a meeting and shooting location for members of the Socialist Labor Party. Everything we do down here is legal, before you ask."
"I... see," Tobias said, coming to terms with the basement. Recovering, he responded, "Well, I'll need to look through the entire basement to be certain of no contraband."
It took a couple hours for the search to conclude, the noise upstairs dying off after one. Finding plenty of rifles, but no illegal rifles, the officer grumbled about a waste of time before returning to the entrance of the basement where Levi was standing. The older man was smoking a cigarette, which he crushed out as Tobias approached.
"I take it there were no problems, officer?"
"None, Mr. Aldimaras. I'll pass my result back to my superiors and the claim against you will be dropped."
"Good, good. Pass this along to your bosses, too, for me?" Levi said, pausing before continuing, speaking deliberately, "If they send another one of you 'Boys in Blue' to rummage around in the basement of my establishment without cause, There. Will. Be. Hell. To. Pay. I will not have you or anyone else violating my property rights constantly because my politics disagree with those in power. Is that understood?"
Stunned, Tobias just nodded.
Levi smiled, "Good. Now get out and don't come back. Have a good night, Officer O'Higgins."