50-52 North Commercial Street (Commercial Building), Mobile

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,49-MOBI,145-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

large commercial brick building with cast-iron decorative elements, typical of Mobile in the mid-nineteenth century. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1, Date of erection: c. 2. Architect: unknown 3. Original and subsequent owners: As indicated in the follow- ^H ing chain of title, a double four story brick store stood on this site until at least By the land had been cleared and a new building erected by Reference is the Probate Court Record Division, Mobile County. Deed February 8, in Book 2 page 433 Trisham B. Bethea to Anselm A. Haden "...in consideration of the sum of dollars...do grant ...all that double four story brick store and lot of ground..." Deed March 24, in Book 14 page 489 Anselm A.

Haden to McDowell, Withers "...in consideration of the sum of...($11,500)...do grant ...all that lot of land,,.at the northeast corner of Commerce and St. Francis streets,..being the same lot sold by Bethea to A.A. Haden..." COMMERCIAL BUILDING HABS No.

Ala-784 (Page 2) Deed March 20, in Book 18 page 221 *1^ McDowell, Withers et al ^-/VUd* to Francis Poe "...in consideration of the sum of...($30,000) ...grant...all that lot of land and the improvements thereon..." Deed April 1, in Book 18 page 223 Francis Poe to Balthazar Tardy "...in consideration of the sum of...($15,000) ...grant...all that one undivided one-half interest in...that certain piece,,.of land with all the improvements thereon.,," Deed May 2, in Book 28 page 335 Tardy to Felix McGill "...in consideration of the sum of...($9,500) ...grant...that undivided one-half interest in that certain...lot of land, with all the improve- ments thereon..." Deed June 14, in Book 28 page 336 Elizabeth Poe to Felix McGill "...at which said sale...McGill became the purchaser of the said land so ordered to be sold, and described as follows...one undivided one-half interest in the store and property...

for the sum of.. V>eed in Trust March 12, in Book 82 page 219 Felix McGill et al to McGill Institute "Whereas it was the purpose of my brother, the late Arthur McGill, to found in the City of Mobile an institution of learning, wherein Catholic young men should receive free of cost the advan- tages of a literary, commercial, industrial, and technical education...have furnished the site, erected the necessary buildings and equipped the same for school purposes,,.and do grant... COMMERCIAL BUILDING HABS No. ALA-784 (Page 3) (also)...that certain lot of land situated on the w^-A1-? 1 northeast corner of St. Francis and Commerce Streets. having a front of., .(32'),..on Commerce and a like front, on Front Street and extending in depth...(80*)...

through to Commerce Street..." Deed April 7, Book 307 page 68 McGill Institute to Meader Deed November 1, Book 385 page 474 William Meader to Ruth Meader Deed December 9, Book 567 page 138 Ruth P. Meader to Canvas Products, Inc. B. Sources of Information! 1, Primary and unpublished sources; Mobile Deed Books, Probate Court Record Division, Mobile County Lewis Troost Map (c. City Hall, Mobile. 2. Secondary and published sources: Bird's Eye View of the City of Mobile, Alabama, Cincinnati, Ehrgotte T. Krebs, Hamilton, Peter J., Art Work of Mobile and Vicinity, Chicago Parish Publishing Co., Prepared by Linda Carroll Student Historian August 29, and Charles A. Herrington Architectural Historian National Park Service June 13, COMMERCIAL BUILDING HABS No. AIA-784 (Page 4) PART II.

ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION . A. General Statement: LKf 1. Architectural character: This large commercial building divided in the center by a brick bearing wall and with identical facades on east and west fronts has distinct but minor variations in the treatment of the cast-iron bays on the lower floors, but identical treatment on the upper floors. The measured drawings prepared in conjunc- tion with this report have emphasized the southern half with only bare dimensioning of the northern half. 2. Condition of fabric: Although the interior wood structure was generally solid, the brick masonry and cast-iron ele- ments were in generally poor condition before demolition. B. Description of Exterior: 1.

Over-all dimensions: As determined by the street pattern, this three-story building forms a rectangle measuring about 60' on the east and west fronts and on the south. The identical east and west facades are divided into eight equal bays and the long south facade into nine bays of un- equal dimensions. 2. Foundations: not accessible 3. Wall construction, finish and color: Brick bearing walls are 24" thick on the first floor, exterior south wall,and 19" on the center bearing wall; on the second and third floors, the exterior south wall is 21" and the center wall This center wall extends I1-6" above the roof line and is 10" thick. On the first-floor east and west walk, there are brick piers faced with cast-iron, support- ing a cast-iron lintel. 4.

Structural systems, framing: Second and third floor systems are 10" x 10" girders and beams, carrying 2V x 14" joists (actual size) carried on 10" x 10" wooden posts (in the north half only). Roof framing consists of wooden trusses, spanning from the interior bearing wall to the exterior wall, spaced on center with bottom chord 6" x 10" and top chord 6" x 8". At midpoint of top chord is 3%" x 8" purlin carrying the roof rafters which are 3" x 6" spaced On center. These dimensions were taken in the north half which is exposed and accesible. It is assumed that the trusses and roof systems are identical on the south half which was COMMERCIAL BUILDING HABS N6. ALA-784 (Page 5) not accessible. ft^-MoGt 5.

Proches, stoops, balconies: On the east front facing Front Street there is a continuous balcony over the sidewalk supported on cast-iron columns. The railing is missing and the deck is now covered with roll roofing, it is said that buildings along this street had a contin- uous covered balcony which even crossed the side streets. There is evidence that a hipped roof existed over the balcony. The bays on the east and west wall rest on a continuous stoop with cast-iron tread, 5" above the side- walk, on the west and 9" on the east, 6. Chimneys: There are two brick chimneys on the south wall, one on the center bearing wall and one on the north party wall. 7. Openings: a.

Doorways and doors: Although some bays have been bricked in and furnished with modern doors, the bays on the west front were originally identical. The bays are framed by x 18" rectangular cast-iron pilasters of a quasi- Tuscan order, identically treated except for the northern- most at the party wall which is 18" x 19" and has a different capital motif and plain facing. The face of the remaining pilasters is divided into two vertical inset panels between which is an escutcheon applied to the flat face. Edges of the pilasters are chamfered inside the panels and are at right angles beside the escutcheon. A cast-iron entablature supported by the pilasters spans the entire facade, consisting of architrave, plain frieze and moulded cornice.

Within these general frames, the southern four bays have flattened arches in cast iron inserted between the entablature and the wood transom bar above the doors. Transom lights are missing and they are sealed with wood; however, there is a cast- iron latticework in the transoms, consisting of flat bars treated with rosettes at each intersection. In the north half of the building, the transoms are rectangular and filled with a vertical cast-iron grille. The typical door in all the openings is a double door, the lower section is a wood panel and the upper glazed with twelve unequal lights, end lights being 19V x 6" and the middle lights x Fitted into the front of the glazed panel is a top-hinged solid shutter of six panels with finger COMMERCIAL BUILDING HABS No.

Ala-784 (Page 6) grips recessed at the bottom rail. The two doorways on the south wall are similarly treated with the "^" cast-iron pilasters forming jambs. These doorways ftf-/VU&< have been altered into windows. Openings on the first-floor east facade are identical to those on the west, with the same bay treatment. b. Windows and shutters: Except for the floor length windows on the second floor of the east front, all , windows are treated identically. They consist of round-headed double-hung wooden sash with six-over- six lights. The floor-length windows have six-over- nine lights. All windows have cast-iron head and sill trim, originally with brackets and with palmettes in the center of the hood moulding.

The east windows on the south wall first floor are similar but have more ornate details in both head and sill. There is evidence that all windows were equipped with louvered shutters. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Each half of the building has a hipped roof offset from each other due to plan shape. They are covered with asphalt roll roofing. b. Cornice: A simple brick cornice with dentils formed by three brick headers enriches the three fronts of the building. Above is a low brick parapet with alternating recessed and projecting panels. c. Dormers, cupolas: none C. Description of Interior: (south half only) 1. Floor plans: First floor: At the present time, this Is a single large space in which a modern low-ceiling office has been framed in the southwest corner.

A small space under the stairway has also been enclosed. At the east trear, there is a metal-plate vault in the southeast and a small toilet room in the northeast corner. The wood celling above has traces of what appears to be former partitions forming semi-octagonal rooms. Second floor: At the landing at the top of the stairs, there are two doors on the right, the first leading to a single large room, irregularly shaped, in the southwest corner of the building. The second door leads to a similar irregularly shaped room across the rear. There is a small room placed between these two rooms, with an COMMERCIAL BUILDING \U.S' HABS No. ALA-784 (Page 7) interior six-over-six light double-hung windows between it and the room to the west.

A third door in the stair hall in line with the stairs leads to the stairs to the third floor, with risers beginning immediately inside the door. Third floor: One large room runs across the west front with several smaller rooms in the east rear. 2. Stairways: The first flight of stairs is relatively wide, enclosed between two plastered walls, the first-floor landing leading directly to the sidewalk outside. The second flight of stairs to the third floor is similarly enclosed, without landings at either end. The stair hall is lighted by a small diamond window above, borrowing light from the large room across the second floor (west room). 3. Flooring: The first floor is modern concrete, with an earlier concrete floor being visible at some places.

Near the west front there are three curious cross-shaped insets of wood, spaced in line. Wide tongue-and-groove pine boards are used on the upper floors. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: On the first-floor walls are verti- cal tongue-and-groove pine boards with a simple moulding applied at wainscot height. The ceiling is beaded tongue- and-groove boards. All other walls, including stairways, are lime and hair plaster, except the west exterior wall which is exposed brick painted. Ceilings on the upper floors are beaded tongue-and-groove, as are the interior partitions. 5. Doorways and doors: The only notable doors are on the second floor. These are four-panelled wood, wide, with rails mortised and tennoned to stiles, and with three- light transoms above. 6.

Trim: On the first floor, there is bare wainscoting and crown moulding, simply profiled. Trim on the other floors is plain. 7. Notable hardware: none 8. Mechanical equipment: a. Heating: There is a crude modern brick fireplace on the first floor south wall at the east end. On the second floor there are no fireplaces, but there is a plastered breastwork and the remains of a hearth over the location of the one on the first floor. COMMERCIAL BUILDING HABS No. ALA-784 (Page 8) I45" # b. Lighting: Modern fluorescent and incandescent fixtures. D. General setting and orientation: This building is located in an extensive nineteenth-century commercial and wharf district, and fronts the Mobile River and Front Street on the east, St. Francis Street on the south, and Commerce Street on the west.

There are no outbuildings, walks or enclosures. Prepared by Woodrow W. Wilkins Supervising Architect National Park Service July 25, PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION These records were prepared as a cooperative project during the summer of between the Historic American Buildings Survey and various agencies, organizations, and individuals of the City of Mobile. The Historic American Buildings Survey supplied the project supervisor, Woodrow W. Wilkins, and three draughtsmen, Carl J. Rosenburg (Massachusetts Institute of Techno- logy), Michael R. Foil (Auburn University), and Lowell K. West (University of Kentucky). One draughtsman, Elbert L. Coleman (Alabama A & M), was provided by the Mobile Housing Board, which agency administers urban renewal.

The services of an additional draughtsman, James Eley, specifically designated as an architectural student from Auburn University, were made possible by contributions from numerous local architects and businessmen. The Historic Mobile Preservation Society, in agreement with the History Department of Springhill College, provided a student historian, Linda Carroll. Office space was supplied by the City of Mobile through the City Planning Commis- sion. Roy Thigpen, a local photographer, was contracted to supply the photographs. All local arrangements were made by the Mobile Historic Development Commission, Nancy N. Holmes, President. The project was edited during the summer of by Charles A.

Herrington, architectural historian, in a cooperative effort between the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Mobile Historic Development Commission.