Hightower Building, 15 South Lafayette Street, Lafayette

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The Hightower Building, built ca. is one of the older, more prominent buildings facing the Chambers County Courthouse square. The cast iron storefront and architectural details on the front facade were typical of commercial buildings built from the to the For many years, the second floor of the building housed Lafayette's first telephone exchange. Through the years, the building has housed a variety of commercial uses including a dry goods store, a grocery store and a watchmaker's shop. Much of the original structure is intact and many of the details on the front facade have been restored. The interior details on the second floor, such as the bull's eye moulding and beaded wood paneling, are representative of the time.

Although the balcony is a replica, and interior walls have been added to the first floor, the building provides an excellent example of late century commercial architecture. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: Ca. 2. Architect: Not known 3. Original and subsequent owners: The original HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 2 owner was Thomas Hightower. Shortly after the construction began, he died and it is believed the building was passed on to his heir, Hightower. No other information about the subsequent owners is known.

By the the building had fallen into the hands of Charles Dean of Camp Hill, Alabama who sold it to the Lafayette Historic Preservation Authority in Then, the building was bought at an auction on May 10, by Jamie McClendon, the present owner. 4. ' Suppliers: The cast iron storefront was manufactured by Cahill Iron Works in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 5. Original plans and construction: No original plans or drawings have been located. Early photographs of the building show a structure similar to the present renovation. 6. Alterations and additions: Three openings in the rear wall of the basement were bricked up early in the building's history. These openings may have been windows or loading doors for the railroad. The wood framing of these openings remains to indicate their original size.

Inside some of these wood frames are smaller windows, indicating access to fresh air. However, they are now partially below ground level and are obstructed by the building immediately to the rear of the Hightower Building. Historic photos show an exterior staircase on the south wall leading to the second floor. The stairway was subsequently removed and an interior stairway was constructed during the recent renovation The photos also show a canopy extending out over the balcony. Both canopy and balcony were removed but a replica of the balcony, without the canopy, was added in B. Historical Context: The Hightower Building was built by Thomas W. Hightower in the Thomas Hightower died in February as the building neared completion.

It is not known if the building was built with a specific use in mind, although as early as the first Lafayette telephone exchange occupied part of the second floor. This exchange remained in operation at least until the A portion of the building was used for a few years as a railroad terminal by the Lafayette HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 3 Railroad. This was a short line built about as an alternative to the Central of Georgia Railroad. By the Central had bought the line and removed the tracks. From the until the the building housed a variety of uses. Originally, the first floor was used as a dry goods store and a jewelry store. Through the years, the first floor has also been used as a grocery store and a watchmaker's shop.

An insurance agency and the law offices of Bob Wallace, Sr, occupied the upper floor along with the Lafayette telephone exchange. The upstairs was also used as a boarding house for a while early in the century and for a brief time also served as a temporary school when the roof of the local school collapsed. The building was vacant from the until At that time it was purchased by McClendon Trucking Company, a Lafayette firm involved in several local historic building renovations. Refurbishment of the first floor was completed in June of with the second floor scheduled to be renovated in the future. An insurance agency, an accounting firm, and the District Attorney *s office occupy the first floor. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1.

Architectural character: This two story brick structure is typical of mid~19th century commercial buildings with its cast iron front and bold bracketed cornice. 2. Condition of the fabric: The exterior brick masonry was cleaned and the joints re-mortared during the renovation. First floor windows and sills were replaced and replicas of the original wrought iron balcony and columns were constructed. The original structural wood columns are still visible on the interior. The beaded, wood ceiling and the 35-foot skylight have been preserved. The heart pine wainscoting, bull's eye molding, fireplaces and skylights are still intact on the second floor which is scheduled for renovation. B. Description of Exterior: 1.

Overall dimensions: The Hightower Building is long and wide with a second floor HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 4 balcony that projects from the building front. The unfinished basement runs the full length of the structure. The three part front facade consists of a 9 wide central tower flanked by two 14* wide bays* 2. Foundations, structural system, framing: The exterior walls are 16" brick load-bearing. The seven intermediate masonry piers within the basement are 2* square and are set 12* on center along the entire length of the building. Eight concrete block supports were later added around the perimeter of the basement. Wood beams, supporting the second floor, are and floor joists are set 16" on center with a 17* free span to the wall.

On the first floor, mid-span supports are T- shaped, beveled edge wooden columns. Major partition walls are wood stud throughout the building. 3. Side and rear elevations: a. Doorways and doors: The basement door opening on the south side is topped by a brick segmental arch. Five steps lead from the sidewalk level to the basement with the door opening occurring at the third step. The first floor doorway on the south side is topped by a circular white canvas awning and is flanked by 6' wide brick planters. The five approach steps are brick with a wrought iron railing identical to the second floor balcony railing. The double wood doors are set in a opening and are topped with a transom and brick segmental arch. The hardware and kickplates are brass.

The original second floor door opening on the south side has been covered with sheet metal and the original exterior steps have been removed. b. Windows: The two small windows flanking the basement door and the three first floor windows on the south side are still intact. All have wood frames and are topped by brick segmental arches. The first floor windows are 12 light, double-hung with 6 light HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 5 transoms. Second floor windows on the south side have been covered with wooden louvers painted white. The original wood frames are still partly intact, however, behind the louvers. They were double-hung with multiple lights. The second floor windows on the west side have also been covered, but this time with sheet metal.

The partially intact wood frames behind are also double-hung but with no mullions. The north side of the building has no windows. 4. Front elevation: a. First floor: The original cast iron front was manufactured at Cahill Iron Works in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The storefront consists of six bays with the second and fifth bays recessed. The two sets of double wood doors are recessed approximately three feet. The doors have beveled glass panels, brass hardware and kickplates, and are flanked by fixed glass panels with transoms above. The storefront is original. b. Second floor: Windows are wood frame, double-hung with four lights. The wooden door located in the center has six glass lights and a transom above. All are topped by decorative metal hoods.

Above each window are 9" x vent openings covered with decorative iron grills. c. Cornice: The projecting cornice is metal with scroll brackets and scroll-like dentils and modillions. It is broken in the center by a brick arch encircling the building's logo. The cornice is topped by a l'-lO" decorative metal coping and central pediment. d. Balcony: The balcony is supported by four iron columns and adorned with a replica of the original cast iron railing with its distinctive geometric design. The balcony has a wood ceiling underneath and metal decking on top. Connections for the canopy HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 6 of the original balcony can still be seen on the side pilasters. e.

Colors: All woodwork is painted pale yellow, iron work is black and the metal window/ door hoods and cornice are white. Roof: The roof is w-od-framed and decked with brick parapet walls on two sides that step down to the west. It is built-up roofing with gravel. There are five skylights on the north side of the building (four are over the second floor rooms and one passes through both floors). A sixth skylight is centered over the second floor hallway. C. DESCRIPTION OF INTERIOR: 1. Floor plans: a. Basement: The basement, which runs the ful1 length of the building, is open except for the foundation structure.

The structure consists of load-bearing walls, seven original brick piers (which run along the center of the building) and concrete block columns, which have been added to provide additional structural support. The entrance is located on the south side and two windows flanking the door admit fresh air and light. The three window openings on the west wall were bricked up probably at the time of construction on the adjacent lot. b. First floor: The first floor was originally designed as an open floor plan but has recently been divided into offices. The original storefront, with entrances in the second and fifth bays, remains intact. The original beaded wood ceilings and T-shaped wooden columns have been preserved.

All interior walls have been added forming a central hallway and creating a plan similar to the original layout of the second floor. The crown moldings, chair rail, baseboard, doors and transoms all came from the Old Lafayette Hotel, These details, although not exactly the same, are of similar architectural style and complement the existing original details. A new side door has been added to the south elevation. Much HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 7 of the original tongue-and-groove flooring is now covered with carpet or tile. c. Second floor: There are offices to the north and south of a central corridor which bisects the building. An entrance hall leading from the original second floor doorway joins the corridor.

The offices range in size from to Most of the offices have a small corner closet located next to the office's corridor entrance. The offices on the south and east sides are all lighted by exterior windows. Offices on the north without windows receive natural light from overhead skylights. The wood flooring has been cut to allow wiring for additional lights in the first floor ceiling and some of the wood flooring has suffered from water damage. Most of the original details and finishes are intact but have not yet been restored. 2. Stairways: The second floor was originally served by an exterior staircase (which can be seen in the early photos).

That staircase was probably removed when the building was abandoned in the The interior stair, which now serves the upstairs floor, was added in when the building was renovated. The basement level is below grade and is accessed by concrete steps from the sidewalk. The first floor is above street level and is accessed by brick steps on the south side of the building. 3. Flooring: The original flooring was 4" tongue-in- groove, heart pine wood flooring. All of the wood flooring on the first floor, except for one room in the rear, has been covered with tile or carpet. Much of the existing flooring on the second floor is original but has suffered extensive water damage.

Also, some of the wood flooring on the second floor has been cut to allow additional lighting to be placed in the first flbor ceiling. The dirt floor of the basement remains unfinished. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: The original walls are plaster on wood lath, usually painted or papered. On the first floor, partition walls are painted gypsum board, except below the chair rail in the corridor is papered. All of the room ceilings on HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 8 the first floor were lowered through the use of suspended acoustic tile. The hallway ceiling, however, retains the original height and the original beaded wood ceiling. The pattern which appears on the ceiling is the same pattern that appears on the second floor wainscoting.

The second floor walls are plastered above the chair rail and are covered with a wood wainscoting below. This wood paneling consists of alternate bands of beaded and flat surfaces. The ceilings are also plastered and were originally painted or papered. A graphic wall painting of a bell logo identifies the telephone exchange and faces the second floor exterior door. Basement walls are exposed brick structure. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: On the second floor, hallway doors are with transoms above. Interior office doors and closet doors are typical but have no transoms. The trim on all interior doors on the second floor are 6". There is a cased opening, connecting two of the rear offices, which is wider but has the same door trim around it.

All of the door frames on the second floor have a bull's eye corner detail. The first floor doors are not original. They were salvaged from the Lafayette Hotel along with the chair rails, baseboards, and crown molding. b. Windows: All interior windows on the second floor have the same trim as the door frames. The window trim on the first floor is wider and does not carry the bull's eye motif. The second floor windows have been boarded up and, except for the east facade, little of the original windows themselves remain. 6. Decorative features and trim: There are thirteen original coal burning fireplaces. Twelve are located upstairs, one in each office, and all but one still have their original mantels.

The other fireplace is located on the first floor and was originally used in addition to three wood-burning stoves to supply heat. HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 9 The bull's eye detail appears at the corner of all window and door frames on the second floor. The wood detail consists of two carved, concentric rings with a protruding point in the center. The wainscoting consists of a 9" baseboard, wood paneling and a chair rail. The wood paneling is the same as the original beaded ceiling on the first floor and consist of alternating bands of beaded and flat surfaces. The bands are 4" wide. This detail appears in all the rooms and the hallway of the second floor. The cast iron storefront also has interesting details on the interior surface.

The bottom of four of the bays is decorated with a rectangular panel pressed into the store front. The bull's eye molding, similar to that found on the second floor, highlights the corners of each rectangular panel. These panels also have the same beaded pattern, found on the second floor wainscoting and first floor ceiling, but it runs diagonally rather than vertically, 7. Lighting fixtures: The original lighting fixtures have been removed from both floors. The first floor fixtures have been replaced with more contemporary lighting fixtures. 8. Ventilation: The transoms above the doorways on the second floor are part of a natural ventilation system used in the building.

Used in combination with open windows, the transoms could be adjusted to different angles allowing a greater flow of air throughout the second floor. Vents on the front and back of the building also allowed fresh air to circulate through the attic space. Since the interior offices on the north side had no windows, it may be assumed that the original skylights in these rooms were operable to allow for additional air circulation. D. SITE: General setting: The building is on a corner and faces east onto South Lafayette Street and the Chambers County Courthouse. The south side of the building fronts First Avenue Southwest which slopes down to the west. The Hightower Building is flanked by commercial buildings on the north and west sides. HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No.

AL-890 Page 10 Landscaping: On the south side of the building, six Bradford Pears and some low-lying shrubbery have been planted along the sidewalk. Some brick pavers have also been added at the side entrance. An old wooden phone booth is located on the southeast corner. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Old photographs (from McClendon Trucking Company collection): East facade before renovation. View from southeast corner with original balcony. B. Interviews: Ruth Crump, Chambers County Historian C. Published sources: Chambers County Deed Books and Probate Records, Chambers County Courthouse, Lafayette, Alabama. "A Phoenix Rising". The Valley Times-News. June 11, "Hightower Building Reclaimed from Past". The Valley Times-News. June 18, The Lafayette Sun.

June 18, "McClendon Buys Historic Hightower Building". The Valley Times-News. May 13, "Old Lafayette Taking on Fresh New Look", The Columbus Ledger and Enquirer. May 22, Sanborn Insurance Maps. and i "Trucking Company to Restore Hightower". Ledger- Enguirer East Alabama Today. May 30, 10 HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 11 PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION This project was completed during the spring quarter of at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Project supervisors were Professor William Briggs and Kimberly E. Harden, AIA. Students from the Department of Architecture and the Graduate Program in Planning were: Deborah Adkison T. Paul Bates Nancy Burke Judith E. Collins Darla S. Davis David Harris Karen Hundt Lee Ann Jackson Katherine Elaine G. Pierce Mark E.

Pierson Julie Ann Smith Phillip B. Smith Michael R. South Gail M. Tubbs Sidney P. Ward Mae B. Washington David Mingtze Wu Prepared as a Peterson Prize Competition entry, this documentation was donated to the HABS collection by the above students of Auburn University. 11 a*_ Si ' Ml }}' ^The Valley Times*News Wednesday, June 18. fiuILDING \ Pafee;Ar4-.Y|S^'AL"89 Eromrastl -_'yji |. Bjr PENNY L. POOL Building spruce* up the >>pany' renovaledi the "old ty. Originally planned for\ ;,- Staff Writer entire block, gleaming i Singer Auto building for 1U only a brief run before the- ; Valley Times-News with pride at the comer on Incorporate headquarters. In public, Court Square has Some people may have Highway across from.,' perspective, renovation is become a drawing card to.

jaughed when Jamie Mc- the Courthouse. It's story a cheap word for the the formerly deserted plendon bought the bat- Is truly one of a diamond tranformation. The build- streets of LaFayette. Jered Hlghtower Building. in the rough. Now, It to ing would look at home In Consequently, the build- Jfne historic building had regarded as a real jewel. rthe ritziest area of ing, which also housed Jieen allowed to deterio-; The Hlghtower is ' the ^Atlanta's Peachtree offices at one time, is' ' fate Into a leaking shell, fourth building In Street.

being renovated again to Jnd It seemed highly likely downtown LaFayette to be ' Since then, Jamie and AI double the kitchen area to She 27-year-old LaFayette renovated to outstanding Parker have renovated the accommodate" the in- ^ity Councilman' was go- attractlveness by the Mc- >old LaFayette Sun bulld- creasing demand. ;> ( ng (o stub his toe. Ctendon< Family. originally its a private * 'We opened to advertise \ . i Today, "the Hlghtower Clendon Trucking, Com- 'catering and dining facill- the" catering Mrvices/M >.. - * * i'-Tia.., .' A.? : A fi ; ; ' * ' : :r;Before ., U- Mi.i*.,.,, * .! A i ii li' i\ Inimi" HIGHTOWER BUILDING NO. AL-890 (Jamie said,' "and Just; Youcan'texpectthemto.' '. Into the cellar where area 'and McClendon 1 *Ffege 13 i (never closed.

It is nice to ." The renovation of the merchants would pick It - breathe a sigh of relief, have people dining, and four buildings, he said, up, is again operational. since he has. been; . enjoying the courtyard." ' "gets the ball rolling." Jerry Still of the supervising the construe-' McClendon'* office People driving through Chambers County Voca- tlon while serving as sec-j overlooks the courtyard, ' have stopped and asked tional Center, rebuilt the retary/treasurer for ' which has been the scene him about office space. Iron work after the origi- Clendon Trucking Com-; for weddings and other : They notice the buildings nal. As an historic build- pany. He Is also vice; special events. During the and want to rent them.

ing, it had to renovated to president of H & J Leasing Interview, he received a Hydro-Dynamics, which , Its original state. Special Company, which he and call concerning the stage makes sheeting for water ' : paint remover was used, his brother, Hugh, own. -' for the Auburn University beds, has bought the old " The bricks were Jamie does not regret' Singers, who opened their . Avondale Mill Building, he thoroughly cleaned with the time and money spent; ; new season in LaFayelte. said. The'' Arizona-based [ water, then sprayed with "The building was Just v The restaurant is open firm will probably begin silicone to make the build- sitting there, deteriorate only at night, Thursday " operation at the end of the ing air tight.

The windows Ing, and something with .through Saturday, but in summer, employing a and sills were replaced, that much historical value ' the future, it will be open number of people.-"When and !4-foot Bradford Pear., will mean a lot to the town.j more evenings. one business opens, when ; trees and shrubs Were ,We might do more to the) - The partnership between you start making' a little ; planted to add grace to thejsupstairslater. - ! McClendon and Parker, progress, others follow building. ' The storefront "1 like LaFayette, and t who owns a grocery store, suit;',' he said, Court ' had to be reassembled, like the way of life here. I made up for their lack of Square has provided 20 full - since the bay had been travel a lot.

I have the, .-experience in the restau- and part-time Jobs, he ; removed to add i opportunity to leave and {rant business. Jamie had pointed out. i. staircase. McClendon said enjoy the rest of j the business experience in "I think people do not . the Joints were cut in the country and come back! (record keeping and costing realize the potentional of ! brick and re-mortared, a F and enjoy LaFayette;; j (figuring the cost for food old buildings and how good ' less: expensive process In ' That's the reason we kept' land services and pricing their foundations are. If . the long run and makes the our corporate head- : food in order to make a you renovate and do things building as good as new. quarters here the way of, profit), and Parker knew right, It Is easy with the ;' Harmon Contracting Is.

life. Welike It here. ]' about food purchasing. right contractor," he said, f doing the Hlghtower build- "LaFayette has. finally; Also, their friends gave It has not been cheap. ', ing and expanding the seen things can be done If ' them good advice, he said. McClendon purchased the > kitchen on the restaurant. the people work together, ' The building, which they Hlghtower Building about Hudmon Construction did Sometimes, people take, t designed together, would i i year ago for and the corporate head* for granted how pretty*. ! have been done differently . has spent about *60,O0Q on ' quarters. > LaFayette is. There are a ; j'if they had realized they i the project.

Jamie said he^ -All construction Is to be lot of good, energetic peo j ' were going Into the restau- i is not losing money, but he \ finished by this Friday^ S* Hlghtowtt P. A-B) ~ 'rant\ business, he said. * is not making money el- * l i [People come to this sleepy '.ther or even trying to (ContlmMd From P. A-4) Ifttle town,from Auburn,!i make money Just trying pie here," said the busi- C-pelika, dolumbus, J to do for the town. The tax nessman and Roanoke, LnGrange all credits he received for the entrepreneur. around, he said, as well as building renovations have Leonard Blanton, local homefolkt.' '" >.' been reused In further historian, said the building He is not surprised they renovations. The money he has seen many businesses would drive to LaFayelte saved on income taxes, he .

come and go. Including to dine; "I think LaFayette j then used oh .the other lawyer, offices upstairs, .| very unique, as far as -' buildings,,, .'. the old LaFayette tele- the yafea goes, with the The renovated phone exchange around courthouse and the town-; ^Hlghtower' Building and and grocery and Square. I think It can be a the old LaFayette Hotel general merchandise very 'nice little town. If you ; will hi used for office t.} stores. He''could not pin-' ido.get. ^good reputation, 8pac(j. UriIer Insurance r; } % point the building's exact- age but Mid many e ,e -hb hmtter'where you are,'' - company Is esconced in peopWwiltcometoyou.lt .lhe lnol ^^ ^ n^ 'A f'l ' thinkttwasbulltinl904.

P P ( doesn't matter that we are H1ght0Wer Building, which i ' Blanton ' remembers floated in LaFayette, as .includes a bay window, when Allen ' Frazier'i I far as the restaurant Is overlooking the sidewalk. J | grocery was there, and a concerned.. If the food is Alexander G. Walton, CPA, j ' watchmaker by the name good,' and you have a nice and Financial Services,'. . of McConnaughy, who had atmosphere and quality, share an office and two] J a huge pocket watch as [ people will come. I've had other offices are ready for j advertisement.... for his . people' say the food Is as occupancy, ' r ' business: good as anywhere they ; Blanton said at one time, have ever eaten," said the j The sunny, light-filled; building features a; a switch track on the side- young businessman. The ,- .

of the building provided quaintness of the building, ; skylight, columns, and; '. V ' area merchants, with . emphasized by antiques as \ green-black original*.' i.;:i> service.; The LaFayette .decor, attract people who ; Ironwork. A loading dobr,7 . Railroad Company owned '.want something different. used many years ago to, } __ the track, the area's see* -But }; almost elevate Items such as salti, * ond railroad. LaFayette pork off '. railroad spurh single-handedly try to re- '. y .*. * fi . ... .

* ' [; " ; ' merchants could not afford .vive Ithe .-downtown,'Sec- f Central Of Georgia freight t''""^'.-^,tates, so a spur was built: !!*ifrom LaFayette to Opeiika i jJanile says flatly, "Peo4 ptt'irV not cotnitig to be *' -Just for &" LaFayette part1 'of1'' something.'' that j ^merchants in/ the bedvef . Ooesn'lJ-nlook.; attractive;'* what U now^ighway ^ jiW *.- . it ran for 10 yean;- theft,'. Central of Georgia bought. It tracks) tMRSWSTOJ HIGHTOWER BTJILDING HABS No. AL-890 Page 14 THE iATATETO'sthl. ,-> . a" The renoVitfon of the tilstoric fligntowef Building'(ft downtown. LaFavette is now complete according; to the building's owner Jamie* McClendon. Tenant* who have already tnoved Into the building ar*'! Unier Insurance, Financial Service* and Alexander W.dtont CPA.'.

llis once open apace of the first floor has been divided by walls," creating four large offices. Ail columns and ceilings are original, as well aa the front doora and side entrance. The interior doors and transoms came from the old LaFayette Hotel, and the French doors that lead Into. LanEer'a conference room are original doors from the old .hospital. The! ceilings are'15V high) and in the restoration process Don Allen of.;. Harmon Contracting uncovered an original skylight'which runs 85 through both Doors. The Hightower Building was completed In April, : ThcVriteyTlmea-N^wi - Monday, May 13, HIGHTOWER BUILDING HABS No. AL-:890 McCieritionlpyfrJpfic ,F'lte*s.Newi StaTf Writer " *7E. learned at the UFayette'JJ gClty'Coimcir meeting Friday that??

%>amti( MeClendon.'' local business** *mahH\ and^LaFayette-^city* f Councilman, * had * purchased ft the'v from the Historic PreserVaffJ ^Uon,Board (HFBF'at an 'auction 'r UvK ThVbtifiding /aces the tour and Is well over a 100 years old. The' 1 board had reroofed and stabilized '; 'the building. MeClendon plans to restore the outside to its original ? ->. -LaFayette; ui.,(l condition, market it, then restore IFrofflP.1) '' tlons to let bids for a new machhw.fl 'the inside to the ' needs and ', ''Tandy Corporation' presented a o t specifications of the buyer. | j ( Said Ellen Austin f East Alabama lease-purchase agreement: aome ^ !

MeClendon said he may take a | i Planning and Development Com- Hme back( ^ saiai whicn tooked : ; toss on the building but he wanted to [ f mission will be present to.answer, good.and would be the kind of deals! ' buy It because it was such an old, questions at the; public hearing at the city needs. A target date to be in si { historic building and it has so much ' on improving the housing In operation should, be October or )> potential, . --; ' I LaFayette. L[r ' ' '< ' |>ljiF v*ttit November He said he might have a The council also reviewed ' ' ' Pete said'the vacating'of the prtce'at Monday night's meeting. odorizer bids for gas lines. Low bid street running through Hill Lumber Gardner said the lift station for f i "was ; from Reynolds.

.Equip- Company Is more complex than It the city pump station needs're-' 1 ment of Garland, Texas; consid- . drat appeared,,according to qty building, which Sewer Department'* j erably under the budgeted amount, ^Attorney Billy Walton, - who j Is \ Head Billy Walters can possibly do : ' pointed out City Clerk. Pete ^checking Into the legalities. * but the parts alone wtn...eoatw ( Gardner. . Other bids were Gardner said the billing machine ^ "' "" . ' [ .* [from Arnold Energy of has cost the dtyVfcsoo in. repairs . Councllinan Gerald Knight pro-".. ' Birmingham and from over the last few' months artd held p^ a hamburger cookout be held . Equipment of Pelham. Gardner up the billing for two-three days at tor employees at the city park.,. ' Bald a maximum of 6-8 weeks will the end of April.

He to ask the y^ councilman present agreed and \ |i bethedellverydate. jcouncll t Monday^ night for ^ Gardner was delegated to make -*: Council opened bids for: the main-) tothorttadoh to driW bp ipedfica-..; ture the park to In good cowu^.'^ 'A- tenance of the;-newly-acquired j >itt 1W' V Handy Cemetery. Low:bidder waa'j \ Albert Finley a( a month on an * * : eight-month contract Other bidders', fkwere Danny Teel, $ 0 a month od * '^Annle Mae Welch, $ 00 a month. 7 ' Gardner passed around photoa of } ; ;>LiFayeti*' home*'^ badh/'needing j sJNppHcatloti fbr'GovenwrVdlscre-$ Hjftioaary funds1 to repair or improve' ; irowner^ccupled. housing. ;.Ho ;* tPt LlFiy i1^ ;'' . ^ "V '^ , ' '.' ' " ' ' 'i!;iaItaS6to;lBUIU)ING . ; ' ;; '' ; : .; ' '" ' ' H^&>p.V.!iAL-8.90 '' . '..

Page 16 COLUMBUS LEDGER & ENQUIREH^v^^^^i^^^, ., lint' "ifi>',vii'iy'Yi'iiw''"-"' '' " 'r* ?Old*lM<wette %t<&({HtgMower Buildtftg ^ HIGHTOWER BUILDING HAB&-~No, AL-890 Page 17^ ; May ' ' 'i tfedg^Enqulrer East Alabama Wrtiy Hightower Building Partf 's Restoration Effort Virginia Smith no termites. Not surprising, be- v TODAY Correspondent cause the wood is heart pine. All of the Interior woodwork is also The Courthouse Historic Dis- heart pine." i^trict in LaFayette is taking.on a There was only one fireplace "new" look that is the "old* look downsta)rs, but there were three pr0vlde t 'restored to its original appear- neati -r^ 0Ife flrepiace has been, an5,e-. . , ' . ' ' saved with ah original mantel.

.,; Much of this restoration is (hie : McClendon said the upstairs ; to the efforts and talents of restoration Is also planned. Thev Jamie McClendon, born and-gec^a noor once housed the raised In LaFayette and keenly tow,,^.^ telephone office. Bob I'aware of the heritage of his Wallace law office and an .hometown . insurance office. All the rooms ;. The first floor of the Hightower nave a fireplace and a skylight. = ! .Building, a landmark on the suu on the 0fflce doors are I square, is now complete and the -the-words, "Come In" and a .5 tenants are moving In, Including color-ori-glass logo of Fidelity ,, Lanler Insurance, Financial Llfe'InsuranceirThe original ' Services and offices of Alex Wat-. power box Is stilt on the walls and : . tonJr.,CPA >-' '. " : _:.

will be saved - notiforuse,.but ' -1 " *' Others will be mcsving In late-r.,; for historic Interest;'' \ ' -\ ' " .k ^All are allowed to choose their-, 7^ Hightower once had an -:i .'I own decor such as wallpaper and outside staircase which was the .- < paint-colors. McClendon has in- onIy entry t0 tne second fioori ; -; f stalled wainscoting and chair This has been'removed and an '*. . raits in the office. inside staircase will be built. All , He has also divided the once-i the outside bricks have been open space of the first floor with remortared. cleaned and sprayed ;' walls; the original columns were for water treatment. : left Intact. The front doors are Old brick from the county jail original, as is the store front.

The has been used to build steps to a' - ' , i Interior- doors and transoms UIIIIJ side . entrance, .. original and an , ' came fro.m ' the old LaFayette. .telephonVbooth Is'ln "the corner* Hotel.asdidtheFrenchdoors. all of the area iwlll-bevland- r t t , Don Allen of Harmon Engl*-scaped ;. t- I neering and Testing of Auburn is TQ original 'bulidiflg had four ^ ..the contractor, and he says he is columns at the front. These have '; learning a lot about restoration in t^ replaced by exact copies, ; theproject. also with work {^m the cham. -When first built, the building ^ county-.Vocational (School - had a wrought-iron balcony students' :-v - 1 -, i , across the second floor; It has.

M] 0,' the ironwork' wilL be ..long ago vanished,-but now a black and the exterior woodwork ,.i: >rePTlca, copied from oldI photo- ; painted a cream color;/: ;t- i graphs, has been built. The job : . - , , .. .._ was done.by students from ltaTbeoWH^tPwerlsbacklnallv.- Chambers. County Vocational when built. It was -: ! School In LaFayette. ' > praised tor,its; design and ap*. :. The ceilings are 15 feet High pearance' Over the years; the,:;:. i and in the restoration process, building has served as a grocery - ' Don Allen uncovered the original-. *torVa hardware store and the ^ ' through both floors. The beaded ^ mostly^it^ has- just sat and ^ v..wood ceilings In the hallways deteriorated. *-. - ,.< '. -.^ i have been preserved. ~ " "'"T'-That hard time is over, and thfc^i) ' '-i.

UUhtmuu >. * > > 4u.l1 ' Ulstnpll*. IMrtfW I*' " * * T| ~-y :' Ledger-Enquirer East Alabama TODAY 7 .t*Vi:-,lf4'"v'<rl GILDING m i.Mti..-..1 'ia * ' . , .. -.. Vf'.i Oit tyte-TH -* J, li Page 18 1 rucking Company1 ^ To Restore High tower By Virginia Smith ' TODAY Cftrrcivsndcnl LAFAYETTE - For more than a century the Imposing Hightower Building has served as landmark on the Chambers County courthouse square. The building has stood ' empty.damaged by time, weather and vacancy. Last year, the LaFayette Historical Preser- vation Authority, determined to save the building, bought the two- story structure from Charles ; Dean of Camp Hill. Dean agreed' to sell the building after he was ' unable to locate a suitable ten- ant. Now the Hightower Building "^ has a.new tease on life'.

Jamie,kV McClendon of LaFayette, an ex- ecutlve In the McClendon Truck- ing Company, has bought the building for and will re- store and bring back to life its many features. "I am still seeking information on the men who designed the building and the exact date of construction. I know; the first floor was a hardware store In and upstairs was located the , McClendon ,w . lTO luulf ha$ two goais- goals first telephone exchange In La- first, to save the building and sec- Fayette. The late Bob Wallace ond, to bring new jobs to the br once had his law offices up-1 area. He'does not see the first SX l.^ MJcC,endon floor as a retail operation, how- McClendon said- the upstairs Is ' ever. The second floor will be re- something to see. "All the offices stored for offices.

He will restore nave a skylight in the middle of the outside, shutters and the the rooms, all have comer clos- wrought Iron balcony^to the sec- ets, and each door has solid brass ' ond floor.': 0" I doorknobs. Each office'had "Even though-the'biiitdtns has own coal burning fireplace and ; been neglected and vacant it fs these with mantels are Intact." so well built with such excellent The wainscoting and all the materials,; -it Is. structurally woodwork are original," he said, sound," McfJlendori said ' The Hightower building is brick ,.. McClendon Is no novice ; in res- with cast Iron trim over the exte- toratiori,. His father, Glenn rior doors and windows. McClen--' McClendon and his sons restored don will restore the interior and the old Singer Automobile exterior, removing the paint.

Agency building-Just off the from the bricks and replacing the square. !50.rS_?u.WJnd0WS-""ls already The &nd Hightower proj- . Watertight because the Authority. ects are only two of those now E 11 a new roof and s ent P under way.to restore all of the to stabilize the building," court house square; ld f In the if w, u "'' ''' "> . Chambers.County pro- The Hightower Building Is.al-: bate records are.'those of G W. ready on the Alabama and Na- . Hightower, dated April 8, tlonal Registry of Historic Build- He sold medlcitie in the ings, and all the. restoration will tower building with an inventory be authentic.; . . ' ' valued at a ' '. J ; - - f - ' - ^. >j 44 . ,Vj v. flfe^XV