Palm Beach Building, 501 Washington Street, Newport

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,19-NEWP,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This building is significant because of its assoc- iation with several industries that contributed to thf in- dustrial development of Newport, Kentucky. It has housed a watch case company, a manufacturer of carriage trimmings, a screen manufacturer and a clothing company. In addition, the building contributes to the industrial architecture of the city because of its detailing that exhibits Queen Anne motifs on part of its facade. The building is located with- in the Mansion Hill Historic District, a district listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It contributes to the varied character of this district because of it date of construction, distinctive industrial styling and scale. PART 1. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1.

Date of Erection: original building was built in c. An addition exhibiting the same archi- tectural details as the original building was con- structed before Several smaller additions have been constructed at unknown dates. 2. Architects and Contractors: Unknown 3. Original and Subsequent Owners: References to the chain of title to the land upon which the building stands are recorded in the Recorder's Office, Camp- bell County Courthouse, Newport, Kentucky. Deed, June 14, recorede in Deed Book 61, Page Henry Ashcraft to John Dueber. Deed, June 2, recorded in Deed Book 55, Page John and Mary Dueber to Standard Carriage Goods Company. EAIM BEACH H3H0OXS HABS NO. K (Rags 2) Deed, December 1, recorded in Deed Book t 72, Page Standard Carriage Goods Company to Higgins Manufacturing Company.

Deed, July 12, recorded in Deed Book 239 Page Higgins Manufacturing Company to Goodall Company. Affidavit, December 3, recorded in Mis- cellaneous Book 54, Page Goodall Company name changed to Palm Beach Company. 4. Original Plans: No original plans for this building have been located. 5. Alterations and Additions: As a productive indus- trial building, changes in manufacturing and tech- nology have required alterations and additions over the years. When identified, these changes have be ?n noted in the accompaning floor plan and within the architectural information discussed below. B. Historical Context: This industrial building was constructed for the Dueber Watch Case Manufacturing Company in c. to house a watch manufacturing business estab- lished by local businessman, John C. Dueber.

He founded the business in and for the first few years was located in downtown Cincinnati at the cor- ner of Race and 4th Streets. In the business was moved to a location in Newport at the southeast corner of of Jefferson and Washington Streets. This location is one block south of the current location. Within a few short years the business expanded at such a rate that an additional facility was required to meet the demand for watches. A new plant, one block north was constructed in c. In subse- quent years, the business continued to grow and ef- forts were undertaken to purchase additional land adjacent to this building in order to expand again. These efforts failed because of local opposition. Mr.

Dueber felt that his business was not wanted in Newport and in merged his operation with the Hempden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio. All Newport operations were transferred to Canton. . , ; -. The Standard Carriage Goods Company purchased the building in This company was incorporated in and manufactured carriage hardware and .lea- ther trimings. In the company was purchased by a group of investors that included a Mr. Henry Higgins. Mr. Higgins was a superintendent with the carriage company. The new company was called the Higgins Manufacturing Company and continued to make # EMM BEACH BUILDING HABS No. (Page 3) various carriage trimmings. Mr. Higgins was a vice president within the new company.

the com- # pany had begun to phase out of the carriage trim business and venture into the manufacture of metal fly screens. This eventually led to the manufacture of metal screens for doors and windows and weather stripping materials. The company prospered and re- mained in operation until The building was purchased in by the Good- all Company, a Maine based clothing operation that was seeking to establish a regional operation within the Cincinnati area. This company produced men's and womens clothing. The Gooda11 Company changed its name in to the Palm Beach Company and con- tinued to make clothing. By the early the manufacturing operation was being shifted to other plants within the company.

The building was subse- quently used for warehouse operations and for a small mill outlet operation on part of the first floor. At present, the mill outlet continues to oper- ate out of part of the first floor and an additional small amount of space is used for inventory storage required by the outlet operation. Part II ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. Description of Exterior: This is a large industrial building, 3 stories in height with 5 story tower exhibiting Queen Anne details at the 2 bay by 2 bay tower. It is con- structed of stretcher bond brick on the north and west main facades and common bond brick at the re- maining facades. Walls rest atop a raised rock-face ashlar stone foundation.

The tower originally had a decorative parapet terminating its height, however, this was removed at an unknown date. The Queen Anne details found at the tower are articulated by the use of incised columns separating paired windows, segmental lintels composed of alter- nating brick and stone with central keystones- The 4th floor exhibits recessed brick panels above the belt course. Engaged columns are smooth at the 2nd and 3rd floors and have varied designs for the re- cessed panels at the 4th and 5th floors. The first floor has alternating brick and stone wall treatment that has been previously painted. A decorative en- gaged stone buttress with encising accentuates the corner. A projecting metal cornice supported by dentils is found below the 5th floor.

The remainder of the north and west main facades exhibit multiple recessed window bays, plain sandstone lintels evolving into belt courses and stone string courses separating the upper floors. A PAIM BEACH HJUDING HABS No. (Page 4) plain metal cornice caps the facades. At the first floor of the west facade, several raised entrances t are found to be capped with bracketed pediments. At the north side facade, several first floor window bays have been altered for loading dock doors at an unknown date. The east and west facades are similar in detail except they lack the recessed bays and string courses. A major addition incorporating approximately one-third of the west facade and extending the south facade had been added prior to c. during the course of a major expansion of the building.

Several minor additions have been added, most at the south facade, over the years to consolidated loading dock facilities. The windows are mainly 8/8 wooden sash through- out the building. The exception to this is the tower that has 1/1 wooden sash and the east facade of a rear addition that exhibits large multi-light steel casement windows. The original building was constructed around a an asymmetr ical yard that has a large watertower. A decorative chimney stack is also found. The majority of roofs are gable and composed of gray slate with plain cornice detail. Several minor roofs are either metal standing seam or have composition built up ma- terials. The overall condition of the building is good with orly minor structural problems in evidence.

The overall dimensions are approximately by B. Description of Interior The interior of the building is functional in plan and lacks decorative interior details, Windows are plain and lack wooden surrounds. Floors are wood and ceilings are highlighted by exposed joists from the floor above. Walls are brick that has been painted. Part of the first floor is used for mill outlet operations and has no significant details. The exposed ceiling joists have been painted black and carpet and tile covers the floors. Several small dressing rooms and office area have been created. Each floor of the industrial part of the build- ing is divided into several large rooms located at the south end of the building and four long and nar- row spaces that flank the interior yard.

Significant interior detail is limited to a wood staircase with incised newel posts, decorative wood window surround bullseyes at the windows of the tower and hip fram- ing detail at the ceiling of part of the 3rd floor. The large south side addition is evidenced by the fact that the wall of the original building is still in place with original window bays remaining, minus windows. Mechanical systems, electric lights * EftlM EEACH BUILDING HABS No. (Page 5) and plumbing have been altered over the years to accomodate the needs of the various industrial uses t and machinery of previous owners. upper floors are mostly vacant. At present the C. Site: The bui lding occupies almost o ne half of a city block.

It is found on the edge of the Mansion Hill Historic Dis trict on a street that is characterized by a mix of small scale older resi dences that have been conver ted to various types of commercial uses on the wes t side of Washington S treet and small scale, mid to late nineteenth cen tury , 2 to story brick residential buildings located at the north and east of the building. No historic landscapes o r outbuildings are foun d. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Early Views: Photocopies of an early city map, Sanborn Insur- ance Map and early photograph are enclosed. B.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,19-NEWP,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Interview with Lawrence Ward, Vice President of Palm Beach Company on August 24, Kentucky Post, November 7, pages 5 and 6. Obituary for John C Dueber. Kentucky State Journal, March 28, page 3. Notice of incorporation for Standard Carriage Goods. Kentucky State Journal, April 2, page 5. Settlement of lawsuit with John C. Dueber. C. Supplemental Material: Prepaed by: Fred Mitchell Historic Preservation Associates P. 0. Box Cincinnati, Ohio September 21, PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION This documentation is presented as part of the required stipulations of a Memorandum of Agreement ex- ecuted in connection with the implementation of an Ur- EMM BEACH KJUDING HABS No. (Page 6) ban Development Action Grant by the City of Newport, Ky for the Palm Beach Mill Outlet-Hyde Park Development. t