20th Street North: Difference between revisions

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** 3: vacant (c. 1929), [[First National Bank of Birmingham]] parking lot (1964)
** 3: vacant (c. 1929), [[First National Bank of Birmingham]] parking lot (1964)
** 5: former location of [[Quality Cafe]] (c. 1929), [[United States Rubber Co.]] offices & auto accessories (1941),  [[First National Bank of Birmingham]] parking lot (1964)
** 5: former location of [[Quality Cafe]] (c. 1929), [[United States Rubber Co.]] offices & auto accessories (1941),  [[First National Bank of Birmingham]] parking lot (1964)
** 7: former location of [[The Pride of Alabama Saloon]] (1904), [[La Dame Cleaners & Dyers]] and [[Argyres Petras]] barber (1941)
** 7: parking lot, former site of [[Elyton Land Company building]], former location of [[The Pride of Alabama Saloon]] (1904), [[G. M. Newton]]/[[Cassius Welch]] restaurants (1910), [[Exchange Hotel]] (1929), [[Hobson Cafe]], [[P & K Cafe]], [[La Dame Cleaners]] and [[Argyres Petras]] barber (1941)
*** 7½: former location of [[Exchange Barber Shop]] (c. 1929), [[E. L. Higdon Brokerage Co.]] and [[Travelers Protective Association Post B]]


====[[Morris Avenue]]====
====[[Morris Avenue]]====
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** 12-20: [[Woodward Building]] (built 1902), former location of [[Hewlett Block]] (burned 1900)
** 12-20: [[Woodward Building]] (built 1902), former location of [[Hewlett Block]] (burned 1900)
*** 12: former location of [[Woodward Billiard Hall]] (c. 1929), [[Courts & Co]] stock brokers (1941-1964)
*** 12: former location of [[Woodward Billiard Hall]] (c. 1929), [[Courts & Co]] stock brokers (1941-1964)
*** 14: former location of [[Stollenwerck's Drug Store]], [[Mineral City Auction House]] (1888), [[Woodward Hat Cleaning Co.]] (1925-1929)
*** 14: former location of [[Stollenwerck's Drug Store]], [[Mineral City Auction House]] (1888), [[C. D. Pantaze]] restaurant (1910), [[Woodward Hat Cleaning Co.]] (1925-1929)
*** 16: former location of [[George Costello's Confectionary]] (c. 1929)
*** 16: former location of [[George Costello's Confectionary]] (c. 1929)
*** 20: [[PNC Bank]], former headquarters of [[First American Bank]] and [[RBC Bank]].  
*** 20: [[PNC Bank]], former headquarters of [[First American Bank]] and [[RBC Bank]].  
* East side ([[Block 107]])
* East side ([[Block 107]])
** 7: parking lot, former location of [[Elyton Land Company]] building and [[Exchange Hotel]] (1929), [[Hobson Cafe]], [[P & K Cafe]], [[La Dame Cleaners]]
*** 7½: former location of [[Exchange Barber Shop]] (c. 1929), [[E. L. Higdon Brokerage Co.]] and [[Travelers Protective Association Post B]]
** 9: [[Taylor Building]], former headquarters for [[Superior Bank|Superior Mortgage Corporation]], former site of [[Joe Wheeler Cafe]] (c. 1929), [[P & K Cafe]] (1941)
** 9: [[Taylor Building]], former headquarters for [[Superior Bank|Superior Mortgage Corporation]], former site of [[Joe Wheeler Cafe]] (c. 1929), [[P & K Cafe]] (1941)
*** 9½: former location of [[Harris Hat Shop]] (c. 1929), [[Cosmopolitan Hatters]] (1941)
*** 9½: former location of [[Harris Hat Shop]] (c. 1929), [[Cosmopolitan Hatters]] (1941)
** 11: former location of [[Grand Central Hotel]] (1897), [[Deluxe Billiard Hall]] (c. 1929)
** 11: former location of [[Grand Central Hotel]] (1897), [[Louis Johnson]] restaurant (1910), [[Deluxe Billiard Hall]] (c. 1929)
** 13: former location of [[Postal Telegraph]] (c. 1929)
** 13: former location of [[Postal Telegraph]] (c. 1929)
** 17: [[John A. Hand Building]] (originally the [[John A. Hand Building|American Trust and Savings Bank Building]], later the [[John A. Hand Building|American-Traders National Bank Building]], and [[John A. Hand Building|First National Bank Building]], former headquarters for the [[American Trust and Savings Bank]], [[First National Bank of Birmingham]], [[Superior Bank]] and [[Cadence Bank]].
** 17: [[John A. Hand Building]] (originally the [[John A. Hand Building|American Trust and Savings Bank Building]], later the [[John A. Hand Building|American-Traders National Bank Building]], and [[John A. Hand Building|First National Bank Building]], former headquarters for the [[American Trust and Savings Bank]], [[First National Bank of Birmingham]], [[Superior Bank]] and [[Cadence Bank]].
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*** 106: former location of [[Empire Barber Shop]] (c. 1929-1964)
*** 106: former location of [[Empire Barber Shop]] (c. 1929-1964)
*** 108: former location of [[Howard's Cleaning & Pressing]] (1923) [[Seaboard Finance Co.]] (1964)
*** 108: former location of [[Howard's Cleaning & Pressing]] (1923) [[Seaboard Finance Co.]] (1964)
** 110: former location of [[Gelders' Restaurant]] (1897-1904), [[Piccadilly Cafeteria]] (c. 1929), vacant (1964)
** 110: former location of [[Gelders' Restaurant]] (1897-1904), [[Model Cafe]] (1910), [[Piccadilly Cafeteria]] (c. 1929), vacant (1964)
*** 110½ : former location of [[John J. Potts]] confectioner (1941)
*** 110½ : former location of [[John J. Potts]] confectioner (1941)
** [[1st Alley North]]
** [[1st Alley North]]
** 112-118: [[Birmingham Trust building]], former main office of [[Birmingham Trust National Bank]]
** 112-118: [[Birmingham Trust building]], former main office of [[Birmingham Trust National Bank]]
*** 114½: former location of [[Umbels & Robinson]] barbers
*** 114½: former location of [[Umbels & Robinson]] barbers
*** 116: former location of [[Snow & Rambow Saloon]], [[New Home Sewing Machine Co.]] (1888),
*** 116: former location of [[Snow & Rambow Saloon]], [[New Home Sewing Machine Co.]] (1888)  
*** 118½: former location of [[C. N. Lontos]] restaurant (1910)
** 120: former location of [[H. Simon]] building (built 1875), [[E. Oppenheimer & Co.]] liquor dealer (1888), [[Model Beauty Parlor]] (1925), [[Lontos Cafe]] (c. 1929), [[Bon Ton Hatter]] (1941-1964)
** 120: former location of [[H. Simon]] building (built 1875), [[E. Oppenheimer & Co.]] liquor dealer (1888), [[Model Beauty Parlor]] (1925), [[Lontos Cafe]] (c. 1929), [[Bon Ton Hatter]] (1941-1964)
** 120½: former location of [[Stone's Beauty Shop]] (1941)
** 120½: former location of [[Stone's Beauty Shop]] (1941)
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** [[208-210 20th Street North|208-210]]: [[Joseph McClure Commercial Real Estate]], [[LCS Designs]]
** [[208-210 20th Street North|208-210]]: [[Joseph McClure Commercial Real Estate]], [[LCS Designs]]
*** 208: former location of [[M. Muller]] fish seller (1888), [[T. L. McGowan & Co.]] (c. 1889) and [[Douglas Shoes]] shoe store (c. 1929-1941), [[Reynolds Haberdashery]], [[Merle Norman]] cosmetics (1964), [[Parisian]] inventory storage
*** 208: former location of [[M. Muller]] fish seller (1888), [[T. L. McGowan & Co.]] (c. 1889) and [[Douglas Shoes]] shoe store (c. 1929-1941), [[Reynolds Haberdashery]], [[Merle Norman]] cosmetics (1964), [[Parisian]] inventory storage
*** 210: former location of [[Reynolds Haberdashery Co.]] (1925)
*** 210: former location of [[Royal Cafe]] (1910), [[Reynolds Haberdashery Co.]] (1925)
**** 210A: former location of [[Lane's]] hosiery shop (1930s-1941)
**** 210A: former location of [[Lane's]] hosiery shop (1930s-1941)
**** 210B: former location of [[Sherman Shops]] (1930s-1941)
**** 210B: former location of [[Sherman Shops]] (1930s-1941)
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*** 207: [[Trattoria Centrale]] (2009-), former location of [[Gilbert & Daniel]] leather goods (1884), [[Adam Hats]] (1941), [[Florsheim Shoes]] (1946), [[Mary Ball Candies]] (1964), [[Puff & Browse Smokeshop]] (1980s) [[Roma's Italian Bistro]] (-2009)
*** 207: [[Trattoria Centrale]] (2009-), former location of [[Gilbert & Daniel]] leather goods (1884), [[Adam Hats]] (1941), [[Florsheim Shoes]] (1946), [[Mary Ball Candies]] (1964), [[Puff & Browse Smokeshop]] (1980s) [[Roma's Italian Bistro]] (-2009)
*** 209: [[UPS Store]], former location of [[United Woolen Stores]] (c. 1931-1964)
*** 209: [[UPS Store]], former location of [[United Woolen Stores]] (c. 1931-1964)
*** 211: former location of [[Isaac Moses]] merchant tailor (1888), [[Royal Hat Shop]] (1941)
*** 211: former location of [[Isaac Moses]] merchant tailor (1888), [[Fisch's Bakery & Lunch Room]] (1910), [[Royal Hat Shop]] (1941)
** [[2nd Alley North]]
** [[2nd Alley North]]
** 213: [[Forstall Art Center]] (2016-), former location of [[Delmonico Restaurant]] (1897), [[Mayo's Mens' Clothes]] (1941), [[O.P.O. Clothes]] (1946), [[J. B. Strauss Clothing]] (c. 1929), [[Fidelity Federal Savings & Loan]] (1964), [[Cityscape Group]]
** 213: [[Forstall Art Center]] (2016-), former location of [[Delmonico Restaurant]] (1897), [[Mayo's Mens' Clothes]] (1941), [[O.P.O. Clothes]] (1946), [[J. B. Strauss Clothing]] (c. 1929), [[Fidelity Federal Savings & Loan]] (1964), [[Cityscape Group]]
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** 312: former location of [[Sam Harris]] paints and wallpapers (1888), [[Warner-Smiley Company]] undertakers, [[Lasso's Kiddie Klothes]] (1955), [[Christian Science Reading Room]] (1964)
** 312: former location of [[Sam Harris]] paints and wallpapers (1888), [[Warner-Smiley Company]] undertakers, [[Lasso's Kiddie Klothes]] (1955), [[Christian Science Reading Room]] (1964)
** 312½: former location of [[Irvin Payne, Jr]] music teacher, [[Ned Green Sign Co.]], [[Glamor Life]] mail order house
** 312½: former location of [[Irvin Payne, Jr]] music teacher, [[Ned Green Sign Co.]], [[Glamor Life]] mail order house
** 314: former location of [[E. Wagner]] fruit and produce (1888), [[Walkover Shoe Co.]] (c. 1929), [[Lindy Jewelry]], [[Angelo's Italian Restaurant]] (1964)
** 314: former location of [[E. Wagner]] fruit and produce (1888), [[Hooper's Cafe]] (1910), [[Walkover Shoe Co.]] (c. 1929), [[Lindy Jewelry]], [[Angelo's Italian Restaurant]] (1964)
** 314½: former location of [[Greek American Social Club]]
** 314½: former location of [[Greek American Social Club]]
** 316-330: former location of [[Southern Hotel|Linville]]/[[Southern Hotel]]
** 316-330: former location of [[Southern Hotel|Linville]]/[[Southern Hotel]]
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** 301-303: [[Watts Building (1927)|Watts Building]] (1927), [[People's Finance & Thrift]], [[Renasant Bank]] branch; former site of [[Watts Building (1888)|Watts Building]] (1888-1926)
** 301-303: [[Watts Building (1927)|Watts Building]] (1927), [[People's Finance & Thrift]], [[Renasant Bank]] branch; former site of [[Watts Building (1888)|Watts Building]] (1888-1926)
*** 301: former location of [[Patterson Cigar Store]] (c. 1929), [[Russell Stover Candies]] (1964)
*** 301: former location of [[Patterson Cigar Store]] (c. 1929), [[Russell Stover Candies]] (1964)
*** 303: former location of [[Easonville Creamery]], [[Regal Shoes]], [[Lollar's Cameras]] (1964)
*** 303: former location of [[Easonville Creamery]] (1910), [[Regal Shoes]], [[Lollar's Cameras]] (1964)
** 305: former location of [[Wilkerson & Stone]] pharmacy (1888), [[Wells Clothing Co.]] (c. 1929), [[Blackburn's Fabrics]] (1964)
** 305: former location of [[Wilkerson & Stone]] pharmacy (1888), [[Wells Clothing Co.]] (c. 1929), [[Blackburn's Fabrics]] (1964)
** 307: former location of [[Martha Washington Lunch Counter]] (c. 1929), [[Casino Restaurant]] (1935-), [[Blackburn's Fabrics]] (1964)
** 307: former location of [[Martha Washington Lunch Counter]] (c. 1929), [[Casino Restaurant]] (1935-), [[Blackburn's Fabrics]] (1964)
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** 313½: former location of [[J. F. Knox]] photography studio
** 313½: former location of [[J. F. Knox]] photography studio
** 315: former location of [[Eleanor's Cards]]
** 315: former location of [[Eleanor's Cards]]
** 317: former [[Birmingham Green Postal Station]], former location of [[Augusta Friedman Shop]] lingerie (1925), [[Birmingham Gas Co.]] (c. 1929), [[Exchange Security Bank]] (1964)
** 317: former [[Birmingham Green Postal Station]], former location of [[R. A. Wilson]] restaurant (1910), [[Augusta Friedman Shop]] lingerie (1925), [[Birmingham Gas Co.]] (c. 1929), [[Exchange Security Bank]] (1964)
** 317½: former offices of [[Exchange Security Bank]], [[Lange, Simpson, Robinson & Somerville]] attorneys
** 317½: former offices of [[Exchange Security Bank]], [[Lange, Simpson, Robinson & Somerville]] attorneys
** 319: former location of [[Wheeler's Cantilever Shoe Store]] (c. 1929), [[Royal Hatters]] (1964)
** 319: former location of [[Wheeler's Cantilever Shoe Store]] (c. 1929), [[Royal Hatters]] (1964)
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*** 403½: former location of [[Multigraphic Advertising Co.]] (1925), [[Birmingham View Company]]
*** 403½: former location of [[Multigraphic Advertising Co.]] (1925), [[Birmingham View Company]]
*** 405: former location of [[London Hatters]] (1923)
*** 405: former location of [[London Hatters]] (1923)
*** 407: former location of [[Greenwood Café]]
*** 407: former location of [[Nicholas D'Cassimus]] restaurant (1910), [[Greenwood Café]]
** [[4th Alley North]]
** [[4th Alley North]]
** 413-429:  [[Viva Health building]], formerly [[Regions Plaza]], former location of the [[Tutwiler Hotel (1914)|Tutwiler Hotel]]
** 413-429:  [[Viva Health building]], formerly [[Regions Plaza]], former location of the [[Tutwiler Hotel (1914)|Tutwiler Hotel]]

Revision as of 13:50, 24 June 2016

looking south on 20th Street North in 2002
looking north on 20th Street North from Morris Avenue, c. 1900
looking north on 20th Street North from Morris Avenue, c. 1910-11

20th Street North is a north-south street in the center of downtown Birmingham which functions as Birmingham's "main street". It is sometimes called Birmingham Green after a rehabilitation project of the early 1970s.

20th Street begins at the northern end of 20th Street South at the Railroad Reservation. From there it first crosses Morris Avenue, and then continues for seven blocks to Park Place where it is terminated by Linn Park.

Short 20th Street is the one-block section of 20th Street between Birmingham City Hall and Linn Park. It was named Nina's Way in honor of Nina Miglionico in 2008. Originally 20th street bounded both sides of the park as East 20th Street and West 20th Street, but the east segment was abandoned as part of a compromise over the placement of the original Birmingham Public Library building in the late 1920s.

After this one-block section, Twentieth Street previously resumed its path to the east between the current locations of Municipal Auditorium and the Birmingham Museum of Art to the present site of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. After the I-20/59 bridge was built, this section was closed to traffic and eventually converted into a landscaped walk and fountain. There are other short sections of the street in North Birmingham, north of Oak Hill Cemetery and near Finley Boulevard.

20th Street was one of the city's earlier "whiteways" to have electric lighting. The lighting was upgraded and extended past 6th Avenue as far as Woodrow Wilson Park in 1945 under the city's contract with the Birmingham Electric Company.

Birmingham Green

1970 rendering for Birmingham Green

The Birmingham Downtown Improvement Association (BDIA) singled out the beautification of 20th Street as one of its major ambitions when it was formed in 1957. The idea was highlighted in Operation New Birmingham's 1960 recommendations for a "Comprehensive Beautification Program" and reiterated in the 1965 "Design for Progress".

As part of the campaign, Mrs. C. I. Dreyfus of the Birmingham Beautification Board proposed renaming 20th Street to "Vulcan Boulevard". The idea was taken up by businessman Temple Tutwiler, who touted the proposal as late as 1973.

Meanwhile, Tutwiler joined with Reese Murray, Marshall Haynes and Joseph Farley on a volunteer committee to study specific ways to beautify the downtown area. One of their recommendations was to widen sidewalks and add planters and benches to downtown streets, beginning with the seven blocks of 20th Street North, making it more friendly and attractive to pedestrians. New signage, lighting and street furniture would be included in the design. The additional space would be taken from parking and bus lanes, with transit stops moved to 19th Street North.

View looking South on 20th Street in May 1972

In 1970, ONB published a "Birmingham Green Plan", according to which $500,000 pledged by business and property owners would be supplemented with equivalent city funds in order to qualify for $1 million in federal grant money. When completed, the $2 million project would also include 19th Street between 1st and 3rd Avenue North and 2nd and 3rd Avenue North between 18th and 21st Street.

Architect James Adams prepared preliminary designs, saying of the proposal "We are knitting the fabric of the central business district with high quality thread -- that thread being the visual impact of the street scene." Planners hoped to attract more people to spend time downtown shopping and strolling. ONB would organize special committees to preserve the budget and to approve the design of specific additions, such as newspaper boxes and telephone booths. W. L. Jenkins designed and built the lighted stars and candy canes which decorated 20th Street in the 1970s. According to a December 1974 Birmingham News photo caption, "Major design companies have tried to hire him, 'But I just do this for fun,' he shrugged."

In January 1971, with only 11 of the 425 business and property owners who had agreed to support the project having contributed their pledges, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development released their grant funds. The 20th Street portion of the Birmingham Green project was dedicated on September 14, 1973 at a cost of $1.9 million. The city carried out additional work over the next two years. Meanwhile, building owners leveraged the public investment in streetscaping by making improvements to their properties. B. A. Monaghan began a major renovation of the Nabers, Morrow & Sinnige building at 109–111 20th Street North in 1973.

A two-year $1 million project to extend tree plantings into Southside was completed in 1994.

Notable Locations (south to north)

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the 20th Street North category.
Dates in parentheses indicate when the address was known to have been used, not necessarily the entire span of its use.

Central City neighborhood

Railroad Reservation

street continues as 20th Street South

Morris Avenue

1st Avenue North

2nd Avenue North

3rd Avenue North

20th Street looking south from 4th Avenue c. 1928

4th Avenue North

5th Avenue North

6th Avenue North

Park Place

20th Street shifts west, becomes known as Nina's Way (formerly Short 20th Street)

8th Avenue North

end of this section of 20th Street

9th Avenue North

Druid Hills neighborhood

10th Avenue North intersects St Louis & San Franciso Railway crosses

11th Avenue North intersects

12th Avenue North intersects

13th Avenue North & F. L. Shuttlesworth Drive (formerly Huntsville Road) intersects

  • West side
    • 1300-1346: residences
  • East side
    • 1301-1329: residences

14th Avenue North intersects

15th Avenue North intersects

  • 1500-1511: residences

Druid Hill Drive begins

  • 1524-1538: residences

15th Court North intersects

  • 1541-1550: residences

15th Terrace North intersects

  • 1554-1568: residences

Portage Avenue ends

  • 1569-1591: residences

16th Avenue North intersects

  • 1577-1705: residences

20th Place North intersects

  • 2020-2024: residences

road discontinued after 2031

Evergreen neighborhood

21st Avenue North intersects

  • 2100-2128: residences

22nd Avenue North intersects

  • 2201-2228: residences

road discontinued after 2231

North Birmingham neighborhood

Village Creek crosses
24th Avenue North intersects

  • 2401-2417: residences

Finley Boulevard intersects
25th Avenue North intersects

25th Court North intersects
26th Avenue North intersects
26th Court North intersects

27th Avenue North intersects

29th Avenue North intersects
road discontinued
30th Avenue North intersects
31st Avenue North intersects
32nd Avenue North intersects
33rd Avenue North intersects
34th Avenue North intersects
35th Avenue North intersects
36th Avenue North intersects
road continues as alley
37th Avenue North intersects
road discontinued
I-65 (no access)

References

  • Nirenstein, Nathan (c. 1929) Birmingham, Alabama tax map of downtown district
  • "Whitson's Tenant Map of Birmingham" (1930s) compiled, published and periodically revised by Bethel W. Whitson Organization, engineers, surveyors and mapmakers for the Jemison Real Estate Service (Jemison Realty Co., Inc.)
  • Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1964) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.
  • "New look for our big town" (August 18, 1970) Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
  • Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce (1976) Century Plus: A Bicentennial Portrait of Birmingham, Alabama 1976 Birmingham: Oxmoor Press, p. 16.

External links