American Life Building

The Stonewall Building from the southwest. Photographed October 2006

The Stonewall Building is a 12-story, 84,000 square-foot office building on the northeast corner of 23rd Street and 4th Avenue North. Its entrance was located at 2308 4th Avenue North.

It was completed, as the Doctors Building or Martin Office Building, in April, 1925, just in time to house the Birmingham City Commission and other departments after the destruction of the former Birmingham City Hall by fire. The architectural firm of Turner & McPherson had offices on the 12th floor.

The property was sold in 1946. In March 1947 the FBI Birmingham Division moved into the Martin Building, where it remained until moving to the 2121 Building in December 1962.

The building became the headquarters of the newly-formed American Life Insurance Company, and was known as the American Life Building. Later, American Life acquired the Stonewall Insurance Company of Mobile and moved its headquarters to Birmingham in 1967. It remained the lead tenant of the renamed "Stonewall Building" until 1979, after which the offices and retail spaces were gradually vacated. The building's owner declared bankruptcy in 1983 and the property went into trusteeship.

The structure found a use as a document storage facility until about 2000. In 2004 Operation New Birmingham put it on their 12 Most Wanted list of downtown buildings in need of renovation.

A 2004 plan to convert the building into 48 condominiums for $4 million was never accomplished, though a project to remove asbestos from the structure was completed in 2006. The building is currently owned by brothers Leo and Ed Ticheli who in 2008 planned to convert it into 71 apartments. The schedule for redevelopment for the Stonewall Building was dependent on the housing market and would follow the completion of the Massey Building and Jackson Hotel (former home of the Jimmie Hale Mission) properties, which the Tichelis also owned. The project was expected to cost about $10 million, and stalled out during the economic downturn of 2008-09.

In 2013 another proposal, from Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Dominium, projected a $10 million renovation to provide 65-70 "artist" apartments in the building.

In 2018 Ed Ticheli renewed his redevelopment proposal for the building, planning 137 affordable apartments, ranging from $600 to $900 per month for rent. The proposal was awarded a $182,182 tax credit under Alabama's Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, with an additional $2.9 million request placed on a "wait list" for 2019. Hendon & Huckestein prepared the architectural design for the renovation, which will be carried out by Stewart Perry Construction. The apartment complex is expected to open in early 2020.

Tenants

Ground floor

• 2300: Household Appliance Co. (1926), Rogers Electric Co. (1930)
• 2302: Brooks-Porter Realty Co. (1926), B. & O. Building Products Co. (1928). Woodstock Typewriter Co. / Victor Adding Machine Co. (1930)
• 2304: Western Union Telegraph Co. (1928-1930)
• 2306: Massey Shade & Drapery Co. (1926-1928), Addressograph Sales Agency (1930)
• 2308: Entrance and Martin Building Cigar Co. (1928), W. G. Patterson cigars (1930)

Rooms

202, 230: Walter Ward physician (1926-1930) 205: M. A. Martin (1928), Provident Insurance Co. / J. E. Ramsey & Co. (1930) 208: Crescent Sales Agency (1928-1930) / J. L. Sloss (1928), Glen Allen Sand Co. (1930) 211-212: Chamberlain Metal Weatherstrip Co. (1928), Lewis B. Turner tobacco (1930) 213: Crumpton Realty Co. (1926), Birmingham Furniture Dealers Association (1930) 214-224: VanDerVeer Co. (1928) 214-220: Smith-McCary & Thorp (1926), Cadden Advertising Agency (1930) 214: Mutual Investment Corp. (1926) 221-229: Hoover Co. vacuum cleaners (1930) 230-247: American Security Life Insurance Co. (1930) 230: Smith-Harrison Realty Co. (1928) 234-238: Southern Conservatory of Music (1928) 235: E. D. Hixon (1926) 241: L. K. Clapper / A. E. Wroth / J. D. Pope (1928) 247: Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen / Union Hospital Association (1926), The Frederick Co. (1928) 301: Alabama Adjustment Bureau (1926), Mason Bros Realty Co. (1928), James A. Taylor contractor (1930) 305: William A. Burns physician (1930) 308: building superintendent (1926), Firestone Toilet Co. (1928), Edgar Stanford / Chester Winn architects (1930) 311-312: Forsyth & Northcutt (1926), Lucius Walden attorney (1930) 312: Cotton States Life Insurance Co. (1928) 313: Malone-Zimmerman Realty Co. (1928) 316: Jefferson County Highway Department (1926), Alabama Dairy & Food Council (1930) 324: Jefferson County Farm Demonstration Agent / Jefferson County Home Demonstration Agent (1928-1930) 329: Capitol School of Music (1928-1930) 330: W. & H. Walker Inc. (1926), Todd Sales Co. check protectors (1930) 335: Cotton State Life Insurance Co. (1926), Conservative Life Insurance Co. (1928-1930), Welcome Wagon Service Inc. / York Ice Machinery Corp. / American & Venetian Marble Co. (1930) 338: G. H. Davis & Co. bagging (1930) 341-326: Smith-Hartley Realty Co. (1926) 341-342: S. R. Hartley (1926) 341: G. W. Favors (1926), W. C. Sorrell / S. R. Hartley (1928), John Metcalfe accountant (1930) 344: Woman's Home Companion Reading Club (1928-1930) 347: American Snuff Co. (1928) 401-402: Edgar Davis physician / James Graulee dentist (1928-1930) 401: E. G. Holliday Co. (1926) 402-408: William L. White Business College (1926) 405: Nixon-Hasselle Co. (1928), American Snuff Co. (1930) 408: Adamson-Boyston & White (1928) 411: J. A. Metcalfe (1928) 412-413: Typewriter Exchange (1926) 412: Samuel Henderson / T. J. Roe (1928), Alabama Sand & Gravel Co. (1930) 413: Birmingham Real Estate & Development Co. (1928), Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 91 (1930) 415: General Roofing Co. (1926) 416-422: Addressograph sales office (1928) 424: Lewis Kato attorney (1930) 429: Jessie Speer artist (1930) 430: Riderwood Land Co. (1928), Interstate Development Co. (1930) 435: Hoover Co. (1928) 438, 441-447: American National Insurance Co. (1928) 447: Dearbon Chemical Co. (1926), H. D. Beyer (1928) 510: Marion Steam Shover Co. (1928) 511: Sterling-McDavid Realty Co. (1928), William Bain (1930) 512: Joseph G. Ringer architect (1928-1930) 513: Floyd Electric Co. (1928) 516: J. B. Grant / L. W. Mann (1928) 521-524: Jefferson County Sanitary Engineering (1930) 524: Barnes Lock & Sash Holder Agency / Crawford Distributing Co. (1928) 530: Washington Fidelity National Insurance Co. (1928), Ernest Stuart attorney / Public Realty Co. / John Risdon attorney (1930) 535: Queen Vinegar & Pickle Co. (1928), Newell Contracting Co. (1928-1930) 538-544: American Mutual Liability Insurance Co. (1930) 538: Harbert Engineering Co. (1928) 544: J. H. Arnold & Co. (1928) 547: Automobile Insurance Co. (1928), Southern Development Engineers Inc. / Trane Co. heating equipment (1930) 601: White & Coleman (1926-1928), Rolf Julsrud engineer (1930) 602: R. L. Polk & Co. publishers (1928-1930) 605: P. L. Longshore / H. A. McKinnon physicians (1926), P. J. Longshore (1928), F. B. Wilhite (1928-1930) 611-630: Andrew Stabler / L. V. Stabler physicians (1928), Andrew Stabler physician (1930) 611-629: Andrew Stabler physician (1926) 611: J. V. Mix (1926) 635-639: T. H. Payne / J. V. Mix physicians (1928) 638: Good Health Treatment Rooms (1930) 641-643: Paramount Coal Co. (1930) 641: Anti-Phymin Service Station (1926), C. H. Paul (1928) 644: Edgar Lightcap dentist (1930) 647: Wilhite-Karrh Realty Co. (1926), Dearborn Chemical Co. (1928-1930) 701-705: Van Camp Products Co. (1930) 701: Van Camp Products Co. / Mrs W. M. Tyson / Floyd Electric Co. (1926), Investors Realty Co. (1928) 708: Physicians Clinical Laboratory (1930) 711: Thompson Sales Co. (1928) 712: Riceland Realty Co. (1926), John Lauricella (1928), Do-More Seating Service (1930) 713-721: Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. (1926) 713: Shine-All Sales Co. of Alabama (1930) 716-721: Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. (1928-1930)

724: Rubee Pearse landscape artist / George Baskerville manufacturers' agent (1930) 725: Liberty Life Assurance Society / Automobile Oiler Co. (1926) 729: Alabama Cash Credit Corp. loans (1930) 730: L. B. Cooper Realty Co. (1926), Southern Land Development Co. (1928) 735: United Palestine Appeal (1930) 738: Harnischfeger Sales Corp. machinery (1930) 741: Howard Bowdry contractor (1930) 744: Burroughs Adding Machine Co. (1926-1928), David Sallerwhite attorney (1930) 747: The C & D Co. clothes (1930) 802: Alabama Lime & Stone Corp (1926), [Lewis Building Co.]] (1928), E. G. Holladay Co. contractors (1928-1930) 805: Flintkote Co. (1926), G. H. Davis & Co. (1928), Associated General Contractors (1930) 808: Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing Co. (1926), University Metal Manufacturing Co. (1928), James Burks manufacturers' agent (1930) 811-813: W. F. Jackson Co. surveyors (1930) 811: Dixie Contractor / W. F. Jackson Co. (1928) 821: Dixie Contractor (1930) 824: The Reeves Bros Co. (1926) 829: W. H. Neville manufacturer's agent / Armstrong Cork & Insulation Co. (1928-1930) 830: Southern G F Co. fireproofing material (1928-1930) 833-837: Alabama Clay Products Co. (1926) 835: Alabama Clay Product Co. (1928-1930) 838: Birmingham Sub-Contractors Association (1928), Enochs Lumber Manufacturing Co. (1930) 841: J. C. Colt Co. ./ H. G. Mouat (1928) 844-847: Alabama By-Products Corp. (1926) 844: Mill & Mine Construction Co. (1928-1930) 847: Enochs Lumber Manufacturing Co. (1928), Lester Overstreet manufacturer's agent (1930) 901: Modern Woodmen of America (1926), Charles Koops / C. O. Stover / C. W. Stover (1928), Standard Lime Co. (1930) 902-905: Standard Power Equipment Co. (1926) 902-904: Standard Power Equipment Co. (1928-1930) 905-908: Corporations Auxiliary Co. engineers (1930) 905: S. C. Taylor (1928) 908: F. A. Robertson / Square D Co. (1928) 911: H. C. Allen (1926), James Van Buskirk manufacturer's agent (1930) 912-913: The C. & D. Co. clothes (1928), Alabama State Service Commissioner (1930) 916: E. T. Baird (1926), Alabama State Highway Department (1928-1930) 924: Alabama Advertising Agency (1928), Jesse Harper physician (1930) 930-935: Cecil Gaston physician (1930) 930: Cecil Gaston / A. E. Town physicians (1928) 938: U.S. Army Birmingham District Ordnance Depot (1926-1928) 941-947: Johnson Overton & Co. insurance agents (1930) 941: American Snuff Co. (1926) 944-947: D. D. Thomas & Son (1926) 944: S. L. Johnson & Co. (1928) 1001: Koehring Co. (1926), Jones & Burks (1928), Alabama Bookkeeping Service / Herman Beyers accountant (1930) 1002-1005: Andrew Cameron physician (1930) 1002: The Corporation Auxiliary Co. / H. K. Long (1928) 1005: Tippins Realty Co. (1926), Alabama Pathological Laboratory (1928) 1008-1009: E. V. Sanders Lumber Co. (1926) 1008: H. C. Cobb (1928) 1011-1028: Andrew Cameron physician (1928), Lester & Solomon physicians (1928-1930), Claude Ford physician (1930) 1011-1024: B. S. Lester physician (1926) 1030: Associated General Contractors (1928), Gordon Goodall dentist (1930) 1032-1035: J. D. Sherrill physician (1928-1930) 1041: J. W. McQueen physician (1928) 1044-1047: William Geddes physician (1930) 1044: Joseph McQueen physician (1930) 1046: Joseph McQueen physician (1928) 1047: R. L. Polk & Co. (1926), Edward Slater architect (1928) 1101: Individual Container Co. (1928), Power Plant Equipment Co. (1930) 1102: W. A. Weaver attorney (1928), Theodore Lamar attorney (1928-1930), Holmes Long attorney (1930) 1105: Peerless Grate Bar Co. (1928), Harbert-Cargile Construction Co. (1930) 1108: Stephens-Adamson Manufacturing Co. machinery (1928-1930) 1111-1113: Aluminum Co. of America / Spang Chalfant & Co. iron pipe (1930) 1111-1112: James L. Elkins Construction Co. (1928) 1116: Alabama Lime & Stone Corp. (1928), Whiting Corp. foundry supplies / Clarage Fan Co. (1930) 1124: Southern Oil Stores Inc. (1930) 1129-1130: Bar-Trex Manufacturing Co. check dispensers (1930) 1130: L. B. Cooper Realty Co. (1928) 1133-1147: Reeves Bros Co. (1928) 1133-1135: L. J. Milev Co. asbestos goods (1930) 1144-1147: Shell Petroleum Co. (1930) 1201: Alfred Vickery building superintendent (1928-1930) 1202-1205: Tube Joy Patch Co. (1928) 1202: Bush Building Co. (1928) 1205: Mathews Conveyor Co. (1928), Cyclone Fence Co. / Bush Building Co. (1930) 1211: American Window Cleaning Co. (1928-1930) 1212: Turner & McPherson architects (1928), Anthony Howell contractor (1930) 1213: Delpy & Co. contractors / Conwell Realty Co. (1930) 1216: C. P. Lichty Engineering Co. / C. A. Dunham Co. heating equipment (1930) 1221-1224: Turner & Slater architects (1930) 1224: Paramount Coal Co. (1928) 1229: R. J. Pearse & Associates (1928), A. J. Honeycutt Co. contractors (1930) 1230-1325: Haickel Elkourie physician (1928-1930) 1244: Jefferson County Highway Department (1928-1930) Birmingham City Commission (1925) FBI Birmingham Division Alabama Limestone Co. (1931) Realty Brokers Inc. (1964) Stonewall Insurance Company

References

• Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. (May 1925) "Industrial Activities." Birmingham. Vol. 1, No. 2
• Tomberlin, Michael (August 19, 2008) "Downtown Stonewall project hits economic roadblock." The Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (February 13, 2011) "Downtown dreams: Renovation slow for prominent buildings." The Birmingham News
• Buchanan, Charles (2012) Fading Ads of Birmingham. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press ISBN 9781609494834
• Poe, Ryan (January 30, 2013) "Apartment developer plans $10M revamp of Stonewall Building." Birmingham Business Journal
• Edgemon, Erin (March 9, 2018) "Affordable apartments set for vacant downtown Birmingham high-rise." The Birmingham News
• Godwin, Brent (July 9, 2018) "Work to begin soon on major downtown tower redevelopment." Birmingham Business Journal

External links

• Stonewall Building marketing site
• Stonewall Building on Emporis.com