Watts Building (1888): Difference between revisions

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[[Image:1888 Watts Building.jpg|right|thumb|375px|[[O. V. Hunt]] photograph of the Watts Building]]
[[Image:1888 Watts Building.jpg|right|thumb|375px|[[O. V. Hunt]] photograph of the Watts Building]]
The first '''Watts Building''' was a richly ornamented four-story Second-Empire style commercial building on the northwest corner of [[3rd Avenue North]] and [[20th Street North|20th Street]] in downtown [[Birmingham]]. It was constructed for [[Thomas Watts III]] by [[Charles M. Allen and Son]] in [[1888]]. The building was designed by [[Charles Wheelock]] in the Second Empire style, with a rusticated base, grouped windows with brick arches on the second and third floors, and a deep cornice with a mansard roof above.
The first '''Watts Building''' was a richly ornamented four-story Second-Empire style commercial building on the northwest corner of [[3rd Avenue North]] and [[20th Street North|20th Street]] in downtown [[Birmingham]]. It was constructed for [[Thomas Watts III]] by [[Charles M. Allen and Son]] in [[1888]]. The building was designed by [[Charles Wheelock]] in the Second Empire style, with a rusticated base, grouped windows with brick arches on the second and third floors, and a deep cornice with a mansard roof above.


Early tenants in the Watts building included architect [[J. W. McClain]] and the [[Eubank Brothers]]' dental parlour.
In [[1927]] Watts hired [[Allen & Son]] to demolish the 39-year-old building to make room for a [[Watts Building (1927)|new 17-story tower]] on the same site.


In [[1904]] the architectural firm of [[Harry Breeding|Breeding]] and [[David O. Whilldin|Whilldin]] was located in suite #15.
==Tenants==
Early tenants in the Watts building included architect [[J. W. McClain]] and the [[Eubank Brothers]]' dental parlor. In [[1905]] chemist [[Jefferson J. Peek]] opened his [[Peek Beverage Company]] in the Watts Building.


In [[1905]] chemist [[Jefferson J. Peek]] opened his [[Peek Beverage Company]] in the Watts Building.
Among the law firms with offices in the Watts Building were [[John Heflin]] and [[William Bulger]];  [[James Little]]; [[L. C. Dickey]] and [[J. F. Gillespie]]; and [[W. M. Brooks]] and [[R. L. Brooks]].


A [[1906]] ''[[Birmingham Age-Herald]]'' story states that doctors [[Laura E. Burton]] and [[Irene Bullard]] had their medical practice in room 14 of this building. Burton was shot and killed by her ex-husband at her home in [[North Haven]]. [[Smith & Norton]] real estate occupied room 1 in [[1909]].
Room 1: [[Smith & Norton]] real estate, 1909
 
Room 10: [[J. J. McDavid]], real estate law, 1888
In [[1927]] Watts hired Allen and Son to demolish the 39-year-old building to make room for a [[Watts Building (1927)|new 17-story tower]] on the same site.
Room 14: [[Laura E. Burton]] and [[Irene Bullard]], physicians, 1906
Room 15: [[Harry Breeding|Breeding]] and [[David O. Whilldin|Whilldin]], architects, 1904


==References==
==References==
* {{Northern Alabama-1888}}
* "Doctor Kills Wife and Self; Dentist Shot." (April 10, 1906) "Birmingham Age-Herald", republished by A. J. Wright, [http://www.anes.uab.edu/lauraburton.htm Early Female Physicians of Alabama] - accessed June 1, 2006
* "Doctor Kills Wife and Self; Dentist Shot." (April 10, 1906) "Birmingham Age-Herald", republished by A. J. Wright, [http://www.anes.uab.edu/lauraburton.htm Early Female Physicians of Alabama] - accessed June 1, 2006
* Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.
* Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.

Revision as of 14:46, 7 July 2015

O. V. Hunt photograph of the Watts Building

The first Watts Building was a richly ornamented four-story Second-Empire style commercial building on the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue North and 20th Street in downtown Birmingham. It was constructed for Thomas Watts III by Charles M. Allen and Son in 1888. The building was designed by Charles Wheelock in the Second Empire style, with a rusticated base, grouped windows with brick arches on the second and third floors, and a deep cornice with a mansard roof above.

In 1927 Watts hired Allen & Son to demolish the 39-year-old building to make room for a new 17-story tower on the same site.

Tenants

Early tenants in the Watts building included architect J. W. McClain and the Eubank Brothers' dental parlor. In 1905 chemist Jefferson J. Peek opened his Peek Beverage Company in the Watts Building.

Among the law firms with offices in the Watts Building were John Heflin and William Bulger; James Little; L. C. Dickey and J. F. Gillespie; and W. M. Brooks and R. L. Brooks.

Room 1: Smith & Norton real estate, 1909 Room 10: J. J. McDavid, real estate law, 1888 Room 14: Laura E. Burton and Irene Bullard, physicians, 1906 Room 15: Breeding and Whilldin, architects, 1904

References

  • North Alabama (Illustrated) (1888) Birmingham: Southern Commercial Publishing Co.
  • "Doctor Kills Wife and Self; Dentist Shot." (April 10, 1906) "Birmingham Age-Herald", republished by A. J. Wright, Early Female Physicians of Alabama - accessed June 1, 2006
  • Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.
  • White, Marjorie Longenecker, ed. (1977) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham:Birmingham Historical Society
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