Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Construction |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.368 |
Description |
Print, Photographic; B&W; Photo of interior of new building taken at ground level; picture shows a view of a very high-ceilinged space looking diagonally from front to the back corner; large windows are set high on both the side and back wall; the ceiling displays very prominent beams that rest on support pillars; those are topped by vestigial Corinthian capitals; a small baclony is visible in the back corner near a rear entrance door; photographic inscription on face "S.H.Kress Store - Selma Ala.\Johnson Constr. Co. Contractor\Sep 1st.. 1931"; intricate rubber stamp on back "S.H.K. & CO.\ARCH. DIV.\RECEIVED\SEP 1 1931\ISSUED ___TO___\CHECKED___BY" |
Context |
The S.H. Kress & Company, founded by Samuel H. Kress, opened over 300 5-10-25 cent stores in thirty states from New Jersey to Florida and across to California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The first Kress store opened in Memphis, Tennessee in 1896. Many of the early Kress stores started out in rented spaces. By 1909, the Company began to open its stores in new structures created by S.H. Kress & Company architects like Edward F. Sibbert and Seymour Burrell, or built for it by contractors and held under lease. The Kress stores particularly thrived during the Great Depression, as they sold inexpensive products in luxurious spaces. Kress stores ranged in architectural styles, from Neoclassical to Art Deco to Modern and International. Towards the end of the S.H. Kress & Company life, shopping centers and malls overtook free-standing commercial buildings as the preferred retail locations, and new Kress stores were placed in large multistore structure. In 1964, the S.H. Kress & Company was purchased by Genesco, Incorporated, and the company was liquidated in 1980 and 1981. Some of the buildings have been demolished, while others have been renovated and adapted. The documents, plans, photographs, and objects that were gifted to the National Building Museum by numerous donors provide a rich array of information relevant to business, social, architectural, land use, race relations, and commercial history in the United States. |
Credit Line |
Courtesy of National Building Museum, gift of Genesco, Inc. |
Place |
Selma, Alabama |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 27 Address: 121 Broad Street Facade Material: Brick, terra cotta Style: Art Deco Primary Building Architect: Edward F. Sibbert Contractors: Johnson Constr. Co. |
Date |
1-Sep-31 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Orig/Copy |
Original Print |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 32 photographs, 0.10 inches of documents Book Description: "Edward F. Sibbert was the architect of this two-story Art Deco building, constructed in 1931 to replace an earlier Kress store located on this same site since at least 1916. The façade features floral motifs in polychromed terracotta and geometric-patterned brickwork. Vertical emphasis results from using the windows and spandrels to form bays above each of the four show-windows. The variety store closed in 1980, and the building currently houses a furniture retailer." |
Related Publications |
Wilkerson, Susan, and Hank Griffith. A Guide to the Building Records of S.H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Stores at the National Building Museum. Edited by Joyce Eliiot. Washington, DC: National Building Museum Publication Office, 1993. |
Caption |
Black and white photograph of construction |
Search Terms |
Edward F. Sibbert two-story Art Deco replacement floral motif polychromed terracotta terra cotta geometric pattern brick bay Store 27 Selma Alabama 121 Broad Street S.H. Kress & Co photograph |