Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Grand Opening |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.2730 |
Description |
Print, Photographic; B&W, exterior snapshot taken at street level; the picture shows a head-on view of the ribbon cutting ceremony at a store opening; a speaker stands at a microphone placed in front of the center of the recessed store entryway; one set each of double entry doors show on each side of a central pillar; a crowd of men and women are arrayed on both sides of the speaker; stamp on back "BRUNSWICK, GA."; pencilled notation "11/58" and numerous sign-off initials |
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 |
Brunswick, Georgia |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 115 Address: 1505 New Castle Street Facade Material: 1909 - Brick, limestone; 1958 - porcelain enamel Style: Unknown Primary Building Architect: 1909 - Julius H. Zeitner; 1930 - Edward F. Sibbert; 1958 - Unknown Contractors: |
Date |
11/1958 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Orig/Copy |
Original Print |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 21 photographs, 42 plans, 7.5 inches of documents Book Description: "Architect Julius H. Zeitner designed this brick and limestone Kress building, which opened in 1909 with a portion of the building subleased to another retailer. In 1930 Edward F. Sibbert enlarged and renovated the building. The store was renovated and enlarged again in 1958, with new entrances and show-windows installed and porcelain enamel panels placed over the facade. McCrory Stores purchased the location in 1980." |
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 grand opening |
Search Terms |
Julius H. Zeitner brick limestone sublease Edward F. Sibbert enlarged renovation porcelain enamel panel McCrory Stores Store 115 Brunswick Georgia 1505 New Castle Street S.H. Kress & Co photograph |