Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Alley |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.2832 |
Description |
Print, photographic; B&W, exterior photo taken at street level; the picture shows a view looking at an angle at the backs of the alley side a strip of abutting two- and three-story buildings; a new three story building is visible in the middle; the structure features a very high ground floor surmounted by two stories; the masonry facade is divided into three bays; the two near bays feature a wide continuous strip of high windows on each floors; the far bay includes a single wide window and a small elevator-shaft window; bars protect ground floor windows; loading and back entry doors are visible at far end; photographic inscription across bottom "# 10\S H. KRESS & CO BLDG ROME GA\CONTRACTOR . G. A. MILLER INC." |
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 |
Rome, Georgia |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 123 Address: 219 Broad Street Facade Material: 1928 - Brick, terra cotta, green marble; 1967 - porcelain enamel panels Style: Classic Revival Primary Building Architect: E.J.T. Hoffman Contractors: G.A. Miller Inc. |
Date |
5/1928 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Orig/Copy |
Original Print |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 24 photographs, 40 plans Book Description: "In 1906 Kress opened its first Rome store. In 1928 the store at this address was demolished and a new Classical Revival building, designed by E.J.T. Hoffman, was begun. The new structure's nearly square brick-clad façade was ornamented with terracotta sills, coping, festoons, rosettes, and cornice. The bases of the show-windows were of verd antique, a highly figured dark green marble. In 1967 the mezzanine exterior was covered with porcelain enamel panels with a Kress sign of large illuminated letters. The location was sold to McCrory Stores 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 back alley |
Search Terms |
demolished Classical Revival E.J.T. Hoffman E.J.T. Hoffmann brick clad ornamented terracotta terra cotta sill coping festoon rosette cornice verd antique dark green marble porcelain enamel panel McCrory Stores Store 123 Rome Georgia 219 Broad Street S.H. Kress & Co photograph |