Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Construction |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.901 |
Description |
Print, Photographic; Color; Polaroid snapshot of a construction site; photo depicts a cement platform within a block foundation; a pickup and construction materials are visible on the slab; existing buildings surround the site; hand written notation in top margin "Calexico Calif" and bottom "Kress Co. Bldg 12/30/64"; number "M406224" imprinted on back |
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 |
Calexico, California |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 809 Address: 219 East First Street Facade Material: Concrete, steel Style: Unknown Primary Building Architect: Newman, Riddle and Fowble, Architects and Engineers Contractors: |
Date |
30-Dec-64 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Orig/Copy |
Original Print |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 35 photographs, 14 plans, 2 inches of documents Book Description: "In 1964 Kress constructed a second Calexico store, less than one block from the first. The concrete block and steel-truss building was designed by Newman, Riddle and Fowble, Architects and Engineers. As the chain was very successful in Calexico, the added sales and warehouse space was needed in spite of expansions to the other store. As in Nogales and El Paso, bilingual Spanish and English merchandising signs were used." |
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 |
Color photograph of construction |
Search Terms |
Neuman, Riddle & Fowble commercial area block international border modern outside stockroom pueblo brick stucco concrete steel-truss steel chain sales warehouse bilingual Spanish English merchandising signs 219 East First Street First Street 1st Street Calexico California Store 809 S.H. Kress & Co photograph |