From brick to art, Elgin historic district continues to evolve Bill Montgomery did not buy the O’Connor building with the intention of making it into an art gallery, it just happened. Built over 100 years ago, the building continues to shelter the dreams and ambitions of its inhabitants. The building was part of Elgin Local Lore earlier this month, when participants were challenged to answer questions from the Heritage Walking Tour that covered 14 city blocks of commercial and industrial buildings known as the Elgin Commercial Historic District. Most of the buildings in the Commercial Historic District were built between 1872 and 1947, and are constructed of locally produced brick. The O’Connor building, located at 116 Depot Street is no exception, as it is …show more content…
He molded the bricks by hand and laid them on a pallet, let them sun-dry and baked them in a wooden kiln,” said O’Connor. Originally intended for a hardware store, Thomas O’Connor changed it to a furniture business around 1892. Joseph’s father, Edgar, took over the business around 1920, and ordered furniture by the trainload. “My father had an elevator installed in the store in 1920; it was not there when we lived upstairs. We would put each crate on it and slide them upstairs to store,” Joseph said. Built by the Otis Elevator Company, the elevator functions with weights and by hand-pulled ropes, no electricity is needed. Montgomery arrived in Austin in 1977 after completing his education from the University of New Mexico, Art Institute of Perugia, Italy and Kansas City Art Institute. In 1992, he and his wife Margie Crip moved to Elgin. He rented a space on Depot Street, and when he learned that the O’Connor Building was for sale, he didn’t hesitate – he knew that what was then a furniture and flooring store, would make the perfect studio. He was attracted to the light in the building and its 12 foot
Sarah E. Goode was one of the first black female inventors to receive a patent from the United States. Sarah invented the “folding bed” after receiving her freedom after the Civil War and becoming an entrepreneur. She created the idea of the folding bed because she realized that her customers [lived] in small apartments. When it was not being used as a bed the bed doubles as a desk. She received a patent for her invention in July 14, 1985. As someone born into slavery in 1850, she understood ways to make living in working-class environment easier. She opened a furniture store with her husband, Archibald, in Chicago after the Civil War. Sarah and her husband married in 1880. The cabinet bed was like an antecedent for the murphy bed. Sarah E.
Its historic district includes over 130 structures dating from 1830 to the present and is an
First a little back ground as to what this store was all about. The first store was located in downtown Pittsburgh. He had one guy working for him. The store specialized
So how does a furniture store go from selling furniture out of the back of a truck in 1928 to being owned by Warren Buffet? Very creative marketing on behalf of the Barry and Eliot Tatelman. Their grandfather, Samuel, started Jordan’s Furniture in 1918 out of the back of a truck. In 1928, he opened the first storefront. Samuel’s son Edward joined the business in the late 1930s. Then in
Bob’s Discount Furniture can be defined in one word, “innovative”. In almost every aspect of their business, Bob’s is setting the standard for the furniture industry. Founded in 1991 in Newington, Connecticut, Bob Kaufman had a dream to build a successful company. This dream stemmed from his own experiences. In 1976, Bob was involved in a motorcycle accident that left one of his legs partially paralyzed. He was sent to bed to recuperate from his injuries, where he then found the benefits of the waterbed in his recovery. This experience inspired Bob to become a waterbed salesman. He sold waterbeds in 24 stores across New England.
The Town's goals within the C-1 district is to retain historical characteristics of the downtown business area by preserving existing structures constructed prior to the year 1930. Remodeling and construction is encouraged to reflect the goals of the zone district; to enhance the town's attraction to residents, tourists, and visitors; to serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry; to reflect a pedestrian orientation; and to enhance property values.
Second of all,One inventor made elevator and his name was made Alexander Miles. Early elevators were different from the mostly automated devices we're familiar with today. Passengers had to manually open and close the elevator doors, as well as the door leading to the elevator shaft. If anyone forgot to close the shaft door, other passengers could fall down the shaft when expecting to step into the elevator. Miles invented a mechanism that
Since its construction in 1799, Ash-Lawn Highland underwent constant structural additions, renovations, and modifications for nearly 131 years. It is the scope of my research assignment to identify the various architectural styles and historical changes in the structure from 1799 to 1930.
People drive past El Paso High School every day and never bother to admire the beautiful architecture of the 100-year-old building that towers above them. I’ve always thought it was a striking building but, like many other El Pasoans, had no idea about the history behind why it was built the way it was. A couple of books and a nice long look at the school, I now have a better understanding and appreciation for Henry Trost’s marvelous works. Geoffrey Wright, an El Paso architect, describes Henry Trost’s grand design of El Paso High School as a “renaissance revival” in a 1991 article in the Austin American-Statesman, which wasn’t entirely accurate. Although he was inaccurate in this remark, he made another observation that was spot-on,
It all started with a man named Rowland Hussey Macy, when he opened a small fancy goods store in
The anchor of this Renaissance is the revitalization of The Sears Concourse building. The Art Deco 1.5 million square foot structure built in 1927 was once a source of pride for the city, attracting 30,000 visitors at its grand opening to marvel at its decadence and eventually serving as a distribution hub for 50 years. Employing 1500 people and attracting thousands of visitors per day in the department store, it was an economic pillar of the Crosstown neighborhood. However, in 2010, the building standing empty for 22 years, became an eyesore that Crosstown co-founder Todd Richardson describes as “ a beacon of hope that is now a disappointing reminder of unmet expectations for the city”. The surrounding neighborhood would keep hoping sooner or later, someone would eventually solve the dilemma of what to do with so much space that had been empty for so long. Year after year, businesses boarded up, houses deteriorated and neighbors lost hope. No one knew what to do; that is to say, until an artist, art
handsome blocks of buildings for the poor.” After more than 130 years later, things have
In Melville’s short story placed on Wall Street, the narrator describes the setting of a bleak office to have a white wall of the interior of a spacious sky-light shaft, penetrating the building from top to bottom on one end, on the other it contrasted in the direction
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper that was built during one of the most severe economic downturns in this country's history. The building was finished in the year 1930 and is located in New York City. The Chrysler Building was constructed using stainless steel over an exposed building surface which was a first for its time (History of Walter P. Chrysler and the Chrysler Building, “n.d.). The next important thing to think about when understanding the Chrysler Building is to figure out what it was designed for. Although the building was not owned by Chrysler it was used for the corporation's offices which used the building until the mid 1950’s (Chrysler Building, “n.d). Next, when one looks at the Chrysler Building they can tell it represents an Art Deco style by its many unique features. The Chrysler Building represents the Art Deco style because of its monuments,
They all labeled downtown El Paso’s buildings. I looked at them, lost for I had no knowledge of what they were talking about. I was still just a bird hatching from the shell. I turned left and there it was, classroom A1518. The two large, dark wooden doors were opened and on top of them was the sign “ARCHITECTURE”. I stood there with my breath taken away from me. “So… This is it. This is why you came into Northwest. This is your purpose” I took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and continued on forward. Inside was a large room with computers on most of the side walls and desks the size of tables were located in the middle. All of the other students’ eyes were on me. I got even more nervous. They probably asked themselves if I was lost because of course, who would expect a 15-year-old to take an architecture college class? I walked slowly towards the 2nd desk in the front row. I sat in the tall black chair as the sound of the AC and the computer fans grew bigger and bigger. I’ve never heard anymore silence in my life. I opened my backpack’s side apartment and took out my pencil and place it on the side of the dark brown desk. I looked around and saw another room inside of