Monastery at Large

From the Notebook

  • Office of Stevens & Wilkinson (1947) – Atlanta

    Stevens & Wilkinson. Office of Stevens & Wilkinson (1947). Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta.
    Stevens & Wilkinson. Office of Stevens & Wilkinson (1947). Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta.1
    Office of Stevens & Wilkinson, Atlanta, date unknown
    Office of Stevens & Wilkinson, Atlanta, date unknown2

    References

    1. Stevens, Preston. Building a Firm: The Story of Stevens & Wilkinson Architects, Engineers, Planners Inc. Atlanta (1979). ↩︎
    2. Photo credit: ibid, p. 30. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: Citizens Bank – Savannah, Georgia

    Postcard view of Citizens Bank (1896), Savannah, Georgia

    This postcard depicts the Citizens Bank in Savannah, Georgia, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1896.

    Published by the Souvenir Post Card Co. of New York and printed in Germany, the card was postmarked in Savannah on February 9, 1912, and addressed to Mrs. Chas. E. Simond of 316 E. Monroe Street in Jacksonville, Florida.

    Written on the back is the following note from Mrs. Mac:

    “I am having a good time. We are on the [?] most of the time. I got use of the [?] at the party yesterday. It is much warmer but I nearly froze last week. [?] love to from you. Will be home next week.”

    You get the gist of that, right?

  • Kress (1937) – Birmingham, Alabama

    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1937). Birmingham, Alabama. 
    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1937). Birmingham, Alabama.1 2
    South facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    South facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Awning and second-floor windows on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Awning and second-floor windows on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Rooftop sign on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Rooftop sign on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Rooftop sign on the west facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Rooftop sign on the west facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Flagmast on the southwest corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Flagmast on the southwest corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Second-floor windows on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Second-floor windows on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Fourth and fifth-floor windows on the west facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Fourth and fifth-floor windows on the west facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    First-floor canopy on the west facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    First-floor canopy on the west facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    First-floor and second-floor windows on S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    First-floor and second-floor windows on S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Southwest corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Southwest corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Sun shades on the first floor of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Sun shades on the first floor of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Third-floor window on S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Third-floor window on S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Cornice over the southeast entrance of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Cornice over the southeast entrance of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Rail and awning on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Rail and awning on the south facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Birmingham, Alabama
    Illustration of S.H. Kress & Co. (1937). Birmingham, Alabama.
    Illustration of S.H. Kress & Co. (1937). Birmingham, Alabama.3

    References

    1. “Kress’ Store Is Ready To Open”. The Birmingham Post (Birmingham, Alabama), September 10, 1937, p. 5. ↩︎
    2. “Thousands Visit Kress Building”. The Birmingham Age-Herald (Birmingham, Alabama), September 14, 1937, p. 4. ↩︎
    3. Illustration credit: Advertisement. The Birmingham Post (Birmingham, Alabama), September 11, 1937, p. 3. ↩︎

  • Relic Signs: Philip’s Restaurant (1940) – Philadelphia

    Philip's Restaurant (1940). 1145 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia.
    Philip’s Restaurant (1940). 1145 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia.

    This swanky old sign is a true relic of South Philly, which is changing as rapidly as any other neighborhood these days.

    Owned and operated by the Muzi family, Philip’s Restaurant was licensed for business at this location in 1940,1 although later advertisements claimed it opened in 1938.2

    The blue portion of the sign likely dates to 1940, but I suspect the “Cocktail Lounge” segment was added later.

    Originally built as a residence, the 3-story brownstone structure that housed the restaurant previously served as the Circolo Italiano clubhouse for at least 20 years.3 4

    Philip’s touted itself as “Serving the finest in Italian cuisine”, and the interior photograph shown below is from a postcard published circa 1960, based on a note from the back that adds the restaurant had been in “The same location for 20 years.”

    Interior of Philips Restaurant, circa 1960. Photograph by Bill Bennett from an undated postcard published by Bill Bennett of Philadelphia and Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.
    Interior of Philips Restaurant, circa 1960. Photograph by Bill Bennett from an undated postcard published by Bill Bennett of Philadelphia and Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.

    Philip’s closed in 2001, and the building has apparently been unoccupied since 2018.5 The sign remains untouched.

    References

    1. “Latest Reports Of Legal Actions”. The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 23, 1940, p. 39. ↩︎
    2. Advertisement. The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, October 27, 1968, p. 44. ↩︎
    3. “Sale on South Broad Street”. The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 12, 1916, p. 7. ↩︎
    4. “Circolo Italiano Meets”. The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 1, 1936, p. 32. ↩︎
    5. Hidden City Philadelphia › Mysteries Revealed as Old Philip’s Restaurant Eyed for Redevelopment ↩︎

  • Kress (1936) – Atlanta

    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1936). Downtown, Atlanta.
    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1936). Downtown, Atlanta.1 2 3 4
    Fourth and fifth-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Atlanta
    Fourth and fifth-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Atlanta
    Looking at S.H. Kress & Co. from the southeast
    Looking at S.H. Kress & Co. from the southeast
    First-floor canopy on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Atlanta
    First-floor canopy on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Atlanta
    llustration of S.H. Kress & Co. (1936), Atlanta
    Illustration of S.H. Kress & Co. (1936), Atlanta5

    References

    1. Application For Building Permit, March 18, 1936. ↩︎
    2. “Open House Planned For New Kress Store”. The Atlanta Constitution, November 8, 1936, p. 6. ↩︎
    3. “New S.H. Kress Store On Whitehall Street Will Open on Monday”. The Atlanta Journal, November 8, 1936, p. 12. ↩︎
    4. “Work Starts Soon On New Structure”. The Atlanta Constitution, January 15, 1936, p. 14. ↩︎
    5. Illustration credit: Advertisement. The Atlanta Journal, November 8, 1936, p. 13. ↩︎

  • Selah

    When the power goes out, there are two kinds of people: those who keep running their damn mouths and the ones who go silent.

    The loud ones will waste their breath whining and lamenting their fate; the quiet ones will find sustenance in the sacred pause.

    Choose carefully who you traverse with in the darkness: the loud ones only know fear, while the quiet ones follow the light of inner guidance.

    When the power returns—and it always does—the loud ones, having learned nothing, will still wallow in the familiar din, suppressing their souls in meaningless babble.

    The quiet ones will move on to the next destination, having found strength in their acceptance of the disruption.

  • Kress (1935) – Anniston, Alabama

    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1935). Anniston, Alabama.
    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1935). Anniston, Alabama.1 2 3
    Windows and sign on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama.
    Windows and sign on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama.
    Second-floor window on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Second-floor window on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Looking at S.H. Kress & Co. from the southeast, Anniston, Alabama
    Looking at S.H. Kress & Co. from the southeast, Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Entrance light at S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Entrance light at S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama
    Ornamentation on S.H. Kress & Co., Anniston, Alabama

    References

    1. “Kress Trades For Big Store Place In City”. The Anniston Star (Anniston, Alabama), November 1, 1934, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “Kress Starts New Building; Cost $100,000”. The Anniston Star (Anniston, Alabama), June 18, 1935, p. 1. ↩︎
    3. “Kress Getting Ready For Informal Opening Thursday”. The Anniston Star (Anniston, Alabama), November 20, 1935, p. 6. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: W.B. Chisolm Residence – Charleston, South Carolina

    Postcard view of W.B. Chisolm Residence (1893), Charleston, South Carolina

    This postcard depicts the W.B. Chisolm Residence in Charleston, South Carolina, renovated with a design by G.L. Norrman (or so say I) circa 1893.

    The card was hand-colored and published by Lanneau’s Art Store in Charleston, and postmarked in Charleston on May 18, 1946.

    Addressed to Mrs. A. Joceyln of 23 Essex Street, Holyoke, Mass., the card’s message is written by Edith and Brenda:

    Edith: “Hi [Harmony?] Jocelyn – We are here and loving every moment 2 our stay. We are doing our best + live as you showed me the way + are perfectly happy I feel fine. We are gaining weight, + tanning well. Love, Edith.”

    Brenda: “She is really gaining weight. She is now down (?) to 126 lbs. Brenda”

    Edith: “gaining from 119 to 126!”

  • Kress (1931) – Charleston, South Carolina

    Edward F. Sibbert.S.H. Kress & Co. (1931). Charleston, South Carolina.
    Edward F. Sibbert.S.H. Kress & Co. (1931). Charleston, South Carolina.1 2
    Third-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Charleston, South Carolina
    Third-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Charleston, South Carolina
    Third-floor window on the southeast corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Charleston, South Carolina
    Third-floor window on the southeast corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Charleston, South Carolina

    References

    1. Kress Building, 281 King Street | Discovering Our Past: College of Charleston Histories ↩︎
    2. A Guidebook to South Carolina Historical Markers. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press (2021). ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: St. Mary’s Catholic Church – Americus, Georgia

    Postcard view of St. Mary's Catholic Church (1892), Americus, Georgia

    This postcard depicts St. Mary’s Catholic Church, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1892.

    Published by the American News Company of New York and printed in Germany, the postcard was postmarked in Americus on September 25, 1908.

    On the back, B.P. wrote the following note to Mr. C.F. Wade in South Carolina:

    “I don’t owe you a card but will send you this to show you some of Americus.

    Hello, how do you like this?

    Do you ever see Miss Maggie? Am at
    home to day – Sumter Co”

    Well, that’s definitely some of Americus.