Monastery at Large

Category: Art Deco

  • A.S. Beck (1936) – New York

    A.S. Beck (1936). 128 W. 34th Street, New York.
    A.S. Beck (1936). 128 W. 34th Street, New York.1

    Is it a relic sign or a fine example of Art Deco architecture? The answer is both.

    I admired this swanky old Manhattan storefront for years on my walks to and from Moynihan Train Hall, but for some reason, I only recently thought to take a picture of it.

    It was easy to find the opening-day newspaper advertisements for the A.S. Beck shoe store, but I’ve yet to determine the designer. Whoever it was, they did a swell job.

    Location of A.S. Beck

    References

    1. Advertisement. Daily News (New York), September 18, 1936, p. 16. ↩︎

  • 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. ↩︎

  • 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). ↩︎

  • Kress (1930) – Durham, North Carolina

    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1933). Durham, North Carolina.
    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1933). Durham, North Carolina.1 2
    Looking up at the north facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Looking up at the north facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Sign above first-floor window on the northeast corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Sign above first-floor window on the northeast corner of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Fourth-floor window on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Fourth-floor window on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Fourth-floor window on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Decorated spandrel on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Pilaster on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Pilaster on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Decorated spandrel on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    Decorated spandrel on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    First-floor ornamentation on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina
    First-floor ornamentation on the east facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Durham, North Carolina

    References

    1. “Kress Will Open Handsome New Building Today”. Durham Morning Herald (Durham, North Carolina), July 11, 1930, Section II, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “Hundreds Attend Opening Of New S.H. Kress Store”. The Durham Sun (Durham, North Carolina), July 11, 1930, p. 10-A. ↩︎

  • Kress (1930) – Greensboro, North Carolina

    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1930). Greensboro, North Carolina.
    Edward F. Sibbert. S.H. Kress & Co. (1930). Greensboro, North Carolina.1 2
    Sign and fourth-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Sign and fourth-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Ornamentation on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Ornamentation on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Decorated spandrels between the second and third-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Decorated spandrels between the second and third-floor windows on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Looking up at S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Looking up at S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Ornamentation on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Ornamentation on the facade of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Canopy and sign on the ground floor of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
    Canopy and sign on the ground floor of S.H. Kress & Co., Greensboro, North Carolina

    References

    1. “Two Large Building Projects Involve $559,837”. Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), November 5, 1929, p. 15. ↩︎
    2. “Ready For Business”. Greensboro Daily Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), May 1, 1930, p. 16. ↩︎

  • Watts Building (1928) – Birmingham, Alabama

    Warren, Knight & Davis. Watts Building (1928). Birmingham, Alabama.
    Warren, Knight & Davis. Watts Building (1928). Birmingham, Alabama.1 2
    Looking at the top of the Watts Building from the southwest
    Looking at the top of the Watts Building from the southwest
    Looking up at the Watts Building from the northwest
    Looking up at the Watts Building from the northwest
    Windows on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Windows on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Looking at the 14th floor of the Watts Building from the southwest
    Looking at the 14th floor of the Watts Building from the southwest
    Windows on the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Windows on the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Looking at the southwest corner of the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Looking at the southwest corner of the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Looking at the northwest corner of the Watts Building, Birmingham. Alabama
    Looking at the northwest corner of the Watts Building, Birmingham. Alabama
    Looking up at the Watts Building from the northwest
    Looking up at the Watts Building from the northwest
    Canopy and entrance on the south elevation of the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Canopy and entrance on the south elevation of the Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Looking up at the Watts Building from the southwest
    Looking up at the Watts Building from the southwest
    Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama
    Watts Building, Birmingham, Alabama

    References

    1. “Watts Skyscraper Opens Doors”. The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama), September 23, 1928, Watts Section, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “Architects Well Known”. The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama), September 23, 1928, Watts Section, p. 2. ↩︎

  • Regenstein’s (1930) – Atlanta

    Pringle & Smith. Regenstein's (1930). Atlanta.
    Pringle & Smith. Regenstein’s (1930). Atlanta.1 2 3 4
    Windows, spandrels, and ornamentation on the facade of Regenstein's
    Windows, spandrels, and ornamentation on the facade of Regenstein’s
    Peters Land Company insignia on the facade of Regenstein's
    Peters Land Company insignia on the facade of Regenstein’s
    Ornamentation on the facade of Regenstein's
    Ornamentation on the facade of Regenstein’s
    Stringcourse on the facade of Regenstein's
    Stringcourse on the facade of Regenstein’s
    Regenstein's circa 1939
    Regenstein’s circa 19395

    References

    1. “Regenstein Plans Peachtree Store”. The Atlanta Constitution, June 23, 1929, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “Regenstein Company Leases New Peachtree Building”. The Atlanta Journal, June 23, 1929, p. D9. ↩︎
    3. “New Regenstein Home Will Open At 209 Peachtree”. The Atlanta Journal, February 23, 1930, p. 8A. ↩︎
    4. Application for Building Permit, July 27, 1929 ↩︎
    5. “Pages From Regenstein’s Family Album” (advertisement). The Atlanta Constitution, December 14, 1939, p. 5C. ↩︎