Monastery at Large

Category: G.L. Norrman

  • Postcards from the South: IC Depot – New Orleans

    Postcard view of the IC Depot, New Orleans

    This undated postcard depicts the Illinois Central (IC) Depot in New Orleans, later referred to as Union Station, opened in 18921 2 and demolished in 1954.3 4

    Officially credited to Louis Sullivan, the project likely had at least some input from Sullivan’s assistant at the time, Frank Lloyd Wright, who drafted the station’s blueprints.5

    In the depot design, you can spot the nascent elements of what would become the Prairie School style: the low-slung composition, hip roof, wide eaves, and patterned grouping of windows on the side were all radically different from the prevailing architecture of the time—certainly in the Deep South.

    That’s not to say it was an attractive building, though. In fact, I would consider it downright ugly. The New Orleans press apparently agreed, with the Times-Picayune saying rather demurely at the station’s opening:

    “It is not the finest depot in America, but it is a comfortable, ornamental building…”6

    Ouch.

    My pet theory is that the IC Depot’s design influenced G.L. Norrman—you knew I’d fit him into this somehow.

    Norrman visited New Orleans at least four times between 1893 and 1894,7 8 9 10 11and he must have seen the structure. Within a few years, he fully embraced low-slung buildings with hip roofs, though he began heading in that direction with his design for the C.D. Hurt Residence in 1893.

    Note the similarities between the depot and Norrman’s design for the Eureka Hotel (1902), or better yet, Denmark Hall (1901), which included a hip roof, thin chimneys, a porch lined with columns, and a second-floor balustrade, much like the depot.

    There’s no such thing as original art.

    References

    1. “The Railroads.” The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), June 1, 1892, p. 9. ↩︎
    2. “Railroad Racket.” The Times-Democrat (New Orleans), June 1, 1892, p. 9. ↩︎
    3. “Partial Use of New R.R. Station Is Slated to Start Next Friday”. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans), January 3, 1954, p. 1. ↩︎
    4. “Train Service Is Inaugurated in Union Passenger Facility”. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans), January 9, 1954, p. 1. ↩︎
    5. Louis Sullivan’s sophisticated Union Depot welcomed train passengers to New Orleans for more than 60 years | Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans ↩︎
    6. “The Railroads.” The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), June 1, 1892, p. 9. ↩︎
    7. “The Social World.” The Atlanta Journal, December 9, 1893, p. 10. ↩︎
    8. “Personal”. The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), December 24, 1893, p. 8. ↩︎
    9. “Society”. The Atlanta Journal, January 17, 1894, p. 2. ↩︎
    10. “Personal.” The Times Democrat (New Orleans), June 22, 1894, p. 3. ↩︎
    11. “In the Social World.” The Atlanta Journal, November 30, 1894, p. 2. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: First Baptist Church – Atlanta (again)

    Postcard view of First Baptist Church (1905), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1906.

    Published by I.F. Co. of Atlanta, the card was postmarked in Boston, of all places, on February 20, 1917, and addressed to Mrs. Caroline W. Latham of 92 Forest Avenue in Portland, Maine.

    Katherine wrote on the back:

    “Arlington

    Thank you so much for sending Dorothy the cute valentine which she has enjoyed very much. We are all well and send love. Feb 19th”

  • Postcards from the South: First Baptist Church – Atlanta

    Postcard view of First Baptist Church (1906), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1906.

    Published by Witt Bros. of Atlanta and printed in Berlin, Germany, the postcard was postmarked in Atlanta on May 18, 1908, and addressed to Miss Mammie Homburg of 701 15th Street in Detroit.

    The back of the postcard includes the following note:

    “Mary: Got your postals ok. They were fine Tell Ida I got her also that I will look for a good one to send to her. They have more churches in Atlanta than any thing else. Say went Mary your name. I thought so that was why I wrote it like that Earl“

    The church thing certainly isn’t true anymore.

  • Postcards from the South: Troy Graded School – Troy, Alabama

    Postcard view of Graded School (1904), Troy, Alabama

    This postcard depicts the Graded School in Troy, Alabama, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1904.

    Published by the Adolph Selige Publishing Company of St. Louis, the card was postmarked in Troy on November 29, 1912, and addressed to Mrs. P.H. Tatum of West Point, Georgia.

    “On the back of the card is the following note:

    “Mrs. Tatum

    I will express you and the boys a small box tomorrow Saturday.

    Charley L.”

    Hope the boys enjoyed the small box.

  • Postcards from the South: Candler Hall – Athens, Georgia (yet again)

    Postcard view of Candler Hall, (1902), Athens, Georgia

    This postcard depicts Candler Hall at the University of Georgia in Athens, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1902.

    Published by the E.C. Kropp Company of Milwaukee, the card was postmarked in Anderson, South Carolina, on January 1, 1927, and addressed to John Sherman of Saginaw, Michigan.

    The following note is written on the back:

    “Dec 31 – 1926!

    Dear Sister + Brother!

    We got here at 12.O clock this noon – the Roads here are the worst We ever had – the Mud is up to the axle but We got through O.K. We did not leave Atlanta untill Friday Morning because Lulu – done some collecting and did not get through before the Weather – was cold – last Thursday night – it froze Ice – With Love Your:

    Carl M. + Lulu C. Pohl“

    Sure, Carl, blame Lulu.

  • Postcards from the South: Eureka Hotel – Abbeville, South Carolina

    Postcard view of Eureka Hotel (1903), Abbeville, South Carolina

    This postcard depicts the Eureka Hotel in Abbeville, South Carolina, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1903.

    Published by C.A. Milford & Co. of Abbeville and printed in Germany, the card was postmarked in Abbeville on May 5, year unknown, and addressed to Mrs. Hugh Beacham in Havelock, North Carolina.

    The following note is written on the back:

    “Hope every body O.K. in Havelock am having very nice time to be on sticks but do not have to walk any Leave for Atla to day guy”

  • Postcards from the South: Candler Hall – Athens, Georgia (again)

    Postcard view of Candler Hall (1902), Athens, Georgia

    This postcard depicts Candler Hall at the University of Georgia in Athens, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1902.

    M.R. helpfully marks “My room” with an “X” on the front, and writes perfunctorily on the back:

    “Wed. Morning
    Sep. 1 – 7 A.M.

    Mailed my letter this morning on the train, just a few minutes after writing it. Am leaving hotel new for depot. Address me Collins, Ga.”

    Published by the McGregor Company of Athens, the card was postmarked in Athens at 11 a .m. on September 1, 1909, and addressed to Miss Bessie Rogers of 118 N. Wilmington Street in Raleigh, North Carolina.

  • Postcards from the South: Denmark Hall – Athens, Georgia

    Postcard view of main dining room in Denmark Hall (1902), Athens, Georgia

    This postcard depicts the main dining room of Denmark Hall at the University of Georgia in Athens, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1902.

    Copyrighted by Salter, the card was postmarked in Carlton, Georgia, on August 25, 1907, and addressed to Mr. H.P. Heath in Talbotton, Georgia.

    Written on the back is the following note:

    “Hope to see you in Athens by the 14th at the latest. I think I’ll go up on the 12th. Yours Jo”

    A woman with a plan—I like.

  • Postcards from the South: Candler Hall – University of Georgia, Athens

    Postcard view of Candler Hall (1902), Athens, Georgia

    This postcard depicts Candler Hall at the University of Georgia in Athens, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1902.

    The front of the card is dated October 7, 1907, and includes the note: “I room with Mary Lucy STANSELL of Conyers, a fine girl I tell you.”

    Published by The McGregor Company of Athens, the card was postmarked as “Normal School” on November 11, 1907, and addressed to Miss Lennie Ware of Winder, Georgia.

    Lucy wrote on the back:

    ‘I saw “Cousin Dick” this A.M. Also “Cousin Will.”

    My dear Lennie: –

    I received your card yesterday

    I was more than glad to hear from you once again.

    I met “Icie” this A.M. I like her so much. I am sorry I haven’t known her sooner.

    Lennie, you write to me please. I wrote you aways in the summer but you have never answered it. Dear do come to see me real soon. I am crazy to see you. Write soon. With love, Lucy.’

    Lucy dear, get the hint: Lennie finds you annoying. You sound needy as hell. And what exactly are you doing with that “Cousin Dick”?

  • Postcards from the South: Christian Science Church – Atlanta

    Postcard view of Christian Science Church (1899), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the Christian Science Church in Atlanta, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1899.

    Written on the front is the following note:

    “May 14, ’07

    Am addressing this Sacramento for fear you have not received your Yosemite mail. Beautiful weather here. I am fine + dandy. Business is on the move.”

    Published by the Witt Brothers of Atlanta and printed in Germany, the card was postmarked in Atlanta on May 14, 1907, and addressed to Miss Grace B. Smith at Box 165 Davis Ave, Sacramento California R.F.D. #2 International Hotel, Yosemite Cal., and received in Yosemite, California, on May 25, 1907.

    Got all that?