Lost Hickory. Leslie Keller. a compendium of vanished landmarks. Hickory Landmarks Society, Inc. chapter title

Transcription

1 Lost Hickory a compendium of vanished landmarks Leslie Keller Hickory Landmarks Society, Inc. 2 chapter title

2 p r e fa c e L ost Hickory: A Compendium of Vanished Landmarks has its origins in an earlier publication Hickory Landmarks Society s From Tavern To Town, Revisited by Albert Keiser, Jr. and Angela May Lambert. In 2004, while helping prepare the manuscript of that work, which documents the local structures of historic and architectural significance that still stand, I mused that the organization needed to produce a volume about the buildings that had been lost. Executive Director Patrick Daily suggested that we start collecting images and information toward that goal. I have been working steadily ever since, amassing information and distilling it into manuscript form, preserving in print those structures which vanished before Hickory Landmarks Society was formed in 1968, as well as some that have eluded efforts to save them since. I hope that you enjoy Lost Hickory: A Compendium of Vanished Landmarks. This book is limited in scope as described in the Introduction. The properties that were chosen for inclusion are those which fit the geographic and time period parameters and for which I uncovered the most information. If something is missing that you believe should be included please share information and images with the Hickory Landmarks Society for future publications. Acknowledgements Thanks to Hickory Landmarks Society s Board of Directors and Executive Director Patrick Daily for giving me the opportunity to write this book. Thanks 8 chapter title especially to Patrick for letting me make Lost Hickory a priority and allowing me to spend hours doing research away from the office. Special thanks to local artist Tom Stine for yet another amazingly beautiful work of art for the cover. This project was supported by the United Arts Council of Catawba County through the North Carolina Arts Council, with funding from the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts. The sponsors listed elsewhere in the book were, likewise, critical to financing the research, design and printing of the book. A heartfelt thank you goes to Nathan Moehlmann of Goosepen Studio & Press for generously sharing his wealth of design knowledge and patiently helping me to set up the manuscript. Many thanks go to Albert Keiser, Jr. for sharing his knowledge and bringing in research discoveries. Thanks also to Wayne Bowman for assistance in identifying images. The most special thanks goes to my trusty research assistant Betty Keller (also known as Mom) for reading far too many rolls of microfilm and spending a great deal of time researching deeds. I couldn t have done it without you. Leslie Keller October 15,

3 Throughout the twentieth century, with the exception of two world war eras, Hickory continued to expand. As the city became more cosmopolitan, commercial development and industry increased to meet the needs of a growing population. Residential areas shifted away from downtown to suburban neighborhoods causing the structural character of Hickory to change. Original buildings along the railroad, once considered to be the height of architectural fashion, vanished from the landscape. Lost Hickory: A Compendium of Vanished Landmarks preserves in print buildings of historic and architectural significance within the original one-mile city limits depicted on the 1886 R.A. Yoder Map. 6 Structures included were built before 1935 and are no longer standing. Essentials include a brief historical abstract, a brief architectural description, an original address, and an approximate site location today. The structures inventoried are grouped into four categories: churches, schools, homes and businesses. Hickory s streets have been renamed a number of times over the years. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Hickory were produced periodically from 1885 through 1948 and help to trace the progression of street names. On early maps many of the streets were named for a prominent resident who lived there. Others were named for a particular feature. The current Second Street Northwest was initially called Shuford Street because Adolphus Shuford had a residence on the northwest corner of the intersection where banks stand today. Fourth Street NW was named Champion Street for a resident and later known as Church Street when First Baptist, First Methodist and Holy Trinity built churches facing the street. A 1907 mail Union Square, looking west, ca Courtesy of Catawba County Historical Association. Early chroniclers of Hickory s history recorded an abundance of growth in the 1870s. One of Hickory s early mayors, Andrew H. Shuford wrote in praise of Hickory in the Charlotte Democrat newspaper on January 18, 1870: It is a thriving town of several hundred inhabitants, and has been built up since the close of the war. There are ten stores and a number of work shops carried on and every thing needed in any part of the country can be obtained at this place. 3 Frank A. Clinard arrived in Hickory in September, 1873 and soon wrote to his parents Hickory still improves, there is a three story store going up next lot below this one. It is to be a large house, but I think the people here will over do the thing with stores. There is from 20 to 25 here now, & more going up. The place is larger than I thought it was when I first came. 4 The 1880s brought diversity to the economy of the area. More industries came to town. The 1880 Federal Census listed a total of 3073 inhabitants in Hickory Township, with 644 families occupying 605 residences. Heads of household practiced professions that included doctor, dentist, jeweler and hotel owner. 5 Educational institutions were founded and cultural events became a priority with the building of an opera house. 16 introduction: architectural evolution of downtown hickory introduction: architectural evolution of downtown hickory 17

4 sixty-four rooms, besides spacious dining rooms, parlors, sample rooms, halls and corridors, all of which will be steam heated. A private electric plant will furnish the lights, and operate passenger and trunk elevators. There will be rooms in suits with private baths and every modern convenience required by the most fastidious, besides ample provisions, for less pretentious, in order to meet any demand arising. J. Weston Clinard recalled that during the period when the hotel was under construction there was a contest to name the new structure. It was won be Bascom Blackwelder who combined the last names of owners Huffman and Fry to create the name Hotel Huffry. In early September 1909 the Hickory Democrat announced that the owners expected to have the hotel open to the public within the month. They described its porches, a feature that would become a favorite of the citizens, It has wide verandas along the Northern and Western side on the first and second stories, and a tower extending above the roof, from which an extensive view of the surrounding country can be obtained. The grand opening was announced for October 7, 1909 with two receptions, dinner and dancing in the new ballroom. On October 14, 1909 The Hickory Democrat reported that 1500 people had attended the receptions and 300 the dinner. The reporter opined, The building itself is not only one of the best in the South, but the best arranged and furnished hotel to be found anywhere. Local pride in the hotel and the significance of the site were apparent in the 1911 account of the Hotel in Hahn s Catawba Soldier. He wrote, The new Huffry Hotel stands almost on the site of the old Hickory Tavern. A glance at the pictures of each will illustrate the transformation which has taken place and which applies as well to almost every other department of the city s life. The Huffry is thoroughly equipped with 120 chapter four: thriving businesses modern conveniences and offers first-class accommodation to the tourist and the traveling public. On July 4, 1947 it was announced in the Hickory Daily Record that the hotel and an annex were scheduled to be sold at auction on July 12. Since the deaths of the original owners, Dr. Fry in 1913 and Huffman in 1919, the hotel had been sold four times. In 1925, after two changes or ownership, it was purchased by Eubert and George Lyerly, Alex Shuford, Sr. and J.A. Moretz. In 1945 they sold the hotel to the Granite Cordage Company. The future of the hotel seemed to be in question. Hotel Huffry continued to stand for more than twenty years after the 1945 auction. It experienced two names changes, operating as the Earle Hotel and then the Bates Hotel. The once majestic building fell into decline. On August 8, 1968 the Hickory Daily Record carried the account of its final closing. The doors had been nailed shut. The article pronounced, What once was one of Hickory s most fashionable hotels and eating places will soon be only a nostalgic memory to older residents of the city. Hotel Hickory The Hickory Hotel Company was formed in 1924 to build a truly modern hotel for downtown Hickory. As recounted by J. Weston Clinard, Hotel Hickory was built by the sale of stock which was offered to all citizens. The sale was conducted in much the same manner as the U.S. War Bond sales. Many people, such as myself for instance, bought only one $100 share, not in the hope of gain, but just to be a little help in seeing that Hickory had an up-to-date and adequate hotel. A ca pamphlet called, A modern hotel for Hickory, North Carolina: community built, Hotel Hickory from the east. Courtesy of Eric Fritz.

5 Hotel Hickory. Hotel Hickory implosion July 30, Southern Railway Freight Depot (north side of tracks). community owned was prepared by the Hickory Hotel Company to explain their goals. One of its objectives was a prime location: Much of the success of any modern hotel depends upon its location. The question of convenience to the commercial man and the tourist, its accessibility as a lunching place for the business man, its adaptability as a social center, the income from rentals of ground-floor shops all of these must be considered. With this in mind, they had purchased the lot at the corner of First Avenue and First Street NW, from J.F. Abernethy and his wife for $25,000. Abernethy moved the house standing on the lot and by October, 1925 the Sanborn Map showed plans for the new high-rise hotel. A Hickory Daily Record article from Spring, 1962 entitled, Hotel Hickory Opened for Business on July 15, 1926 traced the incorporation of the Hickory Hotel Company to January 12, 1924 and stated that the Chamber of Commerce sold the stock. The general contractor for the original construction was the Walter Kitter Company of New York. The building was extensively remodeled and refurnished in June, Air conditioning was installed by Ingold & Company of Hickory. The furniture came from Hickory Manufacturing Company. It continued, At present the hotel has 102 rooms, each with private bath, and is air-conditioned throughout. The hotel s ballroom has long been a meeting place for Hickory s prominent civic clubs. In the early 1970s, the Hotel Hickory was imploded to make way for a new bank building. The local newspapers covered the story on Monday, July 31, The First National Bank, which had acquired the site had determined that it would be impractical to convert it into a banking house according to The Hickory Daily Record. The Observer News Enterprise reported the same day in an article entitled, Thousands See Hotel Hickory Topple Into Big Rubble Pile, It is expected that the debris will be removed from the site in one to two weeks, after which a new First National Bank of Catawba County building will be constructed on the site. The implosion not only attracted a crowd it was covered by the television stations in Charlotte. Southern Railway Depot The first depot in Hickory was built ca on land deeded to the railroad company for that purpose by Henry Robinson in That building with long platforms on both ends stood on the north side of the tracks and east of the present building. On April 24, 1890 the Press and Carolinian reported a slight move of the depot building, saying The depot is now being raised from the hole in which is was built and will be moved back a few feet from its former resting place and have a platform extending in front to the railroad tracks. The Hickory Democrat for September 27, 1906 announced that work would begin on a new freight depot by November 1. Instead, the existing depot was expanded during 1907.* J.L. Latta wrote on November 14, 1936: The present freight depot is the original Western North Carolina freight and passenger depot, except it has been doubled in length westward. The partition which now divides the office part from the warehouse was there when the depot was built before the Civil war. Formerly what is now the office part was divided by another partition, running east-and-west, making two rooms of the office part. The room on the south side was the so-called waiting room for prospective passengers, 122 chapter four: thriving businesses chapter four: thriving businesses 123