National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
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NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 107 State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this _X__ additional documentation ___ move ___ removal ___ name change (additional documentation) ___ other meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. _______________________________________________________________________________ Signature of Certifying Official/Title: Date of Action National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register __ additional documentation accepted other (explain:) _____________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 108 MCCURDY HOTEL Owner: BVFL I FI MCCURDY LLC 101-111 Southeast First Street 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 1917 DESCRIPTION: The McCurdy Hotel located at 101-111 SE First Street, on the southwest corner of Locust and SE First Street. The building is constructed out of brick and limestone and has a flat roof with elevator overruns. An overhanging eave with an Italianate cornice with paired brackets and dentils is located along the roofline. The eight-story, three-part block commercial building has a U-shape with a central two-story mass on the west façade, which connects the two wings of the eight-story U shape. The first story of the building features steel, fixed windows set in groups of three with a paneled bulkhead, transoms, and are divided by limestone, partially fluted, Doric pilasters. The east façade features a central set of double wood doors with a single center light, sidelights, and flanked by sconces. The second and third story windows directly above the entrance feature limestone balustrades, supported by brackets. South of the primary entrance is a sinlge commercial glass and metal door set within the center opening of the three-light fixed window. North, east, and west façade fenestration on the upper stories are one-over-one, double-hung windows. Windows are paired with the exception of the outer bays. Second story windows feature a limestone frame with keystone and quoins. A limestone belt course entablature separates the second and third stories and acts as a sill for the third-story windows. Fenestration on the fourth through seventh floors feature limestone sills. The outer bays on the third through seventh floors feature limestone tiles in the lintel corners. The west façade entrance for the hotel is located on two-story connector mass. A three-bay, flat roof, entry porch with balustrade parapet and supported by Doric columns, shelters the set of single-paned wooden double-doors, featuring a wood mullioned glass door surround. The outer north bay on the porch is infilled and the outer south bay is open with a spindle balustrade. North of the porch are fixed ribbon windows with a central bay window above a concrete ramp that leads to underground parking. South of the porch is a secondary entrance with double doors and mullioned glass door surround. Flanking the entrance are six-mullioned fixed windows. The central paired windows on the second through seventh stories of the outer wings feature a narrow balcony. The second and third story balconies are limestone with supporting brackets, while the upper balconies have a simple steel balustrade. The eighth story features full-height single mullioned picture windows. NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 109 The interior of the building has been significantly altered since its original construction. A commercial space accessible by the outer bay of the east façade features large wooden posts, hardwood floors, drywall, and a decorative inset circle on the ceiling. A hotel occupies the majority of the building and features crown molding, paired pilasters, and marble flooring. The main lobby on the west façade features high coffered ceilings with frosted glass, a mezzanine with an ornate gold chromed metal balustrade with wood railing, fluted pilasters, and a decorative cornice. Light fixture includes chandeliers and rectangular hanging lights. A marble- clad staircase accesses the second story mezzanine. The second story of the building features large fluted pillars with an ornate capital and elaborate brackets. Two elevators access the upper stories. The second story flooring is a combination of marble and patterned carpeting. Hallway walls include a chair rail, andsingle wood-paneled doors leading to the individual hotel rooms have a fixed transom. SIGNIFICANCE: Originally known as the Hotel McCurdy, when it opened in 1917, the building took place of the former St. George’s Hotel, which has since been demolished. The building’s historical significance relates to its status as a premier hotel in Downtown Evansville, as its presence spurred tourism and commercial activity in the area, and for its architecture, as an excellent example of a Renaissance Revival style commercial building. Construction on Hotel McCurdy was financed by William McCurdy and designed by architect H. Ziegler Dietz from St. Louis. The grand, eight-story Renaissance Revival building, cost three quarters of a million dollars to erect. The building accommodated multiple retail stores on its first level including a drug store, a barber shor, a restaurant, a bar, a dressmaker’s shop, and a hair salon. Newspaper articles published during the time Hotel McCurdy was constructed describe the majestic details of the “magnificent” lobby and “wonderful” hotel rooms noting that all rooms were outside rooms, with none facing the courtyard. Guests appreciated the exceptional quality of food and immense services provided. Such services included laundry facilities and a 100-foot by 50-foot ballroom on the eighth floor. Hotel McCurdy (McCurdy Hotel) is historically significant under Criterion A of the NRHP for its association with hotel commerce in Evansville, and for being one of two extant pre-Depression era hotels in the city. The building is also historically significant under Criterion C of the NRHP as an exceptional example of an early twentieth century Renaissance Revival style commercial building in the City of Evansville. NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 110 Geographical Data: Acreage: 1.07 UTM Reference: 16 449636 E 4202456 N Boundary: Parcel ID – 82-06-30-020-005.002-029 References: 1917 Evansville Courier and Press “New Hotel McCurdy is Magnificent and Complete”. July 1, 1917. Page 24. PHOTOS: McCurdy Hotel, under construction dated 1917 Courtesy of the Willard Library, Historic Photo Collection NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 111 Hotel McCurdy Postcard, Looking northeast across Riverside Courtesy of Historic Evansville, http://www.historicevansville.com/image.php?id=commercial%2FMcCurdy+-+postcard+3.jpg NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 112 McCurdy Hotel, Lobby, circa 1920s Courtesy of the Willard Library, Historic Photo Collection NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Resources of Downtown Evansville – United States Department of the Interior McCurdy Hotel Put Here National Park Service Name of Property Vanderburgh, Indianan County and State National Register of Historic Places 82000109 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Section number F Page 113 Date Photographed: December 2019 IN_VanderburghCounty_EvansvilleDowntownMPDF_0038 McCurdy Hotel at 101-111 SE First Street, southwest