DEC 1 92005 NATIONAL REGISTER of HISTOF Icv RATION FORM
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
"ECEIVEO 2280 NPS Form 10-800 OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service DEC 1 92005 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTOF ICv RATION FORM This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for in II n In il |lin|n llllil in flliinftt'""irii jn^li tctions in "Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms" (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking V in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable " For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories Rsted in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name West Point Commercial Historic District other names/site number N/A 2. Location street & number Roughly bounded by 4th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, West 9th Street, and West 7th Street city, town West Point ( ) vicinity of county Troup code GA285 state Georgia code GA zip code 31833 ( ) not for publication 3. Classification Ownership of Property: Category of Property: (X) private ( ) building(s) ( ) public-local (X) district ( ) public-state ( ) site (X) public-federal ( ) structure ( ) object Number of Resources within Property: Contributing Noncontributino buildings 38 20 sites 0 0 structures 1 0 objects 0 0 total 39 20 Contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: N/A Name of previous listing: N/A Name of related multiple property listing: N/A West Point Commercial Historic District, Troup County, Georgia 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination 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. In my opinion, the property meets the National Register criteria. () See continuation sheet. *? /i d (On Signature ofcertifyingfcertifyi official Date W. Ray Luce Historic Preservation Division Director Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer In my opinion, the property () meets () does not meet the National Register criteria. () See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency or bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: (V) entered in the National Register ( ) determined eligible for the National Register ( ) determined not eligible for the National Register ( ) removed from the National Register ( ) other, explain: ( ) see continuation sheet Ceeper of the National Register Date West Point Commercial Historic District, Troup County, Georgia 6. Function or Use Historic Functions: COMMERCE/TRADE: business COMMERCE/TRADE: professional COMMERCE/TRADE: financial institution COMMERCE/TRADE: specialty store COMMERCE/TRADE: department store COMMERCE/TRADE: restaurant COMMERCE/TRADE: warehouse GOVERNMENT: post office Current Functions: COMMERCE/TRADE: business COMMERCE/TRADE: professional COMMERCE/TRADE: financial institution COMMERCE/TRADE: specialty store COMMERCE/TRADE: department store COMMERCE/TRADE: restaurant GOVERNMENT: post office 7. Description Architectural Classification: LATE VICTORIAN LATE 19™ AND EARLY 20™ CENTURY REVIVALS: Classical Revival LATE 19™ AND EARLY 20™ CENTURY AMERICAN MOVEMENTS: Commercial Style MODERN MOVEMENT: Modeme Materials: foundation BRICK walls BRICK STUCCO roof ASPHALT STONE: slate other CONCRETE CERAMIC TILE GLASS West Point Commercial Historic District, Troup County, Georgia NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approved No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section 7-Description Description of present and historic physical appearance: Located 16 miles southwest of LaGrange, the county seat of Troup County, the West Point Commercial Historic District is situated along the west side of the Chattahoochee River at the Georgia-Alabama state line. Despite frequent floods, fires, and tornados throughout the historic period, all of which have left distinctive marks on the built environment, the West Point Commercial Historic District continuous to serve as a commercial center in Troup County and the surrounding areas in both Georgia and Alabama. The district encompasses the intact, contiguous, historic commercial development of the city of West Point. The city was laid out in a gridiron plan with avenues trending parallel to the river and streets perpendicular to the river. The Atlanta and West Point Railroad (now CSX) forms the eastern boundary of the district and the Georgia-Alabama state line is on the western boundary. The boundaries of the district are roughly 4th Avenue on the west, 2nd Avenue and the railroad on the east, West 9th Street on the north, and West 7th Street on the south. The main commercial blocks face the avenues with a few one-story buildings facing the streets (see photograph 23 of 3rd Avenue and photograph 17 of West 8th Street). Many of the buildings and sidewalks are elevated as much as three feet in the district due to periodic flooding throughout West Point's history (photographs 10. Historic commercial buildings in the district area are generally one- and two-story, attached, brick commercial buildings constructed in the late 19th through early 20th centuries. Most of the buildings within the district exhibit the simple detailing characteristic of the Commercial style including decorative brickwork, ornamental cornices, and transoms over the storefronts. Good examples of late 19th-century commercial buildings in the district include the 1884 Lanier Building, the 1907 Neoclassical Revival-style Bank of West Point, the 1890 Heyman-Merz Building, and the 1884 Atkinson Building; these four two-story buildings form the core of the business district at the four corners of the intersection of 3rd Avenue and West 8th Street (photographs 1-5). At three stories, the Lanier Building (also known as the First National Bank and Opera House, 800 3rd Avenue) was West Point's tallest building when it was constructed by brothers Ward Crockett Lanier and LaFayette Lanier in 1884 (photograph 4, right). A bank and several businesses occupied the first story. The general offices of the West Point Manufacturing Company were located on the second floor until 1950. The third floor served as the city's opera house, which seated 600 people and featured frequent live performances, including a production of The Mikado in November 1885. The third floor was completely destroyed by the tornado of March 28,1920, and was never rebuilt (see Attachment 1). Today, the two lower floors house several business offices. The Atkinson Building, located at 803 3rd Avenue, was constructed in 1884 by Nathan L. Atkinson, Sr., who owned most of the block at one time. A variety of businesses including Woolworth's have occupied the building throughout its history. Although the building has lost its decorative pediment and storefront, it still retains its historic massing and anchors a comer in the main intersection of downtown (see photograph 4 and attachment 2). West Point Commercial Historic District, Troup County, Georgia 4 NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approved No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section /-Description The Heyman-Merz Building (727 3rd Avenue) was built in 1890 by Heyman Heyman and Daniel Merz on the site of their first building, which was built in 1854 when the business was founded (photograph 1, left). The two-story building is an excellent example of a Victorian-era commercial building with elaborate, decorative brickwork. The loss of the building's triangular pediment is the only major change to the exterior since it was built. Heyman, Merz & Co. closed its business in 1928, and in the following years the building housed several businesses including J.C. Penney & Co. (see Attachment 3). The former Bank of West Point is located at 726-730 3rd Avenue and was constructed in 1907 (photograph 3). The Neoclassical-style, two-story, brick building has a comer entrance with two- story monumental engaged Ionic columns on brick piers; arched windows; brick pediments and quoins; and a heavy cornice with modillions and dentils. The oldest extant building in the district is the warehouse building located at the corner of 3rd Avenue and West 9th Street (photographs 10 rear, 12, and 13). The two-story brick building was constructed c.1870 and fills a city block. The rear of the building backs up to the railroad tracks for freight loading. The building retains its round-arched windows and parapet. The former West Point Coca-Cola Bottling Company is located at 901 3rd Avenue (photograph 11). The two-story brick building has lost its storefront and decorative parapet but still retains its form, second-story, round-arched windows, and front facade corner and second-story windows. The one-story brick building at 824 3rd Avenue is the former A & P Grocery store (photograph 10, front). The building has a long storefront with brick pilasters and round-arched windows, and decorative brickwork along the cornice. The sidewalk in front of the building is a good example of the raised sidewalks in downtown as a result of numerous floods. The district has numerous good