Downtown Bessemer Historic District Jefferson ALABAMA Property Name County State
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NP8 Form 1MOO* OM8 Approval No. 1024-0018 \««Blm mmf United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number ___ Page ___ SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 92000852 Date Listed: 7/15/92 Downtown Bessemer Historic District Jefferson ALABAMA Property Name County State Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. Signatufcfe of the Temper Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Section No. 3 This nomination is amended to show the count as 70 contributing buildings, 71 non-contributing buildings, and 6 non-contributing sites (for a total of 77 non-contributing resources). This change was confirmed by phone with the Alabama SHPO (7/15/92). DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) NP8 Form 10400« 0MB Appro*! No. 1024-0018 (MB) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number ___ Page ___ SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 92000852 Date Listed: 7/15/92 Downtown Bessemer Historic District Jefferson ALABAMA Property Name County State Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. 4Z____ Signature of the/Keeper Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Section No. 3 This nomination is amended to show the count as 70 contributing buildings, 71 non-contributing buildings, and 6 non-contributing sites (for a total of 77 non-contributing resources). Section No. 10 The verbal boundary description is amended to conform with the site map, which shows that the city park is not included in the boundaries of the district. These changes were confirmed by phone with the Alabama SHPO (7/15/92 and 10/15/92). DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) ' United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Section number ——— Page SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 92000852 Date Listed: 7/15/92 Downtown Bessemer Historic District Jefferson AL Property Name County State N/A Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. / Signature of /&\& Keeper Date of Action ~ ^ ' "" _--......... • . .. Amended Items in Nomination: Resource Count/Significance: The property at 315 N. Nineteenth Street (Patton Block) is considered a contributing resource within the Downtown Bessemer Historic District. [The two-story brick Patton Block is a modest example of late nineteenth-century commercial design and contributes to the significance of the district as a cohesive inner-city commercial neighborhood associated with the dramatic upbuilding of the community of Bessemer during the turn-of-the-century period. First occupied by local businessman J. B. Patton, the property at 315 N. Nineteenth Street retains integrity of location, scale, setting, materials, and association. The recent removal of a modern (c.1970) replacement facade revealed original architectural features.] This information was confirmed with the Alabama SHPO. DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) NFS Form 10400 (Rev. 8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing Naticnal Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" 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 listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property __________________________ historic name Downtown Bessemer Historic District other names/fiite number same 2. Location street & number See verbal boundary description ft AJ not for publication city, town Bessemer K A I vicinity state Alabama code AL county Jefferson code 073 zip code 35020 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property PH private I I building(s) Contributing Noncontributing PH public-local lx~l district 67 64 buildings HI pudlic-State EH site 8 sites I I public-Federal I I structure ____ structures I I object ____ objects 67 72 Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously MA listed in the National Register 1_____ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic_Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this H nomination EH request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places ajiehmeets (h^prbcedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, tJTe_piopert^S3^*ts LJ does fiotrpejt the National Register criteria. EH See continuation sheet. Signature of certifying~o1ficiar~" "^ Date Alabama Historical Commission ("State Historic Preservation Office') State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property 1 _I meets 1 _ Idoes not meet the National Register criteria. EH See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: entered in the National Register. EH See continuation sheet. I I determined eligible for the National Register. I 1 See continuation sheet. [ 1 determined not eligible for the National Register. I I removed from the National Register. EH other, (explain:) ___________ L i- Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) COMMERCE /TRADE_________________________ COMMERCE/TRADE___________________ GOVERNMENT/CITY HALL: County Tmirfhouse GOVERNMENT/CITY HALL: County Courthouse TRANSPORTATION /RAIL-RELATED_________ 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) foundation BRICK Late 19th Early 20th-century Commercial walls __ BRICK 20th Century Classical Revival_______ ALUMINUM Modern Movement roof _ METAL other WOOD Describe present and historic physical appearance. The physical development of Bessemer was originally centered around the rolling mill, the Little Belle furnaces, and the railroad. The fire district established in the first year went southeast-northwest from Carolina to Fourth Avenues, and southwest-northeast from 16th to 21st Streets. By 1895 the commercial center of town was at Second Avenue and 21st Street, continuing to 22nd Street and across the tracks to Carolina Avenue. 1 The first town well was dug at the intersection of Carolina and 22nd. Several large and imposing commercial, office and residential blocks were constructed in this area in the very first years, funded largely by the real estate investment companies that had formed to take advantage of the Bessemer boom. Of these blocks several remain, though hardly in their original condition. The effect of these buildings when they were new must have been not unlike the scene in Washington when it was a-building: grandeur amidst mudholes. Perhaps the most pretentious of these blocks (but also practical, since it was partially a tenement for mill workers) was the Charleston Block built by the Carolina Real Estate Co. on the corner of Second Avenue and 19th Street North, a location which at the time (1887-88) was almost out of the center of the town. In any case, the primary commercial intersection eventually became that one at 19th and Second, having already been the site of the first lot sold that April 12th, on which was built the Office Building (1890, later the Bank of Commerce), and of the Berney Bank Block, which is another surviving though much altered building. The fourth corner held the Grand Hotel, one of Bessemer's proudest possessions until its demolition in 1987 to make way for a County facility. Filling in between the large blocks were smaller structures, at first of frame, then of brick, and all reflecting, in either plain or fancy ways, the stylistic attributes of that great age of American commercial architecture. Bessemer has seen much vitality and success in its history, but its aspirations to be the premier manufacturing and financial city in Alabama were never realized. From an architectural standpoint,