Farley Building

Early postcard view of the Farley Building

The Farley Building is a 126-foot-tall, 9-story building in Downtown Birmingham located on the northeast corner of Block 86, which is the southwest corner of the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 20th Street North.

John G. Farley, a merchant from Benton in Lowndes County, purchased the site, the former offices of the American Grain Co., from its founder and president Sidney Norwood.

Built in 1909 as an 8-story building, it was the fourth steel-frame "skyscraper" erected in Birmingham. Architects Miller, Martin & Lewis created a graceful composition of dark red brick arches and light-colored spandrels, less severe than the tall buildings that preceded it.

The building's projecting cornice was removed when the 9th story was added.

Tenants

Ground floor

• 20th Street North
  • 220: New York Model Hat Shop (1922), Nisley Co. (1926), Eisley Beautiful Shoes (c. 1929), Russell Stover Candies
  • 222-224: Shaw & Davin equipment dealers, Florsheim Shoes (1964), Classic Basket
    • 222: J. H. Whaley & Co. confectioners (1887)
    • 224: Bromberg & Co. jewelers (1922), Liggett's Drug Store (1924-1940), Craig's Shoes (1964), The Cochran Firm (2015-)
  • Contact Lens Clinic (1960s)
  • Onlie Barber Shop (1909)
  • Hill Shoe Co. (1909)
• 3rd Avenue North:
  • 1925: Thom McAn Shoes (1929), Julie Ann Hat Shop (1964), Elaine's boutique (2019)
  • 1927: Cinderella Shoe Shop (1925-1929), The Adorable Shop (1964), The Barbie Shop beauty salon (2016-)
  • 1929: building entrance
  • 1931-1933: Bromberg & Co. jewelers (1922), Liggett's Drug Store (1924-1940), Craig's Shoes (1964), The Cochran Firm (2015-)
    • 1931: George Kannelis (1917), Herrod's Bakery (2008), Brannon's public house (2009-2011)

Rooms

Birmingham Cultural & Heritage Foundation (-2009) 2nd floor 200–205: John Kessler chiropractor (1935) 200: C. A. Donnelly (1913), Ballard & Ballard (1913–1917), Boy Scouts of America (1917), W. W. Clapp (1917–1922), A. E. Meadow (1922), Burnett's Beauty Salon (1964) 201: E. K. Moon physician (1922) 202-204: A. S. Boyd / Penn Casualty Co. (1909), Miles Copeland Sr physician, V. V. Florence dentist (1913–1922) 203: H. S. Florence (1917) 204: Mabel Sanders Alterations (1964) 205: J. D. Head (1913), J. J. Strickland (1917), Jaffe Jewelry Co. (1964) 206–208: Moseley, Davis & Major real estate (1935) 206: J. E. Pugh (1909), R. A. Thagard physician (1913), G. O. Mabry real estate (1922) 207: J. B. Cobbs (1913), Davis & Davis (1917) 208: J. B. Coff insurance (1909), Blumberg & Co. loans (1922) 209–210: John Farley (1935) 209: A. D. Hagan (1913), International Correspondence Schools (1917), Woodmen of the World Magic City Camp No. 4 (1922) 210-212: Aetna Finance Co. (1964) 210–211: Black & Davis / H. E. Yockey (1913) 210: Black & Weakley (1909), A. D. Hagan (1917), J. J. Strickland physician (1922), Houseal-Simons Agency real estate (1929–1935) 212: B. P. Ivey (1913), Boy's Club (1917), G. W. Wise real estate (1922) 213: D. F. Allen & Co. loans (1922) 214: Cox Advertising Agency (1913), D. H. Markstein (1917), Philip Dorn real estate (1917–1922), Birmingham Real Estate Co. (1922), Mae Scholder manufacturing jeweler (1929) 3rd floor 300-316: Horace Alford attorney (1923) 300: J. J. Strickland, physician (1909), A. G. Douglas / Smith & Rodgers (1913), W. H. Levie / W. R. Orr (1917), H. C. Alford physician / R. W. Alford ofc (1922), C. L. Brewer / H. N. Segrest attorneys (1929), Beasley & Beasley attorneys / William Beasley real estate (1935) 301–302: Cullom Smith Real Estate & Insurance Co. (1935) 302: Rosamond, physician (1909), Boys Club & Children's Aid Society (1913), Allen, Bell & Sadler / L. C. Collins (1917), J. S. McLendon attorney (1922), Fletcher Lord attorney (1929) 303–305: J. J. Strickland physician (1929) 303: Allen & Bell / W. H. Sadler Jr / Suitable Land Co. (1913), J. T. McEwen attorney (1922), Apartment Rentals Inc. (1935) 304: J. H. Bradford attorney (1922), Smith Kirkpatrick Advertising Inc. (1964) 306: Edith Davis chiropodist (1935) 307: Allen & Bell (1909), M. A. Collins (1917), Basil Allen / Thomas Dozier attorneys (1922), American Multi Sales Co. (1929), Chester Braune manufacturing jeweler (1935), Allan Morten Printing Service (1964) 308-309: R. A. Jones, physician (1909-1929), James Jones watchmaker (1922–1929), U. S. Retail Solid Fuel Code Authority (1935) 308: B. McLaurine (1913) 309-310: Brides World (1964) 310: J. K. P. Lacey (1917), Chester Braune manufacturing jeweler (1922–1929) 311: R. C. Thagard physician (1909), James A. Going real estate & investment (1913–1929) 313: Taylor McCarty (1909) 315: R. H. Fries attorney (1913–1929) 4th Floor 400–405: Wilkinson & Wilkinson / Thomas Skinner / Clarence Small attorneys (1935) 400-404: Alabama Asphaltic Limestone Co. (1964) 400: Stallings-Lacey Court Reporters (1909), Stallings & Brazleton (1913), A. M. Williamson (1917), Typewriter Exchange (1922), Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Insurance (1929) 401: D. H. Tolman (1913), H. D. Smith real estate (1922–1929) 402-403: W. R. Dillard physician (1909), Thomas Dozier attorney (1929) 402: J. S. Abney (1913–1917), Barrett & Co. cotton factors / Alabama Cotton Seed Association / R. J. Strickland lumber / B. B. Fontaine timber cruiser (1922) 404: Miles Copeland Sr physician (1909–1912), Nicholas Lallas attorney (1922) 405: Shaddick Coal Co. (1922) 406: O'Connell, physician (1909), Southern Amusement & Supply Co. (1913), South Park Land Co. / G. A. Williams (1917), B. C. Burkhart attorney / T. P. English contractor (1922) 407-408: O. P. Brooks chiropractor (1917–1923), T. C. Self optometrist (1929) 407: Noris Real Estate Co. (1913), Brooks Optical Co. (1922), Jack Rawls attorney (1935), Rossie Taylor attorney (1964) 408–409: Altrurian Society (1913), O. P. Brooks optometrist (1916) 408: William Greathouse watch repair (1935), Fred Moore attorney (1964) 409–410: Brooks Optical & Jewelry Co. (1929) 410–413: Johnson-Overton & Co. insurance underwriters (1935) 410–411: Alabama Insurance Co. / Securities Co. of America (1913), Altrurian Church / Altrurian Society (1917) 411–413: Unity Center Reading Room (1929) 414: E. M. Thomas (1913), F. W. Bromberg (1917), Birmingham Furniture Dealers Association / Birmingham Refrigeration Bureau (1935), Franke & Cornelius Associates real estate / Franke Realty Co. (1964) 415: John Breckinridge attorney (1935) 5th floor 500-516: C. B. Powell (1909) 500: Murphree & Richardson (1913–1917), T. A. Murphree attorney / J. E. Brown (1922), Phillips, Plunkett & Anderson insurance adjusters (1929), E. M. Phillips & Co. insurance adjusters (1935), William G. Waldrop accountant (1964) 501–503: E. B. Van Keuren architects (1935) 501: Dennis Ponceler real estate / attorney (1922–1929), Arthur L. Payton business machines (1964) 502-505: The Commercial Agency collections (1929), United Construction Co. (1964) 502: Harsh, Beddow & Fitts (1913), B. C. Burkhart / T. P. English (1917), R. G. Tate attorney (1922) 503: Bowman, Harsh & Beddow (1909) 504–507: Robert Tailoring Co. (1935) 504: Blankinship & Patton loans (1922) 506–507: Sims Realty & Investment Co. / J. H. Bradford attorney (1929) 507-512: Robert Tailoring Co. (1964) 507: H. J. Martin (1917), G. M. Edmonds attorney (1917–1922), C. E. Wilder attorney (1922), C. B. Smith 508–510: J. D. Hollis / J. R. Tate / Alta King attorneys (1929) 508: J. J. Strickland (1913), Wilder & Tinsley (1917), W. M. Huckabee chiropractor (1922) 510: Rheuna Coffman (1909–1917), E. B. Van Keuren architect (1938) 510–514: Fire Companies Adjustment Bureau Inc. (1935) 511–513: G. C. Boner / C. E. Wilder attorneys (1929) 511: McQueen & Ellis (1913–1917), Ellis & Mathews attorneys (1922), Strange & Chappel 513: F. W. Bromberg workroom (1922) 515: H. L. Strickland (1913), Farm City Realty Exchange (1922), Commercial Casualty Insurance Co. (1929), William Draper chiropodist (1935), A. D. Smith, Hamilton & Acker manufacturers' insurance (1964)

6th floor 600–616: W. H. Anderson attorney 600–601: Watters-Tonge Lumber Co. (1935) 600: A. G. Douglass (1917), Alabama Clay Products Co. (1922), Henry Salemi attorney (1964) 601–604: Satterwhite, Walden & Cato attorneys (1929) 601-603: E. S. Moore (1909) 601: Atlas Insurance Co. (1913), Independent Life Insurance Co. (1917), National Life Insurance Co. (1922), American Detective Agency (1964) 602-603: Zula C. South commercial artist (1964) 605-607: Grinnell Co. sprinklers (1964) 604: McGeever Bros & McDavid / McDavid Investment Co. / Southern Indemnity Association (1917), McGeever Insurance Co. / Dillard Investment & Insurance Co. / M. J. Dillard Jr real estate / Continental Casualty Co. (1922) 605: L. P. Hill, real estate (1909), William Black / William Conway attorneys (1935) 606: R. L. Bevill, physician (1909–1913), M. A. Dinsmore / J. R. Montgomery / R. M. Montgomery attorneys (1922), Associated Mutuals Inc. insurance (1935) 607: T. P. Vowell, physician (1909), J. E. Garrison (1913–1917), M. F. Webb & Sons real estate / T. J. Roe attorney (1922) 608-612: U.S. Selective Service System Local Board No. 37 & No. 126 (1964) 608: W. S. Malone / A. W. Joost (1913), T. S. Dark (1922), G. M. Edmonds attorney (1929), Walter Anderson attorney (1935) 609–610: Kee-Lox Manufacturing Co. typewriter supplies (1935) 609: Economical Tailoring System (1913), Alabama Realty Co. (1922) 611–612: Bem Price architect (1935) 611: George H. McFadden & Bros. (1909), Owens & Owens (1922), Quick Service Letter Co. (1929) 612: J. D. Strange attorney / A. H. Daniel real estate (1922) 613: Heaton & Stickle (1913–1917), Glendale Land Co. / Irondale Land Co. (1917), J. P. McLaney ofc (1922), Victor X-Ray Corp. (1929), Robert A. Jones physician (1935) 614: Sponsor Club for College Men (1929) 615: William Draper podiatrist (1964) 7th floor 700-705: Sparrow Advertising Agency (1929–1964) 700: N. C. Glass / E. T. Glass / H. E. Mitchell (1913), R. T. Ashworth physician (1922) 701: Glass physician (1909) 702: Gaston & Pettus (1909), American Concrete Steel Rail Road Tie Co. (1913), W. F. Spencer / C. L. Brewer attorneys (1922) 704: Kirkpatrick, Culley, McCorkle & Bayliss (1913), W. G. Kirkpatrick (1917), Southern Finance Co. (1922) 705: D. F. Florence, physician (1909), Day & Sachs contractors (1922) 706: P. B. Green (1913), Leonora Bond osteopath (1922), Dennis Ponceler attorney (1935) 707-708: John E. Evans accountant (1964) 707: Lola Taylor dentist (1913–1922), W. R. Quinn attorney (1929) 708–711: J. Reese Murray / Willard Drake / Alton LeCroy attorneys / Theo Emmens collections / Consulate of Italy / Giuseppe Firpo vice-consul 708: Southern Indemnity Association (1913), Faircloth & Smithson attorneys (1922) 709–711: Wynn Jones / J. R. Murray / Willard Drake attorneys (1929) 709–710: Juddie White podiatrist (1964) 709: Southern Indemnity Association (1909), Maner-Dowdy Co. (1917) 711-713: Sparrow Advertising Agency overflow (1964) 711: W. L. Wooten (1913–1917), J. L. Wooten (1917) 712: Meridian Life Insurance Co. / Provident Life Insurance Co. 713: S. C. M. Amason (1913), H. M. Harton (1913–1917), H. B. Whiteside physician / C. S. Bishop insurance (1922), J. M. Cartwright real estate / Morris Investment Co. / Fostoria Stock Farm (1929) 8th floor 800: Howard Patent Fountain Co. / J. E. Howard (1913), Ford Bros Realty & Insurance Co. (1917), Southern Insurance Co. (1922), B. C. Burkhart attorney / C. H. Newsom contractor (1929), Robert Caldwell insurance adjuster (1935) Brockman Hearing Aid Specialists (1964) 801–804: Jesse Brockman / Thomas Wingfield / Joseph Robinson attorneys (1935) 801–802: Rudolph & Smith attorneys (1929) 801: Green & Howard, physicians (1909), H. M. Henderson (1917) 802: F. W. Shugart (1913), Schwab Investment Co. (1917) 803–805: Sigmund Nesselroth architect (1929) 804: Dr Gwin Specialist Co. (1913), Zebulon Rudolph / J. H. Hard (1917), Rudolph & Smith attorneys (1922) 805: J. T. Glover (1909), Carpenters District Council (1913), F. W. Dodge Corp. construction reports / Goerge Meriwether manufacturers' agent (1935), The Adorable Shops storage (1964) 806-807: James H. Bradford attorney (1935–1964) 806: P. E. Rittenburg, physician (1909), A. A. Stern attorney / American Spotless Street System / Home Realty Co. (1922) 807: R. L. Leatherwood (1909), R. T. Shugart (1913), Southern Firm Advertising Co. (1917), H. G. Hard mechanical engineer / Hard & Co. insurance / Southern Mutual Fire Insurance Co. (1922) 808–812: Thomas Judge / Ralph Quinn / Alta King / Willard McCall attorneys (1935) 808: U. L. Allen (1909), W. K. Dean (1913), C. D. Comstock attorney (1922) 809–810: C. D. Comstock attorney / Birmingham Typographical Union No. 104 (1929) 809: Baptist State Executive Committee / H. L. Strickland (1917), United Typothetae of America (1922) 811-812: Home Insurance Co. of New York (1929), Jefferson County Consumer Finance Exchange (1964) 812: T. M. Ramey (1913) 813: W. T. Masterson, physician (1909), J. H. Hard Jr accountant (1922), A. H. Daniels real estate (1929), Great American Insurance Co. (1935) 814: Tri State Executive Committee YMCA (1913), Order of Sleeping Car Conductors (1922), S. B. Knox manufacturer's agent / City Realty Co. (1929) 9th floor 900–904: Mullins & Deramus / Joseph Mullins attorneys (1935) 900: Knights of the Maccabees Hall (1913), Independent Life Insurance (1922), F. Raymond Ingram attorney (1964), McMillan Mediation 901: T. M. Bradley real estate (1909), Bishop & Bishop (1917) 902-908: T. H. Joy (1909) 902–903: National Union Fire Insurance Co. / National Union Indemnity Co. (1929) 902: Joy Construction Co. (1913), Alex Hood (1917), W. K. Dean chiropractor (1917–1922), Alex Dean physician (1922) 904: R. W. Rankin (1913), Rocky Ridge Golf & Country Club (1929) 905–906: Civitan International / Civitan Club of Birmingham (1935) 905: J. G. La Coste (1913), Robert Smith watchmaker (1929) 906: R. P. Darden / E. W. Stillwell (1913), American Insurance Co. (1929) 907: Margon Advertising Co. (1909), T. L. Medders & Co. / I. J. Abbott / B. C. Burkhart (1913), Alexander Specialist Co. (1922), Beauvais Typewriter Supply Co. / Typewriter Service & Sales Co. (1929) 908: E. E. Pugh (1909), B. W. McDuffie (1917), Typewriter Specialty Co. (1922), Woodmen of the World Magic City Camp No. 4 (1929), Hendrix Bros typewriters (1935) 909–910: Employers Liability Insurance Corp. / American Employers Insurance Co. / Employers Fire Insurance Co. (1929) 909: Alabama State Federation of Labor (1922), John Farrior (1935) 910: Sibley, physician (1909), W. R. Ward (1913), Atlas Incurance Co. of London / Albany Insurance Co. (1935) 911: United Mine Workers of America (1922), Gulf States Lumber Co. (1929) 912-914: Housal Agency Inc. real estate (1964) 912: D. B. Anderson (1913), J. L. Davis Co. (1935) 913: Clark Williams (1909), United Mine Workers (1917), William Harrison, Alabama State Federation of Labor 914: W. H. Tharpe & Co. real estate / Tharpe Land Co. (1929) 915: J. H. Weaver building superintendent (1917–1922), Alabama State Federation of Labor (1929), Woodmen of the World Magic City Camp No. 4 (1935), Paul J. Hendrix Co. typewriter repairs (1964)

References

• White, Marjorie Longenecker (1977) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.

External links

• Farley Building on Emporis.com