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 southwest corner of 3rd Avenue and 20th Street North.

Built in 1909, the building was the fourth steel-frame "skyscraper" erected in Birmingham. It was financed by John G. Farley, a merchant from Benton in Lowndes County. 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: Herrod's Bakery (2008), Brannon's public house (2009-2011)

Rooms

• Altrurian Society
• Birmingham Cultural and Heritage Foundation (-2009)
• Sigmund Nesselroth, architect
• 2nd Floor
  • 200: Burnett's Beauty Salon (1964)
  • 202-204: A. S. Boyd/Penn Casualty Co. (1909)
    • 204: Mabel Sanders Alterations (1964)
  • 205: Jaffe Jewelry Co. (1964)
  • 206: J. E. Pugh (1909)
  • 208: J. B. Coff, insurance (1909)
  • 210-212: Aetna Finance Co. (1964)
    • 210: Black & Weakley (1909)
• 3rd Floor
  • 300-316: Horace Alford, attorney (1923)
    • 300: Strickland, physician (1909)
    • 302: Rosamond, physician (1909)
    • 304: Smith Kirkpatrick Advertising Inc. (1964)
    • 307: Allen & Bell (1909), Allan Morten Printing Service (1964)
    • 308-309: R. A. James, physician (1909)
    • 309-310: Brides World (1964)
    • 311: R. C. Thagard, physician (1909)
    • 313: Taylor McCarty (1909)
• 4th Floor
  • 400-404: Alabama Asphaltic Limestone Co. (1964)
    • 400: Stalling-Lacey Court Reporters (1909)
    • 402-403: W. R. Dillard, physician (1909)
    • 404: Copeland, physician (1909)
  • 406: O'Connell, physician (1909)
  • 407-408: O. P. Brooks, chiropractor (1923)
    • 407: Rossie Taylor, attorney (1964)
    • 408: Fred Moore, attorney (1964)
  • 414: Franke & Cornelius Associates real estate / Franke Realty Co. (1964)
  • 415: Farley Building superintendent's office
• 5th Floor
  • 500-516: C. B. Powell (1909)
    • 500: William G. Waldrop accountant (1964)
    • 501: Arthur L. Payton business machines (1964)
    • 502-505: United Construction Co. (1964)
      • 503: Bowman, Harsh & Beddow (1909)
    • 507-512: Robert Tailoring Co. (1964)
      • 507: C. B. Smith
      • 510: R. D. Coffman (1909), E. B. Van Keuren architect (1938)
      • 511: Strange & Chappel
    • 515: A. D. Smith, Hamilton & Acker manufacturers' insurance (1964)
• 6th Floor
  • 600: Henry Salemi attorney (1964)
  • 601-603: E. S. Moore (1909)
    • 601: American Detective Agency (1964)
    • 602-603: Zula C. South commercial artist (1964)
  • 605-607: Grinnell Co. sprinklers (1964)
    • 605: L. P. Hill, real estate (1909)
    • 606: R. F. Bevil, physician (1909)
    • 607: T. P. Vowell, physician (1909)
  • 608-612: U.S. Selective Service System Local Board No. 37 & No. 126 (1964)
    • 611: George H. McFadden & Bros. (1909)
  • 615: William Draper podiatrist (1964)
• 7th Floor
  • 700-705: Sparrow Advertising Agency (1964)
    • 701: Glass, physician (1909)
    • 702: Gaston & Pettus, (1909)
    • 705: D. F. Florence, physician (1909)
  • 707-708: John E. Evans accountant (1964)
  • 709-710: Juddie White podiatrist (1964)
  • 709: Southern Indemnity Association (1909)
  • 711-713: Sparrow Advertising Agency overflow (1964)
• 8th Floor
  • 800: Brockman Hearing Aid Specialists (1964)
  • 801: Green & Howard, physicians (1909)
  • 805: J. T. Glover (1909), The Adorable Shops storage (1964)
  • 806-807: James H. Bradford attorney (1964)
    • 806: P. E. Rittenburg, physician (1909)
  • 807: R. L. Leatherwood (1909)
  • 808: U. L. Allen (1909)
  • 811-812: Jefferson County Consumer Finance Exchange (1964)
  • 813: W. T. Masterson, physician (1909)
• 9th Floor
  • 900: F. Raymond Ingram attorney (1964)
  • 901: T. M. Bradley, real estate (1909)
  • 902-908: T. H. Joy (1909)
  • 907: Margon Advertising Co. (1909)
  • 908: E. E. Pugh (1909)
  • 910: Sibley, physician (1909)
  • 912-914: Housal Agency Inc. real estate (1964)
  • 913: Clark Williams (1909), William Harrison, Alabama State Federation of Labor
  • 915: 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