3rd Avenue North: Difference between revisions

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==== [[20th Street North]]====
==== [[20th Street North]]====
* North side ([[Block 74]])
* north side ([[Block 74]]):
** 2000-2008: [[Watts Building (1928)|Watts Tower]] (built 1928) former offices of [[Southern Natural Gas Company]], former site of [[Watts Building (1888)|Watts Building]] (1888-1926)
** 2000-2008: [[Watts Building (1928)|Watts Tower]] (built 1928) former offices of [[Southern Natural Gas Company]], former site of [[Watts Building (1888)|Watts Building]] (1888-1926)
*** 2000: former location of [[Patterson Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Watts Building Cigar & Soda Co.]] (1934), [[People's Finance & Thrift]], [[Butler's Shoe Store]], [[Russell Stover Candies]] (1964)
*** 2000: former location of [[Patterson Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Watts Building Cigar & Soda Co.]] (1934), [[People's Finance & Thrift]], [[Butler's Shoe Store]], [[Russell Stover Candies]] (1964)
*** 2002: former location of [[Leo P's]] mens' wear (1929), [[Friendly Eight Barber Shop]] (1964)
*** 2002: former location of [[Empire Coal Co.]] (1907), [[Leo P's]] mens' wear (1929), [[Friendly Eight Barber Shop]] (1964)
*** 2004: former location of [[Beltone Hearing Center]] (1964)
*** 2004: former location of [[People's Homestead Co.]] / [[W. A. Lester]] (1907), [[Beltone Hearing Center]] (1964)
*** 2006: former location of [[Rye-Ola]] bottling plant, [[Western Union]] (1929), [[Pryor Optical Dispensary]] (1964)
*** 2006: former location of [[Rye-Ola]] bottling plant, [[Western Union]] (1929), [[Pryor Optical Dispensary]] (1964)
*** 2008: [[Btech Inc.]] / [[SafeRoom Lounge Bar]] (2019-)
*** 2008: [[Btech Inc.]] / [[SafeRoom Lounge Bar]] (2019-)
** 2008-2010: former location of [[Britling Cafeteria|Britling Cafeteria No. 3]] (1920s-1960s)
** 2008-2010: former location of [[Victor Hotel]] (1907), [[Britling Cafeteria|Britling Cafeteria No. 3]] (1920s-1960s)
** 2012-2014: former location of [[House of Jacobs]] furniture store, [[Fast-Rialto]], [[Empire Theatre]] (1920s–1986),
*** 2008: former location of [[Gatchel's Photo Stock House]] / [[J. B. Hoffman]] (1907)
*** 2010: former location of [[Gilbert Trunk Factory]] (1907)
** 2012-2014: former location of [[Hood & Wheeler]] (1907), [[House of Jacobs]] furniture store, [[Fast-Rialto]], [[Empire Theatre]] (1920s–1986),
*** 2014: former location of [[Drennen Block]], [[A. L. Blanks]] photographer (1888), [[Morton's Photo Studio]]
*** 2014: former location of [[Drennen Block]], [[A. L. Blanks]] photographer (1888), [[Morton's Photo Studio]]
** 2016: [[Goodyear Shoe Hospital]], former location of [[Birmingham Paint, Glass and Wall Paper Company]] and [[Sherwin-Williams Paint Store]] (1929)
** 2016: [[Goodyear Shoe Hospital]], former location of [[Birmingham Paint & Glass Co.]] (1907), [[Birmingham Paint, Glass & Wall Paper Co.]], [[Sherwin-Williams Paint Store]] (1929)
** 2018: former location of [[Mayer Brothers]] wallpaper & frames (1914), [[Realty Mortgage Co.]] (1929), [[Heinie Kabooble's]] oyster bar & grill (1934)
** 2018: former location of [[Mayer Brothers]] wallpaper & frames (1907–1914), [[Realty Mortgage Co.]] (1929), [[Heinie Kabooble's]] oyster bar & grill (1934)
** 2020-2022: [[Oster Brothers Building]] (built c. 1900), [[Standard Furniture]], former location of [[Oster's Furniture]] (1900-1917), [[Molton, Allen & Williams]] real estate, [[Rhodes-Carroll Furniture Co.]] (1929-1970), [[Devoe & Reynolds Paint & Paper]] (1940)
** 2020-2022: [[Oster Brothers Building]] (built c. 1900), [[Standard Furniture]], former location of [[Oster's Furniture]] (1900-1917), [[Stowers Furniture Co.]] (1907), [[Molton, Allen & Williams]] real estate, [[Rhodes-Carroll Furniture Co.]] (1929-1970), [[Devoe & Reynolds Paint & Paper]] (1940)
** 2024-2026: [[Department of Revenue Building]] (built 1905), originally the [[Massey Business College building]], [[Molton, Allen & Williams]] (1926-2013)
** 2024-2026: [[Massey Business College building]] (built 1905)
*** 2024: [[Santos Cafe]] (2019-), former location of [[Goodman Transfer & Warehouse Co.]] (1920)
*** 2024: [[Santos Cafe]] (2019-), former location of [[Goodman Transfer & Warehouse Co.]] (1920)
*** 2024½: former location of [[Massey Business College]] (1905-1964), [[J.F. Knox]] photographer (1920)
** 2026: former location of [[Public Finance Corporation]] (1964), [[Molton, Allen & Williams (1934)
** 2028-2030: [[Title Building]] (built 1903), offices of [[Southpace Properties]], former location of [[Title Guarantee Loan & Trust Co.]] (1903-)
** 2028-2030: [[Title Building]] (built 1903), offices of [[Southpace Properties]], former location of [[Title Guarantee Loan & Trust Co.]] (1903-)
*** 2028: former location of [[Avondale Building and Loan]], [[Silver Pheasant Tea Room]], [[Ryan Real Estate]], [[Safari Cup]] (2002-2009), [[O'Carr's]] (2010)
*** 2028: former location of [[Avondale Building & Loan]], [[Molton Realty Co.]] (1907), [[Silver Pheasant Tea Room]], [[Ryan Real Estate]], [[Safari Cup]] (2002-2009), [[O'Carr's]] (2010)
* South side ([[Block 85]])
 
** 2001-2005: [[1927 Porter Clothing Co. building]] (built 1927) [[Urban Studio|Auburn University Urban Studio]], former location of [[B. F. Cheek]]'s drug store (1872), [[Stag Saloon]], [[Patterson Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Southern Cigar & Soda Co.]] (1934)), [[Porter's|Porter Clothing Company]] (1927-1963), [[Shoney's Big Boy]] (1967-) and [[MedTown Pharmacy]] (2005-2010)
* south side ([[Block 85]]):
** 2007: [[2007 3rd Avenue North|Commercial building]] (built. c. 1904), [[The Watson Firm]] / [[Yeatts Law Firm]] (2019-), former location of [[High Art Clothes Shop]] (1925), [[Alper's Jewelry]] & [[Badham & Co.]] clothiers (1929), [[Selby Shoe Company]] (1937), [[Nunn Bush Shoe Store]] (1964), [[Odd Lot Shoes]] (1976), [[McKinstry's Flowers]] (1984)
** 2001-2005: [[1927 Porter Clothing Co. building]] (built 1927) [[Urban Studio|Auburn University Urban Studio]], former location of [[B. F. Cheek]]'s drug store (1872), [[Stag Saloon]], [[Capellis & Co.]] (1907), [[Patterson Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Southern Cigar & Soda Co.]] (1934)), [[Porter's|Porter Clothing Company]] (1927-1963), [[Shoney's Big Boy]] (1967-) and [[MedTown Pharmacy]] (2005-2010)
** 2009: [[Mustin Building]] (built c. 1889) former location of [[B. F. Eborn & Co.]] "lightning real estate manipulators" (1890), [[Hooper's Cafe]] (1929-1941), [[B. H. Cooper]] furniture store, [[A. A. Bonds Furniture]] (1964)
** 2007: [[2007 3rd Avenue North|Commercial building]] (built. c. 1904), [[The Watson Firm]] / [[Yeatts Law Firm]] (2019-), former location of [[Roberts Printing Co.]] (1907), [[High Art Clothes Shop]] (1925), [[Alper's Jewelry]] & [[Badham & Co.]] clothiers (1929), [[Selby Shoe Company]] (1937), [[Nunn Bush Shoe Store]] (1964), [[Odd Lot Shoes]] (1976), [[McKinstry's Flowers]] (1984)
*** 2007½: former location of [[Jefferson County Inferior Court]] (1907)
** 2009: [[Mustin Building]] (built c. 1889) former location of [[B. F. Eborn & Co.]] "lightning real estate manipulators" (1890), [[B. H. Cooper]] furniture store (1907), [[Hooper's Cafe]] (1929-1941), [[A. A. Bonds Furniture]] (1964)
*** 2009½: former location of the [[Southern Medical Dispensary]] (1890)
*** 2009½: former location of the [[Southern Medical Dispensary]] (1890)
** 2011: [[2011 3rd Avenue North|Commercial building]] (built c. 1889), former location of [[Robert Prowell Stove Co.]] (1929), [[Broadhead-Klinner Furniture Co.]] (1934), [[Baptist Book Store]] (1964), [[Cokesbury Books]] (1984)
** 2011: [[2011 3rd Avenue North|Commercial building]] (built c. 1889), former location of [[Broyles Furniture Co.]] (1907), [[Robert Prowell Stove Co.]] (1929), [[Broadhead-Klinner Furniture Co.]] (1934), [[Baptist Book Store]] (1964), [[Cokesbury Books]] (1984)
** 2013: former location of [[Lige Loy]] undertakers (1904), [[Hauger Clothes]] & [[Mitchell's Barber Shop]] (1929), [[Dupont Paint Company]] (1937)
** 2013: former location of [[Lige Loy]] undertakers (1904), [[Matthews & Lively]] (1907), [[Hauger Clothes]] & [[Mitchell's Barber Shop]] (1929), [[Dupont Paint Company]] (1937)
** 2015: [[Drennen Building]] (built c. 1889), [[Spartan Invest]] (2018-), former location of [[Acme White Lead & Color Works]] / [[Acme Quality Paint Co.]] (1929), [[Henderson's & Spivy-Johnson Frame Co.]] (1964), [[Henderson's Fine Arts]] (1984), [[Freedom Court Reporting]]
** 2015: [[Drennen Building]] (built c. 1889), [[Spartan Invest]] (2018-), former location of [[Alabama Paint & Glass Co.]] (1907), [[Acme White Lead & Color Works]] / [[Acme Quality Paint Co.]] (1929), [[Henderson's & Spivy-Johnson Frame Co.]] (1964), [[Henderson's Fine Arts]] (1984), [[Freedom Court Reporting]]
** 2017: [[Eubank Mercantile Building]] (built c. 1889), [[Sojourns]], former location of [[May & Thomas Hardware Co.]] (1880s-1892), [[Alfred Eubank]] dentist (1890-), [[Birmingham Arms and Hardware]] / [[Court Baseball Indoor Ball]] (1929), [[Wallace Furniture]] (1937), [[McCauley's Furniture]] (1964), [[Amaro-Spencer Furniture]], [[Spencer Furniture]] (1984), [[Hawthorn Gallery]]
** 2017: [[Eubank Mercantile Building]] (built c. 1889), [[Sojourns]], former location of [[May & Thomas Hardware Co.]] (1880s-1892), [[Alfred Eubank]] dentist (1890-), [[W. R. McGavock]] (1907), [[Birmingham Arms and Hardware]] / [[Court Baseball Indoor Ball]] (1929), [[Wallace Furniture]] (1937), [[McCauley's Furniture]] (1964), [[Amaro-Spencer Furniture]], [[Spencer Furniture]] (1984), [[Hawthorn Gallery]]
** 2019: [[Gilreath Building]] (built c. 1891), former location of [[Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture]] annex (1984)  
** 2019: [[Gilreath Building]] (built c. 1891), former location of [[Green Undertaking Co.]] (1907), [[Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture]] annex (1984)  
** 2021: [[O'Neill Building]], home of [[Reed Books]], former location of [[Western Auto Supply Co.]] (1929), [[Jefferson Home Furniture]] (1937) [[Economy Auto Stores]], [[Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture]] (1984)
** 2021: [[O'Neill Building]], home of [[Reed Books]], former location of [[The Fair]] (1907), [[Western Auto Supply Co.]] (1929), [[Jefferson Home Furniture]] (1937) [[Economy Auto Stores]], [[Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture]] (1984)
*** 2021½: former location of [[Magnolia Hall]] (1904), [[Phillips-Hendon Company]] pants and overalls (1904)
*** 2021½: former location of [[Magnolia Hall]] (1904–1907), [[Phillips-Hendon Company]] pants and overalls (1904)
** 2023: former location of [[Odum Clothing Co.]] (1929), [[Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture]] (1964)
** 2023: former location of [[Odum Clothing Co.]] (1929), [[Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture]] (1964)
** 2025-2031: [[Massey Building]] (built 1925), originally the [[Bankers Bond Building]], offices of the [[Bankers Mortgage Bond Company]]
** 2025-2031: [[Massey Building]] (built 1925), originally the [[Bankers Bond Building]], offices of the [[Bankers Mortgage Bond Company]]
*** 2025: building entrance, former location of [[Olivert Levert Realty Co.]], [[Moe's Original BBQ]] (2008-2012)
*** 2025: building entrance, former location of [[W. G. Oliver & Co.]] / [[Oliver-Watts Construction Co.]] / [[Cement Block Manufacturing Co.]] (1907), [[Oliver Levert Realty Co.]], [[Moe's Original BBQ]] (2008-2012)
*** 2027: former location of [[Anchor Building & Loan]] (1929), [[Investor's Syndicate]], [[Cash Credit Co.]] (1964)
*** 2027: former location of [[S. Bethea & Co.]] (1907), [[Anchor Building & Loan]] (1929), [[Investor's Syndicate]], [[Cash Credit Co.]] (1964)
*** 2029: [[Iberia Bank]], former location of [[Patterson's Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Massey Building Cigar & Soda Co.]] (1934), [[My Brother's Place]] restaurant, [[Remon's]] clothing (1970s-2011)
*** 2029: [[Iberia Bank]], former location of [[Patterson's Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Massey Building Cigar & Soda Co.]] (1934), [[My Brother's Place]] restaurant, [[Remon's]] clothing (1970s-2011)



Revision as of 16:24, 7 March 2020

3rd Avenue North, looking east from 18th Street in October 1972
3rd Avenue North, looking northeast from 21st Street, c. 1911

Third Avenue North is an east-west street running through downtown Birmingham. The westernmost section by that name ends at Center Street, although the road continues further west as 3rd Avenue West. The easternmost section ends at 88th Street, just west of Roebuck Municipal Golf Course.

Third Avenue is continuous from Center Street to Carraway Boulevard (formerly 26th Street North). At that point, it is interrupted by the 2nd Avenue North off-ramp of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway and railroad tracks. The road is one way eastbound from 9th to 26th Street North. There is a short segment of 3rd on the west side of 28th Street North. The next segment curves from 29th Street northward to line up with 31st Street North across Messer Airport Highway.

The avenue does not appear again eastward until Forest Hills Cemetery next to the I-20/I-59 interchange. At this point, Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard North (formerly 10th Avenue North), becomes 3rd Avenue. Third then continues northeast with some gaps, notably at Trotwood Park, I-59, and East Lake Park, to 88th Street.

The two-way portion of 3rd Avenue from Center Street to 9th Avenue is five lanes wide. The one-way portion is four lanes from 9th to 14th Street North and three lanes from 14th to between 24th and 25th Street. At this point, the left lane becomes an on-ramp for the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Throughout the 1970s and most of the 1980s, this on-ramp was the northernmost point to get on the expressway as it did not connect to I-20/I-59 at that time. Third Avenue continues as two lanes under the expressway to Carraway Boulevard. The rest of the road segments east of here are two lanes as well.

History

The initial commercial expansion on 3rd Avenue took place on the south side of the street during the 1880s between 20th and 21st Streets. Third Avenue was also where the first two county courthouses in Birmingham were built (at 21st Street). The courthouse attracted other development to the intersection where it was located, such as the Title Guaranty Building.

Three stores on the north side of the 1800 block (Block 72), modernized in 1961, were damaged in a major fire on the evening of December 17, 1970.

The first section of 3rd Avenue North to be converted from two-way to one-way (eastbound) traffic was from 14th Street North to Red Mountain Expressway. The one-way section was expanded westward to 9th Street North in 1973 by the Alabama Department of Transportation's TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.

Notable locations

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the 3rd Avenue North category.

Smithfield neighborhood

Fountain Heights

11th Street North

12th Street North

13th Street North

14th Street North

    • north side (Block 68):
      • 1400-1430: Edwards Chevrolet (1944-)
        • 1400-1402: former location of duplex residence (1891), former location of Trackside Gas Station (1941)
        • 1404-1406: former location of duplex residence (1891)
        • 1408-1410: former location of duplex residence (1891)
        • 1412: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1416: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1420: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1424: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1430: former location of dwelling (1891), Braswell Tire Co. (1941)
    • south side (Block 91):
      • 1401-1421: Edwards Chevrolet used car lot
        • 1401: former location of grocery (1891), Olin Maddis potter (1941)
        • 1403: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1407: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1409: former location of store attached to dwelling (1891)
        • 1411: former location of M. M. Nance bakery (1887), Robert Funk bakery (1888), dwelling (1891)
        • 1413: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1417: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1421: former location of dwelling (1891)
      • 1421-1427: former location of Baker's Frozen Sweets (1941), Baker's Ice Cream Co. (1964)
        • 1423: former location of dwelling (1891)
        • 1427: former location of dwelling (1891)
      • 1429-1431: former location of Canon Tire Co. (1964)
        • 1431: former location of dwelling (1891)

15th Street North

16th Street North

Pantages Theatre in 1945

17th Street North

Parisian in the 1920s
The Lyric Theatre in 1930

18th Street North

Central City

1926 photograph of 3rd Avenue North, looking east from the 1900 block
Postcard view of 3rd Avenue North, looking west from 20th Street

19th Street North

This block was described in 1900 as "occupied by one-story buildings used for negro restaurants, barber shops, etc."
The Empire Theater in 1981

20th Street North

21st Street North

22nd Street North

23rd Street North

24th Street North

25th Street North

References

  • White, Marjorie Longenecker, ed. (1980) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide, second edition. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.
  • R.L. Polk & Co. (1919) "R.L. Polk & Co.'s Birmingham City Directory"
  • Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1964) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.

External links

3rd Avenue North on Google Maps