3rd Avenue North: Difference between revisions

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== History ==
== History ==
The initial commercial expansion on 3rd Avenue took place on the south side of the street during the 1880s between [[20th Street North|20th]] and [[21st Street North|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]].
The initial commercial expansion on 3rd Avenue took place on the south side of the street during the 1880s between [[20th Street North|20th]] and [[21st Street North|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 blocks of 3rd Avenue, between [[17th Street North|17th]] and [[21st Street North|21st]] streets, were designated as Birmingham's first "White Way" with the installation of seven 14-foot tall posts on each side of each block, each surmounted by five 500-watt lightbulbs. The Doric-style posts were ordered from the Union Foundry Company as part of a project undertaken jointly by te [[The Boosters]], representing businesses on "Lower 3rd Avenue", and [[The Hustlers]], representing "Upper 3rd Avenue". The groups planned a celebration to coincide with the completion of the work, which was expected in late November of early December [[1911]].


Three stores on the north side of the 1800 block ([[Block 72]]), modernized in [[1961]], were damaged in a [[1970 downtown fire|major fire]] on the evening of [[December 17]], [[1970]].
Three stores on the north side of the 1800 block ([[Block 72]]), modernized in [[1961]], were damaged in a [[1970 downtown fire|major fire]] on the evening of [[December 17]], [[1970]].
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* [[4th Street North]] intersects
* [[4th Street North]] intersects
** 400: [[Clayton Industries]] / [[Blue Ridge Hydrualics]]
** 400: [[Clayton Industries]] / [[Blue Ridge Hydrualics]]
** 401: former location of [[First German Lutheran Church]] (1899)
** 401: former location of [[First German Lutheran Church]] (1899-1902); [[German Colored Baptist Church]]
** 430: former location of [[Peace Baptist Church]] (1941), [[Pentecostal True Holiness Church]] (1950), [[Parker Methodist Church]] (1946)
** 430: former location of [[Peace Baptist Church]] (1941), [[Pentecostal True Holiness Church]] (1950), [[Parker Methodist Church]] (1946)
** 438-440: [[RT's on 3rd]] used cars (2015–), former location of [[Paul Gagliano]] grocery (1941), [[Famous Market]] grocery (1964), [[S & J Body Shop]] (2007)
** 438-440: [[RT's on 3rd]] used cars (2015–), former location of [[Paul Gagliano]] grocery (1941), [[Famous Market]] grocery (1964), [[S & J Body Shop]] (2007)
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** 633: [[G & M Appliances]], former location of [[T & M Gateline]]
** 633: [[G & M Appliances]], former location of [[T & M Gateline]]
** 642: former location of [[Alabama Mine Specialty]]
** 642: former location of [[Alabama Mine Specialty]]
** 649: former location of [[Sportsman's Barber Shop]] (1964)
** 649: former location of [[Sportsman's Barber Shop]] (1964), [[St Phillip Independent Spiritual Church]] (1971)
** 650: former location of [[Alabama Cash Register Co.]] (1964)
** 650: former location of [[Alabama Cash Register Co.]] (1964)
** 651: [[Imperial Marble & Tile Co.]] (2007–)
** 651: [[Imperial Marble & Tile Co.]] (2007–)
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==== [[12th Street North]]====
==== [[12th Street North]]====
* north side:
* north side ([[Block 252]]):
** 1200: [[Paper Plus]] / [[UniSource Worldwide]] (2007–), former location of [[Industrial Supplies Inc.]] (1964)
** 1200: [[Paper Plus]] / [[UniSource Worldwide]] (2007–), former location of [[Industrial Supplies Inc.]] (1964)
** 1216: [[Jim Burke Warehouse]], former location of [[Birmingham Auto Parts Co.]] (1941), [[Discount Furniture Market]] & [[Green & Stein Furniture Co.]] (1964)
** 1216: [[Jim Burke Warehouse]], former location of [[Birmingham Auto Parts Co.]] (1941), [[Discount Furniture Market]] & [[Green & Stein Furniture Co.]] (1964)
* south side:
* south side ([[Block 251]]):
** 1201–1211: [[Independent Medical Equipment]] / [[Viking Medical Supply]] / [[Legendary Home Supplies]] (2015–), former location of [[Monson Coal Co.]] / [[Marvel Coal Co.]] / [[Roden Coal Co.]] (1941), [[Alabama Home Builders]] / [[Alabama Builders Supply Co.]] / [[Alabama Manufacturing Co.]] electric churns / [[Alabama Appliance Co.]] (1964), [[Alabama Business Furnishings]] (2007–2009)
** 1201–1211: [[Independent Medical Equipment]] / [[Viking Medical Supply]] / [[Legendary Home Supplies]] (2015–), former location of [[Monson Coal Co.]] / [[Marvel Coal Co.]] / [[Roden Coal Co.]] (1941), [[Alabama Home Builders]] / [[Alabama Builders Supply Co.]] / [[Alabama Manufacturing Co.]] electric churns / [[Alabama Appliance Co.]] (1964), [[Alabama Business Furnishings]] (2007–2009)
** 1229: [[Birmingham Urban League]]
** [[1229 3rd Avenue North|1221–1231]]: [[1229 3rd Avenue North]] (built c. 1960), [[Edwards Chevrolet]] parts warehouse (2023–), former location of [[Birmingham Urban League]] (–2023)
** 1231: former location of [[Jefferson Iron & Metal Co.]] junk yard (1941)
*** 1231: former location of [[Jefferson Iron & Metal Co.]] junk yard (1941)
* former [[Birmingham Southern Railroad]] crossing
* former [[Birmingham Southern Railroad]] crossing
* former [[St Louis & San Francisco Railroad]] crossing
* former [[St Louis & San Francisco Railroad]] crossing
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*** 1908: former location of [[Charles Brake]] jeweler / [[Anton Speaker]] watchmaker / [[John Berger|John B. Berger]] barber <!--[[H. L. Hunt]] plumbers and electricians -->(1905), [[McClure 10¢ Co.]] (1907), [[Parisian]] (1913–1914), [[Sherer & Kessler]] / [[Frank Denson]] milliner / [[Wilson Clark Shoe Co.]] (1926), [[Ladies Shine Shop]] (1929), [[Cobb's Ladies Clothing]] (1937), [[Kay Jewelers]] (1964)
*** 1908: former location of [[Charles Brake]] jeweler / [[Anton Speaker]] watchmaker / [[John Berger|John B. Berger]] barber <!--[[H. L. Hunt]] plumbers and electricians -->(1905), [[McClure 10¢ Co.]] (1907), [[Parisian]] (1913–1914), [[Sherer & Kessler]] / [[Frank Denson]] milliner / [[Wilson Clark Shoe Co.]] (1926), [[Ladies Shine Shop]] (1929), [[Cobb's Ladies Clothing]] (1937), [[Kay Jewelers]] (1964)
*** 1910: [[Atrium Building]], former location of [[Frank B. Johnson]] saloon (1905–1907), [[Leeds Woolen Mills]] (1913), [[King Joy Inn]] (1920-1926), [[Wathen Furniture]] (1929), [[Burger-Phillips]] mens' department (1937), [[Rhodes-Carroll Furniture]], [[Sojourns]], [[Shift]] (December 2015-April 2016)
*** 1910: [[Atrium Building]], former location of [[Frank B. Johnson]] saloon (1905–1907), [[Leeds Woolen Mills]] (1913), [[King Joy Inn]] (1920-1926), [[Wathen Furniture]] (1929), [[Burger-Phillips]] mens' department (1937), [[Rhodes-Carroll Furniture]], [[Sojourns]], [[Shift]] (December 2015-April 2016)
**** 1910½: former location of [[Jackson Loan Co.]] (1907), [[Varley's Hall]] / [[International Association of Machinists]] (1913)
**** 1910½: former location of [[Robert L. Jackson]] tailor (1902, 1906), [[Jackson Loan Co.]] (1907), [[Varley's Hall]] / [[International Association of Machinists]] (1913)
*** 1912-1916: [[Crittenden Building]] (built 1924), later the [[Burger-Phillips building]], home of [[Burger-Phillips]] department store (1933-1964)
*** 1912-1916: [[Crittenden Building]] (built 1924), later the [[Burger-Phillips building]], home of [[Burger-Phillips]] department store (1933-1964)
**** 1912-1914: former location of [[J. Blach & Sons]] department store (1905-1935)
**** 1912-1914: former location of [[J. Blach & Sons]] department store (1905-1935)
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** 1923: [[Bonita Theater]] building (built 1906), [[Moore Solutions]] (2006-), former location of [[Henry Schimmel]] horseshoer (1905), [[Bonita Theater]] (1906-1913), [[A. S. Smith]] / [[James Sharp]] (1907),  [[H-P Hat Store]] (1914-1915), [[Rialto Theatre]] (1915-1930s), [[Guarantee Shoe Company]] (1937-1964), [[Famous Shoe Bar]] (1980s) [[Gift World]] (1990s)
** 1923: [[Bonita Theater]] building (built 1906), [[Moore Solutions]] (2006-), former location of [[Henry Schimmel]] horseshoer (1905), [[Bonita Theater]] (1906-1913), [[A. S. Smith]] / [[James Sharp]] (1907),  [[H-P Hat Store]] (1914-1915), [[Rialto Theatre]] (1915-1930s), [[Guarantee Shoe Company]] (1937-1964), [[Famous Shoe Bar]] (1980s) [[Gift World]] (1990s)
** 1925-1933: [[Farley Building]] (built 1909), former location of [[American Grain Co.]] (1887–1909)
** 1925-1933: [[Farley Building]] (built 1909), former location of [[American Grain Co.]] (1887–1909)
*** 1925: former location of [[Robert L. Jackson]] tailor (1905), [[Dickas & Sarver]] (1913), [[Thom McAn]] shoes (1926), [[Thompson Shoes]] (1929), [[Julie Ann Hat Shop]] (1964)
*** 1925: former location of [[Robert L. Jackson]] tailor (1904–1905), [[Dickas & Sarver]] (1913), [[Thom McAn]] shoes (1926), [[Thompson Shoes]] (1929), [[Julie Ann Hat Shop]] (1964)
**** 1925½: former location of [[Sidney Prince]] bootblack (1905)
**** 1925½: former location of [[Sidney Prince]] bootblack (1905)
*** 1927: former location of [[Papadakis & Sapuntsakis]] (1907), [[Stone's Farley Place]] candy & lunch counter (1911), [[Mims B. Stone Refreshment Co.]] (1913), [[Cinderella Shoe Shop]] (1925-1929), [[The Adorable Shop]] (1939-1964)
*** 1927: former location of [[Papadakis & Sapuntsakis]] (1907), [[Stone's Farley Place]] candy & lunch counter (1911), [[Mims B. Stone Refreshment Co.]] (1913), [[Cinderella Shoe Shop]] (1925-1929), [[The Adorable Shop]] (1939-1964)
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** 2008-2010: former location of [[Victor Hotel]] (1907), [[Britling Cafeteria|Britling Cafeteria No. 3]] (1920s-1960s)
** 2008-2010: former location of [[Victor Hotel]] (1907), [[Britling Cafeteria|Britling Cafeteria No. 3]] (1920s-1960s)
*** 2008: former location of [[Gatchel's Photo Stock House]] / [[J. B. Hoffman]] (1907)
*** 2008: former location of [[Gatchel's Photo Stock House]] / [[J. B. Hoffman]] (1907)
*** 2010: former location of [[Gilbert Trunk Factory]] (1907)
*** 2010: former location of [[E. J. McCrossin & Co.]] (1896), [[Gilbert Trunk Factory]] (1907)
** 2012-2014: former location of [[Hood & Wheeler]] (1907), [[House of Jacobs]] furniture store, [[Fast-Rialto]], [[Empire Theatre]] (1920s–1986),
** 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]]
**** 2014 ½: former ocation of [[Turner Hall]] dance hall (1896)
** 2016: [[Goodyear Shoe Hospital]] (1984–), former location of [[Birmingham Paint & Glass Co.]] (1907), [[Birmingham Paint, Glass & Wall Paper Co.]], [[Sherwin-Williams Paint Store]] (1929)
** 2016: [[Goodyear Shoe Hospital]] (1984–), 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 (1907–1914), [[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)
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* avenue ends at [[Carraway Boulevard]] (formerly [[26th Street North]])
* avenue ends at [[Carraway Boulevard]] (formerly [[26th Street North]])
* [[Seaboard Air Line Railway]], [[Southern Railway]] tracks (no crossing)
* [[Seaboard Air Line Railway]], [[Southern Railway]] tracks (no crossing)
===[[North Avondale]] (historic)===
*4202: former location of [[Triumph Church of God and Christ]] (1928)


===[[Woodlawn]] (historic)===
===[[Woodlawn]] (historic)===
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* [[53rd Place North]] 3rd Avenue resumes
* [[53rd Place North]] 3rd Avenue resumes
**north side
**north side
***6012: [[Woodlawn Church of God]] (1940, 1960)
***6012: former location of [[Woodlawn Church of God]] (1940, 1960)
***6300: [[Mt Olive Baptist Church Woodlawn/Kingston|Mount Olive Baptist Church]] (1968)
***6300: former location of [[Mt Olive Baptist Church Woodlawn/Kingston|Mount Olive Baptist Church]] (1968)
***6408: [[Mt Olive Baptist Church Woodlawn/Kingston|Mount Olive Baptist Church]] (1940, 1960)
***6408: former location of [[Mt Olive Baptist Church Woodlawn/Kingston|Mount Olive Baptist Church]] (1940, 1960)
***6412: [[Mt Olive Baptist Church Woodlawn/Kingston|Mount Olive Baptist Church]] Sunday school rooms (1955)
***6412: former location of [[Mt Olive Baptist Church Woodlawn/Kingston|Mount Olive Baptist Church]] Sunday school rooms (1955)
* [[64th Place North]] and railroad tracks, 3rd Avenue ends
* [[64th Place North]] and railroad tracks
 
===[[Wahouma]]===
*7632: [[Eastlake Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance]] (1942)


== References ==
== References ==
* White, Marjorie Longenecker, ed. (1980) ''Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide'', second edition.  Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122929267/extend-white-way-over-three-blocks-3rd/ Extend White Way Over Three Blocks]" (November 21, 1911) {{BAH}}, p. 5
* R.L. Polk & Co. (1919) "R.L. Polk & Co.'s Birmingham City Directory"
* R.L. Polk & Co. (1919) "R.L. Polk & Co.'s Birmingham City Directory"
* {{CD-1964}}
* {{CD-1964}}
* {{White-1980}}


== External links ==
== External links ==

Revision as of 07:07, 24 February 2024

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 blocks of 3rd Avenue, between 17th and 21st streets, were designated as Birmingham's first "White Way" with the installation of seven 14-foot tall posts on each side of each block, each surmounted by five 500-watt lightbulbs. The Doric-style posts were ordered from the Union Foundry Company as part of a project undertaken jointly by te The Boosters, representing businesses on "Lower 3rd Avenue", and The Hustlers, representing "Upper 3rd Avenue". The groups planned a celebration to coincide with the completion of the work, which was expected in late November of early December 1911.

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."

20th Street North

A bicycle messenger in front of the Title Building at 2028 3rd Avenue North. Photographed in October 1914 by Lewis Wickes Hine.
The Empire Theater in 1981

21st Street North

22nd Street North

23rd Street North

24th Street North

25th Street North

North Avondale (historic)

Woodlawn (historic)

These addresses are on a section of 3rd Avenue that was eliminated by the construction of interstates.

Wahouma

References


External links

3rd Avenue North on Google Maps

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