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: Ballard & Ballard / C. A. Donnelly (1913), Burnett's Beauty Salon (1964) 202-204: A. S. Boyd / Penn Casualty Co. (1909), M. A. Copeland, V. V. Florence (1913) 204: Mabel Sanders Alterations (1964) 205: J. D. Head (1913), Jaffe Jewelry Co. (1964) 206: J. E. Pugh (1909), R. A. Thagard physician (1913) 207: J. B. Cobbs (1913) 208: J. B. Coff insurance (1909) 209: A. D. Hagan (1913) 210-212: Aetna Finance Co. (1964) 210–211: Black & Davis / H. E. Yockey (1913) 210: Black & Weakley (1909) 212: B. P. Ivey (1913) 214: Cox Advertising Agency (1913) 3rd floor 300-316: Horace Alford attorney (1923) 300: Strickland, physician (1909), A. G. Douglas / Smith & Rodgers (1913) 302: Rosamond, physician (1909), Boys Club & Children's Aid Society (1913) 303: Allen & Bell / W. H. Sadler Jr / Suitable Land Co. (1913) 304: Smith Kirkpatrick Advertising Inc. (1964) 307: Allen & Bell (1909), Allan Morten Printing Service (1964) 308-309: R. A. James, physician (1909) 308: R. A. Jones / B. McLaurine (1913) 309-310: Brides World (1964) 311: R. C. Thagard physician (1909), James A. Going real estate & investment (1913) 313: Taylor McCarty (1909) 315: R. F. Fries (1913) 4th Floor 400-404: Alabama Asphaltic Limestone Co. (1964) 400: Stallings-Lacey Court Reporters (1909), Stallings & Brazleton (1913) 401: D. H. Tolman (1913) 402-403: W. R. Dillard physician (1909) 402: J. S. Abney (1913) 404: Miles Copeland Sr physician (1909–1912) 406: O'Connell, physician (1909), Southern Amusement & Supply Co. (1913) 407-408: O. P. Brooks chiropractor (1923) 407: Noris Real Estate Co. (1913), Rossie Taylor attorney (1964) 408–409: Altrurian Society (1913) 408: Fred Moore attorney (1964) 410: Alabama Insurance Co. / Securities Co. of America (1913) 414: E. M. Thomas (1913), Franke & Cornelius Associates real estate / Franke Realty Co. (1964) 415: Farley Building superintendent 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), McMillan Mediation 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