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: 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