Tag Archives: art deco

-Georgia, National Register of Historic Places

The Blair Building in Decatur, Georgia

Leave a comment

The Blair Building is an Art Moderne office building located in Decatur, Georgia. Built in 1939 by the Farnell Blair Company, the company used the second floor for its offices.

In 1946, Guy Rutland Sr. purchased the building to use as the headquarters for his trucking company, real estate business, and farm operations. Rutland served in the state legislature from 1953 to 1964. The building stayed in the Rutland family until 1994.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 2002.

-Georgia, Uncategorized

The Art Deco Augusta Water Works

Leave a comment

The Water Filter Building on Highland Avenue was built in 1937 in Augusta, Georgia. The Art Deco motif was utilized often in municipal buildings.

-South Carolina, Abandoned

Spartanburg Printing and Paper Company-Spartanburg, South Carolina

1 Comment

The Spartanburg Printing and Paper Company once called this Art Deco building home. Located in Archer Street, it was built in 1925. I understand there was talk of demolishing this building but that plan is currently on hold.

-Tennessee, National Register of Historic Places, Schools

Fairview Junior High School-Memphis, Tennessee

Leave a comment

I love Art Deco, so during my recent trip to Memphis, I knew I would need to visit this school. Memphis architect Noland Van Powell designed the Fairview Junior High School for the Edward Lee Harrison architectural firm. Opening in the fall of 1930, it was built at the cost of $335,000. The Art Deco style was unusual for Memphis. The building stood out with the buff-colored bricks since most schools in town were built with red bricks. It got its name because it was next to the fairgrounds.

During the 1937 Mississippi River flood, the school served as a hospital. In 2012, it went through an $8 million renovation. Luckily, most of the Art Deco details were intact and kept during the renovation. It is now known as the Middle College High School.

It was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

-Florida, Black History, National Register of Historic Places

Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum-Jacksonville, Florida

1 Comment

Abraham Lincoln Lewis (1865-1947) was the first Black millionaire in Florida. He started the Afro-American Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to several other businesses he owned, he bought acres of beachfront to create a vacation spot known as American Beach. It became a safe haven for Black Americans to vacation during segregation.

The Art Deco style mausoleum was designed by Leeroy Sheftall and is located in Memorial Cemetery.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic palaces in 1997.