724 N Commercial - Emporia Downtown Historic District - Emporia, Ks.
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iconions
N 38° 24.425 W 096° 10.800
14S E 746236 N 4254749
This two-story brown brick building is located at 724 N Commercial in Emporia, Ks.
Waymark Code: WMM9H2
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2014
Views: 2
From the National Register application:
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"Commercial Building Status: Contributing
Address: 724 N COMMERCIAL ST
Date of Construction: 1925 (Estimated)
Parcel ID: 192-10-0-40-35-003.00-0
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade - Specialty Store
Current Function: Commerce/Trade - Business
Architectural Classification: Spanish Eclectic
Description:
This brick two-part commercial block occupies a triple-width lot. The building is nine bays wide. Upper-story fenestration defines the bays, which each contain round arch window openings containing non-historic painted plywood infill. Non-historic storefronts with transoms and recessed entrances occupy the two north first-story bays. A mid-to-late twentieth century storefront occupies the south storefront bay, comprised of a recessed single, full-light entrance, low bulkheads, and a transom opening filled with painted plywood. Historic character-defining features include: the orange brick facing on the primary elevation; the triangular pediment centered on the parapet wall; the clay tiles capping the parapet wall; the terra cotta embellishment throughout the upper-façade wall including the projecting cornice, the decorative window surrounds, the round arch window hoods with polychrome fan motif, and the projecting course below the upper-story windows forming a continuous sill; and the soldier brick course over each storefront.
History:
This building was built between 1923 and 1929. In 1929, there was a plumbing shop on the north end, a vulcanizing shop in the middle, and a store on the south. The second floor was occupied by a business college. In 1923, prior to its expansion to two stories, the two lots on the south end of this parcel were occupied by a 30-car-capacity garage that had been built between 1911 and 1923. In the 1880s, there was a single-family dwelling on this site. By 1899 the dwelling had been converted to a hand laundry and "Negro boarding" house. The house had been demolished by 1905.
Integrity:
Although the upper-façade windows have been partially infilled, the storefronts remain as voids and the building retains the bulk of its original features, including terra-cotta details and a highly
stylized facade. It is classified as a contributor."