County of building: Howard County
Location of building: Main St., center of block, Fayette
Architect: Unknown
Architectural Style: Italianate
Building Built: 1884
"This whimsical high Victorian building owes some of its design to the Italianate style for commercial buildings with its bracketed, projecting cornice and attenuated window openings. It also owes some of its character to the catalogs from which stamped, iron fronts could be ordered to suit the personal taste or business image which the owner wished to project. The second story of this building has been maintained in excellent condition and is little altered, although the first story has undergone substantial alterations so that the iron trim is no longer even seen. Although the building has a single owner, two businesses are located in it. On the second story, the building is topped by a central decorated gable or pediment, its center space filled with a radiating "sunburst" design surrounded by dentils and
capped by a finial. Below this gable a panel is stamped with the date "1884" and the name "John Talbot & Co." between embossed scrolls. A metal mortar and pestle is to the right of the central gable, designating the type of business within. Originally, the other side had an identical mortar and pestle. A mansard standing seam, metal roof fills the rest of this section.
"The second story is divided into three parts, the central part being slightly wider than the flanking ones. These sections are set off by pilasters which extend all the way up to the roofline at the corners and are capped by small pyramidal forms. The two pilasters which set off the central section extend up to a row of dentils and pause for two plain, flat panels which extend across the width of the building before continuing up to the- roofline, where they look more like brackets. The remaining mortar and pestle sits atop the right pilaster/bracket. The cornice is decorated (from the top down) by two thin, flat panels projecting above a row of scrolled brackets. There are four brackets evenly spaced in the end sections, and seven brackets slightly closer together in the central section. The space between the brackets is further decorated by small dentils and egg and dart moulding with round medallions beneath. Below the brackets are the two plain panels mentioned above. The two flanking sections each
contain two pair of window openings. On the left half, the original windows have been replaced with paired, double hung sash with one over one panes. The top half of the window opening has been infilled with a wooden panel. The windows on the right half appear to be original, although the top half is covered to match the left side and only the bottom half with four over four panes are showing. These window pairs are divided by very narrow pilasters with a Doric base and Corinthian crown. The central section of the first floor is divided into three parts, set off by the same thin pilasters as the end sections, with the middle section completely infilled with wooden panelling.[sic] This was once a window to light the stairwell to the upper floor. Under the window area is a second cornice with dentils and stamped rosettes and then the modern storefronts.
"The rear of the :5tore is plain brick with four windows on the second story and a centered door with wooden stairs running down on the exterior to the alley which is below grade. There is a walk out basement and the entire elevation is devoid of any type of decoration.
"In 1889 the building shifted to the left (north). Although appearing to be leaning by about four inches, the building is sound and has not measurably shifted since that time. Commercial Trust Bank is demolishing the adjacent Grand Theater in 1992 and care is being taken to construct retaining walls as the other buildings on this aide of the Square appear to be leaning in their turn against this building.
"This building faces North Main Street, across from the Courthouse. Until the Alamo Theater building was demolished, it shared its north wall with the Theater. When construction is complete, it will share a wall, braced by steel beams, with the Commercial Trust Bank addition. On the south side, it shares a wall with the Robb Plumbing and Heating building. An alley is on the east." ~ Fayette Historic Survey, pages 171-178
"13. 111-113 N. Main Street, The John Talbot and Co. Building, 1884. Two-story brick commercial vernacular (multiple entry with
display windows) with Italianate overtones. Original storefront,
including transom and recessed entrances, has been modified. Original
fenestration at the second story has been altered and presently features tripartite, multipaned units separated by original engaged columns and fluted pilasters. Denticulated string coursing flanks the fenestration. A pressed metal cornice with multiple brackets and consols is crowned by a molded and denticulated pedimented nameplate and finial. A mortar and pestle at the roof line is extant. Brick foundation. (Contributing)" ~ NRHP Nomination Form [link below]