The original Hughes & Co. building was built on this site in about 1895, being razed to make way for this building in 1910. Four story in height with a daylight basement, the building has a decorative brick facade on the street side of the building, done with slightly darker colored brick than the rest of the building and a thin overhanging cornice. Orange terra cotta pier caps and simulated keystones were added, as well. On each side of the centre entrance is the Hughes & Co. logo on a somewhat Art Deco background.
When Hughes & Co. relocated to different premises in 1962
Kershaw's Furniture, Inc. leased the building. Now the building's owner, Kershaw's Furniture remains in the building to this day. Hughes & Co. were in the building for 52 years, but Kershaw's, a purveyor of office furniture and supplies, has been there even longer, 54 years as of 2016.
Hughes & Co.
119 S. Howard St. - Historic Name: Hughes & Co.
Built: 1910 - Style: Commercial Vernacular
Builder: unknown - Architect: unknown
Classification: Historic Contributing
Description: This four and a half story brick building has a tri-partite facade with a flat, thin cornice with a large, pronounced
projection. The bottom section consisting of a daylight basement and first floor, a two-story middle section, and a single-story top section. The bottom section is delineated by a terra cotta projection adorned with dentils that mimics the building's cornice with its ogee moldings. It is divided by piers into five bays with a central bay serving as the entrance with a deep reveal at the top of a staircase. The other bays consist of large store windows with terra cotta sills. The piers are capped with the logo of Hughes & Co., the former and original occupant of the building. The middle portion of the building is also divided by terra cotta-capped brick piers into five sections. Each bay features paired four over four wood sash double-hung windows in a deep reveal with terra cotta sills. The top section mirrors the fenestration of the middle section, except that the terra cotta sill above is continuous and features decorative terra cotta ornaments suspended below. A brick belt course articulates the ceiling level
of the top floor. Above, brick work hi relief forms alternate between square and rectangular panels.
Cultural Data: In 1910 Hughes & Co. Wholesale Plumbing Supplies had its ca. 1895-1900 2-story headquarters rebuilt, creating the 4-1/2 story brick building that remains. The building has seen subsequent alterations: in 1915, it was altered to accommodate the elevated railroad grade; in 1948, builder Irving Peterson constructed an addition; and in 1957 the first floor was remodeled. Formerly Hughes and Griffith, Hughes & Co. was founded by George H. Hughes and J.H. Griffith. The latter had been in charge of the heating and plumbing department of Holley-Mason until 1892, when he bought the department and established Griffith Heating & Plumbing Supply Co. Hughes had been a partner hi the Utica, New York, plumbing firm of
Wicks, Hughes, and Griffith, and came to Spokane in 1890 to open and manage a branch. Hughes and Co. was formed in 1894 when Griffith's company was absorbed by Hughes. The company remained in the building until 1962, when it relocated. Kershaws Furniture Inc., leased it then and is the current owner and occupant.
From the NRHP Nomination Form