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Name:  Davis, Samuel and Co. Building
Address:  Fifth Street and Washington
Year:  1873
Architectural Firm/Architect:  Henry Isaacs
Standard Architectural Styles:  Italianate
Front facade:  Iron, cast
Property Type Codes:  Commercial building, Central Business District cast iron
Ward:  7
Neighborhood:  35
History:
Built for the Samuel Davis and Dry Goods Company , from 1871-1873, this five-story building was designed by Henry Issacs in emulation of the new Stewart´s Department Store in New York City. Fronting 150 feet on Washington Avenue, its windows were glazed in single sheets of plate glass obtained from Paris and were said to have cost $30,000. The building´s classical entablature was crowned by a balustrade on its roof. The interior was supported by iron columns spaced 25-feet apart to create an open floor plan. The white walls were a stark contrast to the walnut paneling used in its major offices. There were three passenger elevators and one freight elevator in the building. A fire-proof vault was located in its basement. The move of the city´s oldest dry goods company to this location began the growth of Washington Avenue into the major retail-wholesale street in the city [117].




People
Issacs, Henry G.

Reference
Architectural Heritage of St. Louis, 1803-1891

 

 

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