Interesting old buildings local to you?

[Mairte]

If I can figure how to transfer pics from my camera onto here, I will post when I get back Sunday.
This topic is started because my youngest daughter send me a couple of pictures today.
It's of a HUGE old place, meaning big even after half of it burned down!
Located in Frontenac,MN, 20 miles away from me and about 10 from my parents place.
It's what was the "whorehouse" way back when. Balconies, double doors, three stories really imposing looking even now.
So what interesting pieces of history are in your area?

[Merlin the Elder]

It's not still there, but at one time there was a house with an observatory in it, in my old neighborhood. A well-to-do bookstore owner had built it. I have no idea how large of a telescope was in it, but the university in Little Rock ended up with it, as I understand it.

[Rowan MacD]

  In Omaha, that would be the Joslyn Castle,  officially known as 'Lynhurst'.
http://www.joslyncastle.com/
  Built in 1903 in the Scottish baronial style, it reflects the wealth and ambition of the richest newspaper man in the city at the time.  Now located in the middle of the city, it was originally located just outside Omaha, on a farm the Joslyn family bought for the purpose.

[Welsh Wench]

If I was in New Orleans, I would say it was my family house in the French Quarter. You can see it in the street scenes of the movie, Double Jeopardy.
Built around 1780

[Adriana Rose]

There is a bunch of old buildings around town here, they tore down a hotel that was falling apart and when they did there was a old cigar ad painted on the side of the building nextdoor. It was so cool then the damn devolper covered it up with a ugly buliding. But it was nice to look at while they were building it.

[DonaCatalina]

The Millermore Mansion in Dallas was once the center of a cotton plantation that included a large area of south Dallas and Pleasant Grove. It was moved to Old City Park to prevent its destruction.
It is haunted by Emma Brown, first wife of the builder and Lieutenant Governor Barry Miller, both of whom died in the house.

[redkimba]

The Tower Building is near my work.  It has some wonderful 1920s details, and really needs to be saved and/or new businesses in it.  I don't have a picture of the entire building at the moment, just this detail:



EDIT - history of the building:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Petroleum_Building   Opened in 1931; The Federal Bureau of Investigation had offices on the 12th floor of the Tower Petroleum Building from 1937 to 1943.

[Mairte]

Cool stories and pics!
If I ever had enough money, I would buy that place in Frontenac and restore it. Wishful thinking!
I wonder if IT is haunted?
If only buildings could tell their tales, I bet it would be fascinating.

[dbaldock]

It's not still there, but at one time there was a house with an observatory in it, in my old neighborhood. A well-to-do bookstore owner had built it. I have no idea how large of a telescope was in it, but the university in Little Rock ended up with it, as I understand it.

That was the home of Mr. Fred Allsopp, long-time business manager of the Gazette Newspaper (Allsopp Park is named for the family).  I was in the Physics & Astronomy Explorer Post (sponsored by the UALR Physics & Astronomy Dept.) with his grand-children.  The observatory dome from the Allsopp home was donated to UALR and placed on the roof of Stabler Hall in 1973.

Reference: UALR Physics & Astronomy Dept. - UALR Observatory Pictorial History

I'm not sure if a Telescope came with the dome, but I do know that by the mid- to late-70's the University had purchased a new 24" Schmidt–Cassegrain reflector Telescope to go in the dome.


Take Care,
David Baldock

[Merlin the Elder]

Yes...the family had operated a bookstore on Main Street for years (Allsopp-Chapell). By the late 60s, the house had been abandoned, and was supposed to be haunted. One of my brothers was "questioned" for being caught on the grounds (inside?) with one of his girlfriends...

[Lady Rebecca]

I live about 15 mins away from the Winchester Mystery House, which is probably the most famous supposedly haunted building in the country. In case you are unfamiliar, it was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the Winchester rifle company owner. She had been told that the noise of construction would drive away the spirits of all the people killed by his guns, so construction continued 24/7 on the house until she died. There are doors that lead to walls, stairs that lead to ceilings, etc. It's really a neat house to tour.
http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/thehouse.cfm

[DonaCatalina]

In 1992, the Grapevine Heritage Foundation relocated the 1901 Grapevine Depot to its 1937 location along the Cotton Belt Railroad tracks. The Foundation also relocated the Section House to its original site. The facilities were converted into a museum complex focused on the history of the area and the depot now serves as a terminal for steam-powered rail service.

[arbcoind]

I have a couple.  Old Hannastown still exists and is a tourist attraction.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.co.westmoreland.pa.us%2Fwestmoreland%2Fcwp%2Fview.asp%3Fa%3D1430%26q%3D576537&ei=JezbTYrxD-PX0QH7-antDw&usg=AFQjCNEPMGAdaphFERhwWkEFAJES4nweKg

Gina

[Mairte]

This is kind of interesting. Down the road from my parents place there is a tiny little building that used to be a bar WAY back. It was called "Peppers Bar" and closed down when the mill did. There is also an old store building,the old creamery and part of a cement wall. A cluster of seven houses is all that is left of the town. (where I grew up being one of them) There used to be a dance hall and a barn for people to put their horses when they came for dances.
On a side note, the man who built my parents house supposedly dug out the entire basement by hand.

[Lady Amy of York]

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q193/Kasco2/Boldt%20castle/castle.jpg

Not to far from me in Alexandria Bay, New york is Boldt castle.Above is a picture of  the boathouse that goes  with the castle.

here is an aerial shot of  the castle.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o41/CliffordP/Boldt1.jpg


At the turn-of-the-century, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full size rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay, on picturesque Heart Island.  The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise.
Beginning in 1900, Boldt's family shared four glorious summers on the island in the Alster Tower while 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.

In 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegraphed the island and commanded the workers to immediately "stop all construction." Louise had died suddenly. A broken hearted Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the structure as a monument of his love.

For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.