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Ten Things You Should Know about

THE ALICO BUILDING
OF WACO

by John Troesser


Waco, Texas

Vintage photos courtesy of Texas Collection, Baylor University

Waco Hotels › Book Here


ALICO Building basement. October 1910
Photo Courtesy Texas Collection, Baylor University

  1. ALICO stands for the Amicable Life Insurance Company
  2. Groundbreaking for the twenty-two building occurred in August of 1910. Completion was October of 1911.
  3. The building was once the tallest in Texas and the tallest west of the Mississippi.
  4. Construction was documented by Waco photographer Fred Gildersleeve and the photo collection is now part of the Texas Collection at Baylor University
  5. The building had its own electric generators and a water source from artesian springs.
  6. Building engineers piped this spring water to a restaurant across the street from the building (Chris's Restaurant) - without disrupting traffic (and without a permit).
  7. Waco's Old Corner Drugstore moved from its former location of Austin and 4th to the building in 1912
  8. Biplanes from Rich Field circled the building for its opening. The building has since provided its own aerial views of the city and the Brazos River.
  9. People working inside the building witnessed the destruction of downtown Waco during the tornado of May 11, 1953. The ALICO Building swayed, but received hardly any damage.
  10. There is currently no observation room, platform or lounge available to the public.

Waco TX - ALICO Building under construction
ALICO Building under construction. Arrow points to famed Waco photographer Gildersleeve
Photo Courtesy Texas Collection, Baylor University


Waco TX - ALICO building under construction
The building under construction in 1910 -
looking north from 5th Street
Note Dr Pepper sign to the left. Sign was photographed from rear.

Photo Courtesy Texas Collection, Baylor University


Waco TX - Bystander looking up
An awestruck young man in a newspaper publicity photo circa 1955
Photo Courtesy Texas Collection, Baylor University


Waco TX - Women looking up
ALICO Building has kept visitors and native Wacoans in awe for nearly 100 years.
Photo Courtesy Texas Collection, Baylor University


Waco, Texas - ALICO building basement
Photo of ALICO Building with courthouse dome in background
Photo Courtesy Texas Collection, Baylor University


ALICO Building in Waco, Texas
Old postcard of ALICO Building
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


Waco Texas downtown view
A current view of the building from Waco's City Hall
TE Photo, May 2003


Alico building in Waco
TE Photo


Waco TX - Alico building
"Amicable Life Insurance Building, the highest and most beautiful building in the South.
Waco, Texas"

Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

© John Troesser

Sources:
A Pictoral History of Waco by Roger Conger, Texian Press, 1998
The Texas Collection, Baylor University
The Handbook of Texas



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