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Connections
Kress Buildings Across Texas & Americaby
Johnny Stucco |
Samuel
Henry Kress was born in Cherryville, Pennsylvania in July of 1863. His father
worked as a supervisor at a coal mine and Sam was one of seven children.
Young Mr. Kress tried his hand at teaching before opening a stationery business
in Nanticoke, Pa. in 1887. As his store prospered, he reinvested his profits and
opened more stores, incorporating as S. H. Kress & Co. He never married or had
children. His first large-scale store was said to be in Memphis, Tennessee. |
Detail
of the former Kress Building in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo courtesy Stephen
Michaels, July 2007 |
| In 1878 Frank
Winfield Woolworth opened his first 5 and 10 cent store and his rapid success
was no doubt noticed by Sam Kress. While Kress may have “borrowed” the concept
of a “five-and-dime” from Frank Woolworth, when Woolworth died, Kress acknowledged
his mentor by closing his stores for the funeral and giving his employees the
day off. A most un-businesslike decision for those times.
A lifelong
bachelor, Kress spent his leisure collecting European art. Instead of amassing
a large single collection, and donating it as such, he donated over 3,000 paintings,
statues, sculptures, furniture and tapestries to museums across America. In 1945
he became president of the National Gallery of Art.
1929 was a bad year
for many. But it was a milestone for Kress. The Kress Foundation (for the appreciation
of European art) was organized and that same year Sam Kress hired Brooklyn-born
Architect Edward F. Sibbert, Jr. Sibbert soon became Kress’ chief architect and
for the next 25 years, designed over 50 Kress stores – most of them prestigious
locations in major cities. Art Deco or Zig-Zag designs were favored and Sibbert-designed
stores are considered prizes in the world of Kress buildings. Edward Sibbert died
in 1982, surviving his boss by some twenty-seven years.
Samuel H. Kress
died in New York City, in a penthouse atop one of his properties in September
of 1955, aged 92.
With no wife and no heirs, Sam Kress’ company was sold in 1964 – just about the
time malls started appearing and populations started leaving cities for Suburban
Utopia. The company that acquired the Kress holdings liquidated its assets in
1980.
In
Texas, Kress operated stores in at least ten cities,
including Amarillo, Brownsville,
Corpus Christi,
Dallas, Del
Rio, El Paso, Fort
Worth, Greenville, Houston,
Laredo, Lubbock,
Port Arthur, San
Antonio and Texarkana. |
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Detail
of San Antonio's former Kress Building
TE Photo, April 2001 |
Some
buildings aren't as grand as others.
A 70s look in downtown Brownsville
Photo Courtesy Ken
Rudine, 2007 |
Florida
had nine stores including Jacksonville, Key West, Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg,
and Tampa. California had stores in Bakersfield, Berkeley, Hollywood, Inglewood,
Long Beach, Modesto, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, and Stockton,
and the other Kress stores were spread across the U. S. extending even to the
(then) territories of Hawaii (Hilo and Honolulu) and Puerto Rico.
During
the Great Depression, low labor costs and cheap construction material gave Kress
an opportunity to expand. Most Kress stores were simple two to four story buildings
but were much larger in larger cities such as New Orleans, Los Angeles and Miami.
Costs
were usually between $50K to $100K for steel frame, concrete and brick veneer
(with terra cotta detail) buildings. Buildings often included extras like basements
and mezzanines – but were always constructed with the best materials available.
Floor joists were 16 inches square and staircases were marble. Fire escapes were
custom-ordered wrought iron and, of course, the Kress name was almost always gilded.
The company didn’t hesitate to expand, rebuild, remodel or demolish and start
from scratch. The magnificent Memphis store, which is currently in use as a Marriott
Springhill Suites, is in its fourth incarnation. |
 |
| The
Memphis former Kress Store in late Afternoon
Now
owned by Marriott Hotels
Photo courtesy Stephen
Michaels, July 2007 |
One
source lists about 100 surviving Kress buildings in America. Locating stores next
to post offices, city halls and other public buildings was not coincidental but
carefully planned. Their location made them integral parts of many downtowns and
the quality of construction (as well as their beauty) insured their longevity.
The ratio of survival for Kress buildings is somewhat higher than railroad
depots and on a par with Carnegie
libraries.
The number of stores Kress had at its zenith is in dispute.
Some sources give 300 stores in 30 states while others cite a total of 400 stores.
Many stores have been added to the National Register of Historic Places and many
of those who are not on the Register have at least been declared local landmarks
or are otherwise protected. |
A
stately and elegant Kress Building in Selma, Alabama
Photo courtesy Stephen
Michaels, February 2008 |
|
The
former Kress store in Long Beach, California is being converted into lofts and
across the country, reuse of the stores seems to be going in the direction of
condos, lofts or hotels. In smaller towns like Iola, Kansas, stores have short-term
tenants. At least one former building is a biker bar (Port Arthur, Texas). Many
stores remain vacant and some are for sale. Considering the materials of even
the most modest of stores, they are a bargain. |
A
forlorn Kress in Iola, Kansas
TE Photo March, 2005 |
| Port
Arthur Detail
TE Photo April 2004 |
| Kress
Detail in Ardmore, Oklahoma
TE Photo, June 2004 |
Ponca
City, Oklahoma Detail
TE Photo February 2005 |
A
Main Street Anchor in Chanute, Kansas
TE Photo May 2005 |
| The
San Antonio Kress Building in 2001
(Undergoing restoration in 2008) |
Kress
Building in El Paso, Texas
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
The
Building Museum in Washington D.C. showcased the Kress Buildings in a 1997 exhibit
called Main Street Five-and-Dimes: The Architectural Heritage of S.H. Kress &
Co. The museum is a repository for 13,000 drawings, blueprints and photographs
from the former Kress archives.
By employing exotic motifs, distinctive
details and quality materials, Kress architects put their stores on the same level
of banks, post
offices and libraries. Designs were tasteful and patrons felt up-lifted from
their hum-drum existence. Kind of like the present-day Wal-Mart experience.
© John Troesser
First published March 2008 | |
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