At the southwest corner of South Eleventh and Walnut streets is this lone survivor, one of what was once dozens of commercial buildings in the southwest side of downtown. One by one, they were demolished and replaced by courthouses, to the point today where it is the last survivor.
According to City records, it was built in 1902, but I’m not so sure; it looks like it could have been built much earlier, in the 1880s or 90s.
Well it could’ve been objectively possible for that “non steam elevator” beginnings five storey brick building to of been completed before 1902. It might not have the theoretically holistic building exterior Mansard Roof splendor of that near Old Union Station, Post Office Annex building, but it’s a miracle that this “old fashion” building survivor survived the wreckers torch many blocks east of Skinker.
Along with the fact that the building was never given any officially disgraceful Robert E Lee Hotel title in it’s name, which is real low even by Dixie standards
Old Soldier statues and officially named Old Civilian Hotel building businesses don’t mix. Even among the treasonist of Generals