Bird’s eye view of the intersection of Fourth and Chestnut Streets looking toward the Pierce building on the northeast corner. Photograph by A. W. Sanders, 1908. Missouri Historical Society Photographs and Prints Collections. N44563 (scan). Scan 2007, Missouri Historical Society.
Does anyone have pictures of the Pierce Building in the 1980’s, right before its conversion to the Adams Mark Hotel? Other than photographs I’ve found at the History Museum such as these two wonderful views I’ve never been able to find any.? The Pierce Building is the skyscraper in the middle of both photographs.
I wish I had photos of it. My grandfather held the top floor office on the right. He would take my aunts and uncles up to see the Arch construction. He took me up to his office many times before it was ruined by the Adam’s Mark people.
My husband’s family operated the coffee shop on the main floor, showing the grandfather clock of which I now have in my living room. Have photo’s of the cafeteria.
Oh Ruth, I would love to see those! Any close up shots of the exterior?
No close up shots of building, only photo of cafeteria.
Those would still be neat to see.
My grandfather, Nathan Perlman from River Forest, Illinois, outside of Chicago, owned the Pierce Building in the 1960s. He took me visiting several times when I was a teenager. We ate at the Bulls and Bears restaurant on the ground floor and met with the building manager, Mr. Sweeney, and reviewed occupancy percentages. We even went up to the elevator room on the top floor with the mechanical equipment. Today, I’m here staying in the Hyatt Hotel (formerly Adams Mart, formerly Pierce Building) with my parents (mother Arline is Nathan’s daughter), my siblings, spouses and children. The building is almost unrecognizable and the E shape I remembered is gone. It’s difficult to tell how the original shape turned into what it is now. Nathan gifted each of his ten grandchildren with 1% of the building, so I was actually a part owner as well. It’s sentimental to be here now with my parents and my own kids.
Rick, thanks for sharing! Do you have any old photographs of the building before its renovation? I would love to see them.
Yes, I have a photo with it standing untouched while the two Adams Mark easterly wings are under construction. Let me know how to get it to you.
Chuck, that would be awesome! E-mail me at naffziger (at) gmail (dot) com!
I worked in the Pierce building in the 70’s. My first job. The elevator attendants were awesome.
What was it like inside? Still in good shape?
I worked on the 6th floor for The Aetna In’s Co in the 60’s. After work a group of us frequented The B & B
I worked in the Pierce Building. I worked for the Missouri Inspection Bureau on the 14th Floor in 1965. On Oct. 28, 1965 we watched the ceremony for the completion of the St. Louis Arch which was right in front of our building.
I delivered mail to the Pierce Building in 1979 when I was assigned to the old Jefferson Memorial PO 63102. Beautiful lobby with a line of ornate brass elevators (with operators) on both sides. A couple of the tenants that I can remember were the Charles Crane Insurance Co and the East West Gateway Coordinating Co. An elevator operator would stop at each floor for me to drop off the mail, then I would go back to each floor and deliver to each tenant. I have no photos, just fond memories.
I worked in the Pierce Building in the early to mid-70’s for a attorneys Ralph Neuhoff and David Zwart. I was there the day a former employee in the building next door took hostages by gunpoint onto the mezzanine next door and there was a standoff with police. The hostages were all rescued safely but the gunman died during the standoff.
Wow, I’ve never heard that story! And just a day after a similar situation just a block away.
One of my grandfathers was an elevator operator in the Pierce Building during the 1960s, maybe even earlier. It is hard to imagine needing someone to operate elevators now! My father worked for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in the Old Courthouse before and during construction, ultimately, dedication of the Arch. It was fun to meet my family at work; I would often take lunch hours and ride the elevator in the Pierce Building so I could visit my grandfather, called “Jimmy” by his passengers. I spent many hours roaming the Old Courthouse, learned a lot of history. St. Louis offered interesting times for me back then.; the good ol’ days!
What a great story! I’ve only encountered a couple of elevator operators in my life.