It has been previously illustrated that the urban residential,
ecclesiastical and educational buildings were constructed to reflect
current stylistic trends more than their rural counterparts; a similar
observation might be made about commercial urban and rural buildings.
The urban commercial buildings depicted on these two pages represent
some of the stylistic expressions of the Twin Cities from the time of
early settlement, the 1840’s, to the period of the oil boom, the 1930’s.
As such, they might be viewed as a summary of commercial architecture in
the Twin Cities.
The Isaiah Garrett law office, figure 65, was constructed in the 1840’s.
Its configuration is similar to that of the small residence of the
period, a two room core with rear wing, chimneys on end elevations, and
an attached front gallery. This building is now the Colonial Dames
Museum.
[Illustration: _Fig. 65. Isaiah Garrett law office, 1840’s (Bldg.
163)._]
The two story commercial building shown in figure 66 was built in the
1890’s on North Grand Street. It contains large glass areas for display
and interior light, and the second floor contains arched windows on the
street facade but flat lintel windows overlooking the river.
[Illustration: _Fig. 66. 1890’s commercial building on North Grand,
Monroe (Bldg. 164)._]
T. M. Parker built a two story commercial building on DeSiard Street in
1908, figure 67. This building was used as a hotel for a long period.
There is a similarity in the manner in which the roof lines of the
buildings in figures 67 and 68 were constructed, since both parapets
have shaped and raised center sections and projecting cornices.
[Illustration: _Fig. 67. The T. M. Parker Building on DeSiard Street
(Bldg. 165)._]
The West Monroe 1909 two story building depicted in figure 68 was built
with similar characteristics as those previously described, a large
glass area on ground floors and a masonry upper facade. But this
building contains other individualistic features. The second floor opens
onto a balcony which overlooks the Ouachita River, and a very elaborate
cast stone lady’s head is incorporated into the pilaster on the left
side of the front elevation. A companion sculpture on the right pilaster
no longer exists. One might wonder if it were a male or female likeness.
[Illustration: _Fig. 68. A West Monroe commercial building, 1909
(Bldg. 166)._]
Civic architecture is represented by the 1925 Ouachita Parish
Courthouse, figure 69. Neoclassicism was used to represent monumentality
through the application of engaged Ionic columns on the major facades.
Broad entry terraces and steps heightened the drama of entry into the
main floor. The roofline contains a balustrade as an expression of
uniting the building with the skyline.
[Illustration: _Fig. 69. The neoclassical Ouachita Parish Courthouse
1925 (Bldg. 167)._]
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