Thomasville Municipal Auditorium Preservation.pdf

THOMASVILLE

MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM

PRESERVATION PLAN

2 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

PREPARED FOR:

THE CITY OF THOMASVILLE

111 VICTORIA PLACE

THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA 31799

PREPARED BY:

WLA STUDIO

675 PULASKI STREET, SUITE 1000

ATHENS, GEORGIA 30601

JULY 2022

Preservation Plan 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

III. BUILDING EVOLUTION

IV. BUILDING ANALYSIS

V. CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES

VI. EXISTING CONDITIONS

VII. TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS

VIII. TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

IX. TREATMENT PRIORITIES

X. END NOTES

XI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX A: 1938 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

APPENDIX B: CURRENT FLOOR PLANS

APPENDIX C: WINDOW AND DOOR SCHEDULE

APPENDIX D: BUILDING ZONES AND ROOM NUMBERS

APPENDIX E: PLANTING PLAN PROPOSAL

4 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

Preservation Plan 5

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1: 1888 IMAGE OF THE OLD CITY HALL; FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF THOMASVILLE

FIGURE 2: 1938 ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT DRAWING OF THE THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL BUILDING; IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE CITY

OF THOMASVILLE

FIGURE 3: PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CORNERSTONE CEREMONY, HELD BY FREEMASONS ON MAY 26, 1939; IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE CITY

OF THOMASVILLE

FIGURE 4: PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS FROM JULY 1, 1939; IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF

THOMASVILLE

FIGURE 5: 1942 IMAGE OF THE COMPLETED THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM; IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF

THOMASVILLE

FIGURE 6: IMAGE OF THE THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, SITUATED AT THE CORNER OF CRAWFORD AND JACKSON STREET;

PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 7: FRONT FAÇADE OF THE THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, SHOWING VARIOUS ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES; PHOTO

TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 8: ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS ON THE CRAWFORD STREET FAÇADE; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 9: ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL SURROUNDING AN ENTRANCE ON THE CRAWFORD STREET FAÇADE; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 10: IMAGE OF THE FENESTRATION ON THE CRAWFORD STREET FAÇADE, SHOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WINDOWS;

PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 11: IMAGE OF THE REAR FACADE, SHOWING THE ONLY VISIBLE SECTION OF THE ORIGINAL REAR FACADE; PHOTO TAKEN BY

AUTHOR

FIGURE 12: IMAGE OF THE REAR FACADE, SHOWING THE 2001 FIRE STATION ADDITION; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 13: A NONͳHISTORIC DOOR IN THE MAIN CORRIDOR WITH NONͳHISTORIC MOLDED CASINGS AND ROUNDELS THAT MATCH

THE ORIGINAL AESTHETIC OF THE BUILDING; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 14: A NONͳHISTORIC DOOR IN THE MEETING ROOM WITH NONͳHISTORIC MOLDED CASINGS AND ROUNDELS THAT MATCH

THE ORIGINAL AESTHETIC OF THE BUILDING; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 15: IMAGE OF THE FIRSTͳFLOOR LOBBY, WHICH HAS RETAINED MUCH OF ITS HISTORIC FABRIC; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 16: IMAGE OF THE WOODEN PANELING IN THE COURTROOM; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 17: INTERIOR VIEW OF THE RECORDS VAULT; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 18: ORIGINAL DOORS ON THE CRAWFORD STREET FAÇADE; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 19: ORIGINAL DOORS ON THE COURTYARD FAÇADE; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

6 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

FIGURE 20: VIEW OF THE AUDITORIUM AND BALCONY; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 21: VIEW OF THE STAGE; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 22: CLOSEͳUP VIEW OF THE PROSCENIUM; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 23: VIEW OF THE METAL ORNAMENT ON THE AUDITORIUM SEATS; PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR

FIGURE 24: PORTION OF THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE EAST AND SOUTH FACADES OF THE THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL BUILDING

FIGURE 25: PORTION OF THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE FIRE STATION ADDITION, SHOWING THE METAL DRAINAGE GRATE BEHIND

THE ENGINE BAYS

FIGURE 26: VIEW OF THE COURTYARD ON THE WEST FAÇADE OF THE BUILDING THAT APPEARS TO LACK ANY STORMWATER

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

FIGURE 27: FOUNDATION PLANTINGS ON THE EAST FAÇADE; THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE PLANTS IS LIKELY CONTRIBUTING TO

RISING DAMP AROUND THE FOUNDATION OF THE BUILDING

FIGURE 28: FOUNDATION PLANTINGS ON THE EAST FAÇADE; THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE PLANTS IS LIKELY CONTRIBUTING TO

RISING DAMP AROUND THE FOUNDATION OF THE BUILDING

FIGURE 29: THE FRONT PANEL ON THE CHEEK WALL ΈRIGHT SIDE OF FRONT FAÇADEΉ HAS BEGUN TO FALL AWAY AND HAS SEPARATED

APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH; POSSIBLY CAUSED BY WATER INFILTRATION

FIGURE 30: DISCOLORATION ON STEPS INDICATES WATER POOLING

FIGURE 31: LIME STALACTITE ABOVE THE KEYSTONE ON THE FARͳRIGHT ENTRANCE ON THE FRONT FAÇADE; CAUSED BY EXPOSURE

TO WATER

FIGURE 32: DISCOLORATION BEHIND THE NARROW COPPER DOWNSPOUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT FAÇADE ENTRYWAY

PAVILION

FIGURE 33: BROKEN COPPER DOWNSPOUT AND DISCOLORATION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENTRYWAY PAVILION

FIGURE 34: ALGAE BUILDUP AND DISCOLORATION ON THE FRONT FAÇADE PEDIMENT AND ENTABLATURE; CAUSED BY EXCESS

MOISTURE AND INADEQUATE DRAINAGE

FIGURE 35: RUSTED LINTEL ABOVE THE RECTANGULAR INSET ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT FAÇADE; CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR

ON THE RIGHT SIDE LINTEL

FIGURE 36: EVIDENCE OF RISING DAMP, DISCOLORATION, AND ALGAE AND MOLD GROWTH BEHIND THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

NEXT TO THE FRONT LOBBY; ISSUES ARE DUE TO EXCESS MOISTURE, SPLASH BACK, POOR DRAINAGE, AND LACK OF AIR AND

SUNLIGHT

FIGURE 37: EVIDENCE OF RISING DAMP AND BRICK DISCOLORATION BEHIND THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT NEXT TO THE FRONT

Preservation Plan 7

LOBBY; ISSUES ARE DUE TO EXCESS MOISTURE, SPLASH BACK, POOR DRAINAGE, AND LACK OF AIR AND SUNLIGHT

FIGURE 38: GAP BETWEEN THE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE AND THE BRICK EXTERIOR WALL; NEEDS TO REFASTENED AND

REPOINTED

FIGURE 39: RUSTY LINTEL ABOVE THE RECTANGULAR INSET ON THE CRAWFORD STREET SIDE OF THE FRONT LOBBY

FIGURE 40: RISING DAMP ON WATER TABLE DUE TO PLANTINGS AND EXCESS MOISTURE AROUND FOUNDATION

FIGURE 41: RISING DAMP ON WATER TABLE DUE TO PLANTINGS AND EXCESS MOISTURE AROUND FOUNDATION

FIGURE 42: EVIDENCE OF LEAKING DOWNSPOUTS AND COPPER STAINING

FIGURE 43: DOWNSPOUT WITH UNSECURED BRACKETS

FIGURE 44: VIEW OF THE HAIRLINE CRACKING IN THE STRINGCOURSE

FIGURE 45: VIEW OF THE ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE PEDIMENT, ENTABLATURE, AND CORNICE

FIGURE 46: VIEW OF THE ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE PEDIMENT, ENTABLATURE, AND CORNICE

FIGURE 47: VIEW OF THE ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE PEDIMENT, ENTABLATURE, AND CORNICE

FIGURE 48: VIEW OF THE ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE PEDIMENT, ENTABLATURE, AND CORNICE

FIGURE 49: CRACKING ON THE CAST STONE PANELS BELOW THE TYPE C WINDOWS

FIGURE 50: DISCOLORATION ON THE PEDIMENT AND ENTABLATURE OF THE SIDE CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY

FIGURE 51: CRACKING AND CONCRETE PATCHING ON SIDE CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY STAIRS

FIGURE 52: EVIDENCE OF PAINT DETERIORATION ON THE CRAWFORD STREET CROSS CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY

FIGURE 53: VIEW OF DISCOLORED CAST STONE WINDOWSILL AND DETERIORATED WINDOW PAIN

FIGURE 54: VIEW OF CRACKING IN THE CAST STONE TOP OF THE WATER TABLE

FIGURE 55: RUSTED LINTEL ABOVE THE CROSS CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY

FIGURE 56: CRACKS IN THE STRINGCOURSE ABOVE THE CROSS CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY

FIGURE 57: RUSTED LINTELS ABOVE FORMER ENGINE BAYS

FIGURE 58: RUSTED LINTELS ABOVE FORMER ENGINE BAYS

FIGURE 59: DISCOLORATION ON CROSS CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY CHECK WALL CAUSED BY PLANTER AND WATER DAMAGE

FIGURE 60: MECHANICAL DAMAGE ON A CAST STONE WINDOWSILL

FIGURE 61: RISING DAMP AND DISCOLORATION ON THE WATER TABLE BELOW THE COMMEMORATIVE TABLETS

FIGURE 62: RUSTING LINTEL IN RECTANGULAR INSET

FIGURE 63: ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE CORNICE AND ENTABLATURE

FIGURE 64: ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE CORNICE AND ENTABLATURE

FIGURE 65: ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE CORNICE AND ENTABLATURE

8 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

FIGURE 66: ALGAE GROWTH AND DISCOLORATION ON THE CORNICE AND ENTABLATURE

FIGURE 67: VISIBLE RUST ON THE FIRE STAIR RISERS

FIGURE 68: DISCOLORATION AROUND DOWNSPOUTS

FIGURE 69: LARGE HOLE IN DOWNSPOUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COURTYARD ENTRYWAYS

FIGURE 70: VISIBLE ROT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENTRYWAY AWNING

FIGURE 71: DISCOLORATION ON STRINGCOURSE

FIGURE 72: MOSS AND ALGAE GROWTH IN UTILITY AREA

FIGURE 73: MOSS AND ALGAE GROWTH IN UTILITY AREA

FIGURE 74: VISIBLE CRACKING IN COURTYARD FAÇADE STAIRS

FIGURE 75: VISIBLE CRACKING IN COURTYARD FAÇADE STAIRS

FIGURE 76: DETERIORATED BRICK POINTED AND DAMAGED ENTABLATURE

FIGURE 77: CRACKED PILASTER BASE

FIGURE 78: CRACKED PILASTER BASE

FIGURE 79: RUSTED STEEL WINDOWS

FIGURE 80: CLOGGED DRAIN IN BASEMENT STAIRWELL

FIGURE 81: BROKEN DOWNSPOUT

FIGURE 82: RUST DAMAGE ON THE ROOF OF THE COVERED SEATING AREA ON THE REAR OF THE BUILDING

FIGURE 83: VIEW OF THE PARKING LOT, WHICH SHEDS STORM WATER TOWARDS THE BUILDING

FIGURE 84: DISCOLORATION AND ALGAE GROWTH ON THE CORNICE

FIGURE 85: RUST AND BRICK DISCOLORATION BELOW THE METAL VENT

FIGURE 86: RUSTED LINTEL ABOVE THE THRESHOLD BETWEEN THE FUEL ROOM AND BOILER ROOM

FIGURE 87: THE HISTORIC BOILER SYSTEM IN THE BASEMENT; ALTHOUGH NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL, THE BOILER SYSTEM IS A

NOTABLE HISTORIC FEATURE

FIGURE 88: COMMON BOND BRICK WALLS AND BOARDͳFORMED CONCRETE CEILINGS IN THE STORAGE ROOM

FIGURE 89: HISTORIC STEEL FIRE DOOR BETWEEN THE STAIRWELL AND THE BOILER ROOM

FIGURE 90: THE HISTORIC COAL CHUTE IN THE FUEL ROOM

FIGURE 91: HISTORIC STEEL FACTORY SASH WINDOW IN THE EXTERIOR BASEMENT STAIRWELL

FIGURE 92: HISTORIC DOORS AND DECORATIVE MOLDINGS

FIGURE 93: HISTORIC DOORS AND DECORATIVE MOLDINGS

Preservation Plan 9

FIGURE 94: HISTORIC DOOR HARDWARE

FIGURE 95: SPRAYͳON FIBERGLASS ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT ON THE TRAY CEILING

FIGURE 96: VIEW OF A WOODEN 12/12 WINDOWS IN THE SECONDͳFLOOR LOBBY AND OF A WOODEN 8/8 WINDOW IN THE LOBBY

STAIRWELL

FIGURE 97: VIEW OF DAMAGED PLASTER IN THE THIRDͳFLOOR BALCONY STAIRWELL

FIGURE 98: HISTORIC DOORS AND MOLDINGS AT THE SIDE CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY

FIGURE 99: HISTORIC DOORWAY AND MOLDINGS AT THE CROSS CORRIDOR ENTRYWAY

FIGURE 100: VIEW OF THE SIDE CORRIDOR SHOWING THE VAT FLOORING AND CELOTEX TILE CEILING

FIGURE 101: VIEW OF THE DROPPED TILE CEILING IN THE REAR SECTION OF THE MAIN CORRIDOR

FIGURE 102: AN HISTORIC WINDOW IN THE VISITORS’ CENTER

FIGURE 103: AN HISTORIC WINDOW IN AN OFFICE NEXT TO THE COURTROOM

FIGURE 104: ONE OF THE HISTORIC LIBRARY ENTRYWAYS, NOW LOCATED IN THE VISITORS’ CENTER

FIGURE 105: HISTORIC STEEL WINDOW IN THE MEN’S DRESSING ROOM

FIGURE 106: HISTORIC STEEL WINDOW IN THE MULTIͳUSE ROOM ON THE EAST END OF THE MEZZANINE

FIGURE 107: REPLACEMENT ALUMINUM WINDOW IN THE MEN’S DRESSING ROOM

FIGURE 108: HISTORIC WOODEN 12/12 WINDOWS IN THE AUDITORIUM

FIGURE 109: HISTORIC FACTORY SASH WINDOW IN THE AUDITORIUM STAIRWELL

FIGURE 110: HISTORIC FACTORY SASH WINDOW IN A FORMER COMMITTEE ROOM

FIGURE 111: A VIEW OF THE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS ON THE STAGE PROSCENIUM

FIGURE 112: A VIEW OF THE DECORATIVE EMBOSSED METAL ON THE AISLEͳEND OF THE AUDITORIUM SEATS

FIGURE 113: DETERIORATED PLASTER BENEATH ONE OF THE WOODEN WINDOWS ON THE MAIN AUDITORIUM FLOOR

FIGURE 114: VIEW OF DETERIORATED PLASTER ON THE EAST WALL OF THE BALCONY

FIGURE 115: VIEW OF THE SPRAYͳON FIBERGLASS ACOUSTIC TREATMENT ON THE AUDITORIUM CEILING

FIGURE 116: A CLOSEͳUP VIEW OF THE SPRAYͳON FIBERGLASS ACOUSTIC TREATMENT

FIGURE 117: THE SOUND BOOTH ON THE BALCONY LEVEL

FIGURE 118: AREAWAY OPENING ON THE EAST FAÇADE OF THE BUILDING AND VEGETATION PLANTED AGAINST THE BUILDING

10 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

Preservation Plan 11

THOMASVILLE

MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM

PRESERVATION PLAN

The City of Thomasville, Georgia, engaged the historic preservaƟ on fi rm WLA Studio to develop a preservaƟ on plan for the Thomasville Municipal Building.

The city envisioned the plan as an essenƟ al step to complete rehabilitaƟ on and renovaƟ on of the building in a way that protects its historic character and ensures its future ability to accommodate a variety of user groups. The project is also intended to become part of an applicaƟ on to the Fox Theater InsƟ tute as part of a fi scal year 2022 grant applicaƟ on.

The WLA Studio team, led by Anders Yount and supported by historical architect Daniel Sniff and architectural historian Mark Reinberger, completed a series of tasks to idenƟ fy community desires for the building’s future use, to explore the historic evoluƟ on of the building, to idenƟ fy historic character-defi ning features of the building, to evaluate its exisƟ ng condiƟ ons, and to propose a general treatment plan that protects the building’s historic integrity.

12 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

Preservation Plan 13

ConstrucƟ on of the Thomasville Municipal Building began in 1939. Funds for its construcƟ on came from the City of Thomasville and the Works Progress AdministraƟ on, a New Deal-era federal program that invested in infrastructure projects across the United States. Elliot Dunwody, an architect from Macon, Georgia, designed and oversaw construcƟ on of the building. Consistent with its original design, the Thomasville Municipal Building has supported a variety of uses for the Thomasville community. In addiƟ on to being the primary public auditorium in downtown Thomasville, the building has been over the years the locaƟ on of the city police department, fi re department, library, and various city offi ces.

From a historic preservaƟ on perspecƟ ve, the Thomasville Municipal Building retains a high degree of historic integrity. The interior arrangement of rooms has changed over the years, but many interior spaces retain a high degree of their original form and fabric, in parƟ cular the front lobby, the interior corridor network, the original courtroom, and the auditorium. The exterior of the building, perhaps the most signifi cant character-defi ning element of the building, is in excellent condiƟ on and retains most of its original features.

This preservaƟ on plan recommends rehabilitaƟ on as the appropriate treatment approach for the building. RehabilitaƟ on is defi ned as the process of making possible a compaƟ ble use for a property through repair, alteraƟ ons, and addiƟ ons while preserving those features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values. To ensure the ongoing success of the building and to ensure that it conƟ nues to serve the Thomasville community, the building should accommodate a variety of users and uses. The purpose of this document is to idenƟ fy the disƟ ncƟ ve materials, features, and spaces that should be protected during future work to preserve the historic character of the building.

This preservaƟ on plan is modeled upon best pracƟ ces as defi ned by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic PreservaƟ on. The informaƟ on presented in this document will inform future work on the building so as to minimize loss, damage, or adverse eff ects on historic fabric. Examples of future work that may be required to accommodate the envisioned use of the building include code compliance and accessibility upgrades, repair or replacement of historic fabric, and system upgrades.

While this document addresses future projects in general terms and provides general guidance for preserving historic fabric, it does not provide specifi c, construcƟ on-ready, treatment recommendaƟ ons.

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

14 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

Preservation Plan 15

Founded in 1826, Thomasville only grew signifi cantly in the late 1800s with the area’s Ɵ mbering boom and as a winter resort for northerners due to its healthful, mild air. Luxurious hotels graced the community, as did beauƟ ful private houses and plantaƟ ons oŌ en bought by wealthy visitors. The town grid was oriented at exactly 45 degrees to the cardinal points, perhaps to take advantage of prevailing breezes, and, in the late 1800s, Pinetree Boulevard was laid out as a ring road, or “country drive,” for visitors approximately one mile from the grid, the fi rst such road in the United States. Near the center of the grid stood the Thomas County Courthouse (built 1858), with Old City Hall (1871) not far away.

The town, incorporated as a city in 1889 in the midst of its economic upsurge, early on established a full complement of public services, including a public-owned electric company, fi re department, police

Figure 1: 1888 image of the Old City Hall; from the Library of Congress, provided by the City of Thomasville

II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

16 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium department, and water system. Around 1900, demand grew for a federal building, a campaign that was realized in 1915 with the construcƟ on of the United States Post Offi ce.1

In the early twenƟ eth century, the site of the Municipal Building contained several important civic structures. Old City Hall stood at the corner of Crawford and Jackson streets. It belonged to the type of market hall/city hall building that went back to European sources in the Middle Ages: arched and open on the ground fl oor and enclosed above, oŌ en, as here, with a cupola containing a bell that could be rung on special occasions or for alarm. The Old City Hall building’s fi rst fl oor contained an open, covered public meat market on the fi rst fl oor of the Jackson Street side, with the fi re staƟ on behind it. The fi re department had been established aŌ er the Civil War and had one wagon unƟ l 1916 when a second one was purchased.2 The building was a fi ne representaƟ ve of the Victorian Romanesque style or rundbogensƟ l, brick with simple round arches on the fi rst fl oor, pilaster strips between bays, and parapets with blind corbelled arcading.

Next door to Old City Hall on Jackson Street was the police staƟ on (someƟ mes called the “calaboose” because of its lockup cells).3 The public library occupied a structure behind the fi re staƟ on and city hall, which it shared with the synagogue upstairs. An Italianate-styled structure, this building appears in an 1888 photo of Old City Hall. The city barn stood at the city lot’s southwest corner. Between all these buildings, a steel water standpipe rose on a concrete base that had to be removed during construcƟ on of the future municipal building.

By 1937 Old City Hall and probably other elements of the city complex had no doubt come to seem a bit decrepit and small. The nearly seventy-year-old structure had risen when Thomasville had a populaƟ on of about 1,600, far smaller than its Depression-era total of approximately 12,600.4 This made it the twelŌ h largest city in Georgia, and before the Depression hit, it had been one of the fastest growing. Furthermore, the Federal government’s emergency New Deal program through the Works Progress AdministraƟ on was doling out largesse for construcƟ on to municipaliƟ es all over the country, who were erecƟ ng fi ne new structures and infrastructure systems of a higher quality than many had ever been able to aff ord before. Just on the other side of the business district, Thomas County had applied for a WPA grant to renovate and enlarge their courthouse (an applicaƟ on that the Thomasville City Council supported). Such projects also provided much needed construcƟ on jobs and material contracts for local suppliers.

By early May 1938 tentaƟ ve plans had been drawn as part of a WPA applicaƟ on for a new City Hall. A week later, the City Council learned that they needed an architect to submit proper architectural plans, a New Deal requirement both to ensure high-quality design and construcƟ on and a way to give work to unemployed architects.

Several architects were contacted but within weeks, EllioƩ Dunwody (1893-1986), architect of Macon, had been hired and his preliminary plans for the building approved by the city. At the same Ɵ me, Thomasville also successfully went aŌ er WPA funds for a new sewage treatment plant and

Preservation Plan 17 street paving. AcƟ ons such as these indicate the importance of federal funds in the modernizaƟ on of southern ciƟ es in this era.5

During the early stages of design, the building’s name changed in City Council Minutes from “city hall” to “municipal building,” and someƟ mes even to an idenƟ fi caƟ on with the auditorium, the largest single component of the complex.

The auditorium represented a shiŌ in purpose since all other uses to be incorporated had been present in the previous buildings – city hall, fi re department, police department, and library.

Perhaps people in Thomasville conceived the need for a public auditorium, but perhaps also the WPA wanted to fund buildings with greater community presence that many ciƟ zens could enjoy. Clearly, city of Thomasville needed outside help with the WPA applicaƟ on. Dunwody not only provided drawings for the Thomasville Municipal Building and supervised construcƟ on, he also fi lled out and shepherded the enƟ re applicaƟ on through the WPA bureaucracy, a common pracƟ ce where municipal bureaucracies were small and inexperienced with new programs.6

Dunwody came from a wealthy Macon family, and his career was helped signifi cantly by his family’s social connecƟ ons. He aƩ ended the Georgia InsƟ tute of Technology, graduaƟ ng about 1915 as one of the fi rst in the new architectural curriculum. His career took off in the 1920s, when he did scores of residences in those fl ush

Figure 2: 1938 architectural concept drawing of the Thomasville Municipal Building; image provided by the City of Thomasville

18 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium economic Ɵ mes. However, he also did insƟ tuƟ onal work from the beginning, as with his Beaux- Arts style Washington Memorial Library in Macon. About the same Ɵ me as the Thomasville Municipal Building, Dunwody designed the Houston County Courthouse in Perry, Georgia. His selecƟ on as architect for Thomasville’s building may have something to do with the emphasis on the auditorium. Dunwody was very acƟ ve in theater, founding and designing a building for the Macon LiƩ le Theater. He and his wife traveled annually to New York City to see operas and plays.

One of his most well-known buildings is the Porter Auditorium at Wesleyan College in Macon.7

By mid-year 1938, the WPA had approved a grant to Thomasville of almost $88,000, 45 percent of the expected cost of the building.

The city had to match it with 55 percent of the funding, amounƟ ng to $107,000, which they raised by selling municipal bonds. The people of Thomasville approved these in an elecƟ on in October 1938, with 985 in favor and 236 against. Things then moved quickly, the following happening by the end of the year: the city and Dunwody signed an offi cial contract for construcƟ on documents and supervision granƟ ng the architect a six percent commission on the cost of construcƟ on, a well-established

Figure 3: Photograph of the Cornerstone Ceremony, held by Freemasons on May 26, 1939; image provided by the City of Thomasville

Preservation Plan 19

Figure 4: Photograph showing the construcƟ on process from July 1, 1939; image provided by the City of Thomasville

Figure 5: 1942 image of the completed Thomasville Municipal Auditorium; image provided by the City of Thomasville

20 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium rate then and now; the local bonds were issued;

bids for construcƟ on were adverƟ sed; and bids were received. B. L. Brewton & Son received the construcƟ on contract with a bid of $160,672.

Brewton did several public works projects for Thomasville in this period. An interesƟ ng aspect of the process was the requirement that workers on the job receive federal wage rates, above the local standards and another way that United States Government work resulted in local improvement, at least for some workers. For example, bricklayers received $1.00 per hour, ironworkers $1.25, and building laborers $.40; this when the naƟ onal average for construcƟ on workers was about $.50 per hour.8

ConstrucƟ on proceeded rapidly in 1939, and the people of Thomasville probably marveled at the complexity of the steel and poured concrete building, surely sophisƟ cated construcƟ on techniques for the place and Ɵ me. Since funds were available, an upgrade to cast stone trim from what the drawings label as wood and “compo” (stucco) was approved, noƟ ceable especially on the Ionic capitals of the pilasters on the Jackson Street front and the main cornice all around.9 By the end of that year, Dunwody had prepared a list of equipment for the building and received a contract for its furnishing. The City Council commended the architect for the thoroughness with which he did this work, and indeed, they had reason to be pleased with the whole process as he had directed it from start to fi nish. The furnishing and equipment contract totaled approximately $10,500.10 Thus the city came out preƩ y much even on the project: $195,000 was available from the WPA grant and municipal bonds; while the construcƟ on contract ($161,000), extra for stone ($9,000), equipment cost ($10,500), and architect’s fee ($11,000) totaled $191,500.

Preservation Plan 21

A half story below the stage was a mezzanine level that contained, to the east, the dormitory and recreaƟ on room for fi remen (access to the truck bays below was by a brass sliding pole) and, to the west, the lockup for the police staƟ on below.

Most of the lockup was housed in a small wing on the building’s west side. The lockup upstairs was divided into four spaces containing cells for white and black women and white and black men, and there were rooms for the radio operator and weapons storage.

Long corridors divided the fi rst fl oor into four areas. Towards the building’s rear a cross corridor ran from Crawford Street to the projecƟ ng block below the lockup. Under the lockup was the police staƟ on, containing two offi ces and a toilet/locker room. The fi re staƟ on fi lled most of the space along the building’s southern wall.

There were two engine bays, but there were also spaces for baƩ ery storage, the fi re chief, lockers, a telephone, and a police sergeant near the Crawford Street entrance to the cross corridor.11 At the building’s southwest corner, behind the fi re truck bays, a small fl at roof (called a “marquee” on the original drawings) gave shelter from rain to the rear doors and the coal chute.

In the building’s larger front secƟ on, a central corridor led from the Jackson Street lobby and divided the library on the west from the city offi ces, records vault, city council chamber, and police court on the east. The eastern fi le of rooms was further divided by a short corridor that led to Crawford Street and gave direct access to the council chamber. The library was further divided into the reading room, the children’s room, and a room for the ladies’ study club, each of these spaces having a full doorway with sidelights from the exterior. A narrow room for the chamber of commerce was tucked behind the library.

The architect faced two major problems in design: arranging the diff erent funcƟ onal areas conveniently, giving separate access to each, and creaƟ ng appropriate and symmetrical (or at least balanced) classical exterior composiƟ ons on Jackson and Crawford streets. The public and offi cials used all areas of the building on a daily basis except the auditorium, so it only made sense to liŌ that large area (almost half the building’s area and more than half of its volume) to the second story where it could rest on the others.

However, this decision doubled the amount of

As shown in the 1939 working drawings, when fi rst opened the Municipal Building was a complex, mulƟ -purpose building. The auditorium and its stage, lobby, and restrooms fi lled most of the second fl oor except for two commiƩ ee rooms, one fl anking the stage on each side, for use by any governmental department, and accessible from below by the stairs that fl anked the proscenium wall. At the north end of the auditorium, the lobby stairs rose another half story to a higher lobby and balcony.

III. BUILDING EVOLUTION

22 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium space needed for stairs in the building, would create other access issues over the years, and made heaƟ ng (and later air condiƟ oning) more diffi cult. For the other areas, it probably only made sense to move the fi re department to the rear (where they had always been in Old City Hall), eliminaƟ ng any danger from trucks fl ying out at any hour, along with the police staƟ on and lockup. The laƩ er indeed was relegated to its own block pulled out of the main structure, a block that could receive a separate entrance from the courtyard west of the building that opened to Jackson Street exactly where the police staƟ on had stood previously. The cross corridor completely separated these two, someƟ mes less than salubrious and at Ɵ mes even dangerous, funcƟ ons, from the rest of the building. The main corridor then logically divided the front porƟ on of the building for the remaining two funcƟ ons, though a second side entrance and corridor were apparently required for the day-to-day use of city hall, so that perhaps more space than would be ideal had to be given over to circulaƟ on.12 The Jackson Street lobby served both the auditorium and city hall. The library had three splendid entrances on the west elevaƟ on that allowed the separaƟ on of its three consƟ tuencies.

As for the exterior design, the building approximates a double cube: 90 feet wide on Jackson Street by 165 feet long on Crawford; and about 70 feet high. Its exterior walls are solid brick; its exterior materials are brick with trim that is mostly cast stone that mimics limestone except for the base which mimics granite, someƟ mes wood, someƟ mes brick, and occasionally wrought iron. Window sashes are a mixture of steel and wood. The fl at roofs on the original structure were built-up asphalt, installed using the patented BarreƩ System, while the sloping porƟ ons over the auditorium had standing seam Ɵ n. 13

The preliminary rendering of the building makes clear that Dunwody had decided the building’s plan from the beginning. The formal front faced Jackson Street, a triple entry there giving access to a lobby, city hall on the fi rst fl oor, and auditorium above. This front received the most elaborate treatment on the building – in a central pavilion a pedimented fronƟ spiece with an Ionic temple front and festooned pediment. In the fi rst design this had freestanding columns covering an elevated porƟ co and substanƟ al double exterior stairways (see Figure 2). With this design the auditorium lobby did not need to reach the fi rst fl oor, giving more space for city hall. However, this arrangement would have proven very expensive and the very long fl ights of stairs possibly uncomfortable or even dangerous, especially in inclement weather. Subsequently, Dunwody simplifi ed the porƟ co to one with engaged columns and the stairs moved inside to the lobby now on both fl oors. Flanking the central pavilion, the Jackson Street front had single, slightly recessed blank bays to each side with no windows and, further back, narrower bays with secondary entrances with windows above. This arrangement survived into the building as constructed, except that both bays to each side were narrower.

Indeed, the overall width of the building appears to have shrunk from the fi rst to the fi nal design.

Preservation Plan 23

The Crawford Street elevaƟ on had a necessarily more complex design, one that presumably taxed the skill but also delighted a Beaux-Arts trained designer who was pracƟ ced in cleverly relaƟ ng plan and exterior, while always maintaining symmetry or at least balance. On the Crawford Street side, the fenestraƟ on changed from the fi rst to the fi nal design, though the basic arrangement did not. At the composiƟ on’s center lay the side doorway to city hall complete with a Tuscan fronƟ spiece, fl anked by windows with fl at arches and the whole topped by the three arched windows of the auditorium. To each side of this center were slightly projecƟ ng pavilions with Tuscan pilasters, plain pediments, and two fl at arched windows on the fi rst fl oor. Outside of these pavilions the architect pulled a slight of hand, creaƟ ng narrow bays that marked circulaƟ on spaces: the side of the lobby on the right and, on the leŌ , the rear entrance to the cross corridor/fi re staƟ on/police staƟ on. These bays contained a blind or parƟ ally blind arch over which were fl at arched windows (two stories worth for the lobby’s stair and only one for the stair over the cross corridor). On the far leŌ a two-bay appendix contained the two bays for the fi re staƟ on, unrelated to the rest of the composiƟ on, although the window form followed others on the wall and the blind arches recalled the auditorium windows. The whole building was topped by a tall parapet, behind which lay the auditorium roof.

The structure of the new building was notable for the place and Ɵ me. The exterior walls and interior bearing parƟ Ɵ ons were constructed of solid brick.

Interior non-bearing parƟ Ɵ ons employed hollow terra coƩ a Ɵ le. Most of the horizontal structure was reinforced concrete, which was becoming more common in the 1920s in America but was probably sƟ ll a novelty in Thomasville in 1939. The engineer was Robert G. Lose, structural engineer of Atlanta.14 The fi rst fl oor had a reinforced concrete slab, mostly on grade but with some reinforced concrete beams where subterranean spaces needed to be spanned. The second fl oor (the auditorium) also had a reinforced concrete slab, enƟ rely held on reinforced concrete beams, a porƟ on of which can be seen in a uƟ lity room over the vault (Room 1.A.8). The auditorium’s balcony fl oor was framed in triangular steel trusses that carried a stepped thin-shell concrete slab. Finally, the roof was supported by steel trusses spanning the width of the auditorium which supported a thin shell concrete roof slab.

Finishes in the new building followed a consistent paƩ ern. On all fl oors uƟ litarian rooms had concrete fl oors, while more offi cial spaces had asphalt Ɵ le, and restrooms had ceramic Ɵ le. In a slight twist on this paƩ ern, the lobby, auditorium and balcony had concrete fl oors (perhaps because they were high-traffi c areas), and the stage had wood, typical for such spaces. Almost all spaces had plaster walls; many had wainscoƟ ng covered with painted canvas, a common treatment in the early twenƟ eth century. Most ceilings had Celotex acousƟ c Ɵ le over the concrete structure, though a few had plaster; Celotex was a fairly new company and its acousƟ c products were becoming very popular in this period. Doors were uniformly wood.

24 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

The building stayed in its original confi guraƟ on unƟ l 1964 when the library moved to the Old Post Offi ce building.15 The library’s space in the municipal building was then divided into a warren of offi ces for the mayor, city manager, city engineer, human resources and purchasing. The former offi ces in the building’s northeast corner were also renovated, and the central corridor was subdivided. More renovaƟ ons to the offi ce areas occurred in 1975, from which Ɵ me many photographs of the renovated spaces remain.

Some spaces were re-subdivided and renovated again in 1986.16 At that point, on the fi rst fl oor only the front lobby, the rear cross corridor, and the courtroom remained substanƟ ally intact from the original confi guraƟ on. In 1992 another major change of use occurred in the building, when the police staƟ on and lockup moved to 921 Smith Avenue, today the Thomas County Jail. The space formerly occupied by police in the municipal building was given over to city offi ces. Further renovaƟ ons on the fi rst fl oor occurred in the major campaign of work of 2001- 02 aŌ er most city offi ces had moved to the new municipal complex on Victoria Place. Eventually the space fi rst occupied by the library became the Thomasville Visitor’s Center, the use it sƟ ll has.

In the 1960s and 1970s the city also brought up the building to more modern building codes.

For example, an opening was cut from the auditorium’s balcony through the west exterior wall and a steel fi re escape added to the outside of the building, designed by Jinright-Jinright, Architects.17 In 1974, the same local fi rm, now Jinright & Ryan, designed an elevator stack at the west side of the building, with an adjacent small lobby, no doubt to provide handicapped access to the auditorium and stage. The structure was two stories tall and made of brick and concrete block walls.18 About this same Ɵ me major HVAC upgrades occurred, and the overhang at the southwest corner was extended with the aluminum structure sƟ ll in place. In 1978 further code upgrades occurred to the doors and lighƟ ng in the fi rst-fl oor corridor below the stage, the backstage areas, and the lobby. A year aŌ er that this work was expanded to further improvements in stage lighƟ ng, fl y equipment, and stage curtains.19

In the late 1990s the city became alarmed at the condiƟ on of the now-aging structure. Some exterior woodwork was stripped and repainted, and a condiƟ ons assessment was undertaken.20 This report, by Maschke Associates of Albany, Georgia, was quite thorough and is sƟ ll of use today. It noted that the building’s exterior was in generally good condiƟ on except for minor cracks in bricks and cast stone, some downspout problems, and the need for new glazing in some windows. Inside the building, cracked ceiling and fl oor Ɵ les were the most noted items.

The inadequacy of the fi re staƟ on came in for extensive commentary, as did the auditorium’s stage equipment, dressing rooms, and restrooms.

The building’s roof at this point (stone ballasted polyvinyl chloride, PVC) was described as in fairly good condiƟ on but needing minor repairs and more gravel.21 The report also examined handicapped accessibility compliance, indicaƟ ng that much was accessible but with some problems

Preservation Plan 25 and poinƟ ng out which items in the building had asbestos and to what extent. AŌ er a very thorough photographic documentaƟ on of the building, the report conƟ nued with memoranda by engineers. The structural engineer noted only minor problems. The mechanical and plumbing secƟ on discussed much greater problems in both areas due to age; much plumbing and many fi xtures were reported in poor condiƟ on; one original boiler, converted to gas, was in poor condiƟ on; and some HVAC had reached the end of its life expectancy. The electrical report listed a host of minor problems and concluded that the original electrical system had been installed with above-average components and, where sƟ ll in use, was in amazingly good shape, but that numerous later upgrades had been done with liƩ le forethought, coordinaƟ on, or documentaƟ on. The report ended with cost esƟ mates for upgrades in each area of work.

Based on these studies, the city undertook several important improvements. A new EPDM roof was installed on the building in 1999. In 2001 the Fire Department received a new and larger facility, designed by SP Design Group of Macon. Spaces were rearranged in the old fi re staƟ on for a public entry and offi ces, and a new staƟ on aƩ ached to the old contained four drive-through truck bays, a 9-1-1 OperaƟ ons Center, a dormitory, and other spaces for the fi remen. This work required the removal of most parƟ Ɵ ons in the old fi re staƟ on area, the bricking up of most of the windows on the original building’s south wall, and the removal of the three original overhead doors and their replacement with aluminum and glass window walls on the east side. The original brass slide pole was removed from the dormitory space and placed on display in the public entry. Two stories tall and modern in style, the new fi re staƟ on had brick walls matching the original building’s.

Also in 2001, the northeast corner of the building’s fi rst fl oor got rearranged to the confi guraƟ on it has now, and minor HVAC and electrical work was done in this area. More importantly, however, a thorough renovaƟ on to the auditorium occurred, also designed by SP Design Group, with $2 million in funding from the OneGeorgia Authority of the Georgia Department of Community Aff airs. The rehabilitaƟ on included the installaƟ on of a freight elevator and dressing rooms, placed in the space that the original lockup and fi re department dormitory had occupied. New lighƟ ng and staging machinery were installed, including a new catwalk system above the ceiling. The original plaster ceiling disappeared, and a new dropped ceiling replaced it, made of sheetrock and sprayed with a heavily textured coaƟ ng, presumably for both aestheƟ c and acousƟ c purposes. In cross secƟ on, the ceiling had rolls that may have been intended to also help acousƟ cs, though also serve as light coves. Above a new HVAC system was installed, with diff users sƟ ll penetraƟ ng the ceiling. The auditorium’s windows received shuƩ ers, the original seats were fi Ʃ ed with upholstery for the fi rst Ɵ me, and new carpet and other fl oor coverings went down. Finally, the project included new or renovated restrooms. The auditorium has remained mostly unchanged since this renovaƟ on except for the new stage fl oor installed in 2021.

26 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

The Visitor’s Center moved into the Municipal Building in 2007, compleƟ ng the arrangement of spaces that currently exists. This move involved renovaƟ ons to restrooms and some moving of parƟ Ɵ ons. In the early 2010s some handicapped accessibility improvements occurred at various places around the building to bring site work closer to current standards.

In the early 2010s signifi cant water damage appeared on walls and ceilings, fi rst on the inside of the Jackson Street elevaƟ on and then elsewhere in the lobby, stairways, and auditorium, problems which would prove a plague to the building and its managers for almost a decade.

Leakage seemed especially bad aŌ er torrenƟ al rains, something Thomasville is bothered by due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps increasingly so due to climate change. As we will see, other water problems in the building result from such weather events. By 2014 the 15-year warranty on the EPDM roof of 1999 had expired.

Some roof repairs were made, as were repairs to a downspout where it came from the built-in guƩ er behind the parapet, ran through the aƫ c, and out to a leader head on the exterior.

In a fi ve-year invesƟ gaƟ on involving mulƟ ple professionals, many causes for moisture problems

Figure 6: Image of the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, situated at the corner of Crawford and Jackson Street; photo taken by author

Preservation Plan 27 were suggested.22 These potenƟ al causes included roof problems, fl ashings, downspout insuffi ciency, the need to point and seal the brick, gaps in the cornice, and HVAC problems.23

The report analyzed humidity levels inside the building, levels that were acceptable on the fi rst story but not in the auditorium due to an insuffi cient HVAC system. In addiƟ on to this work, Jinright, Ryan, & Lynn recommended replacing some fl ashing, sealing joints on the exterior, reglazing, removing the police and fi re communicaƟ on tower from the roof, and installing

Figure 7: Front façade of the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, showing various architectural features; photo taken by author a new roof.24 The tower was removed and the HVAC improvements carried out (replacing the units of 1973),25 though the work on the exterior fabric of the building seems not to have been completed. Most importantly, in 2019 a new EPDM roof was installed. These eff orts seem to have fi xed most problems except for moisture penetraƟ on at certain window and door openings (discussed in greater detail below).

28 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

Preservation Plan 29

Site The building stands free, with Jackson Street and Crawford Street and their respecƟ ve sidewalks on the two primary elevaƟ ons, north and east.

Planters line both elevaƟ ons, which are fi lled with both foundaƟ on planƟ ngs and taller trees. A broad set of concrete steps, with cast stone wing walls topped by urns, forms the approach from Jackson Street. Two smaller sets of steps appear at the two entrances on Crawford Street. All steps are original. On the west side of the building a nicely landscaped and fairly new courtyard gives access to the Visitor’s Center, the three doorways of which are also approached by a set of steps which is covered with an original awning made of wood and supported by curving wrought iron brackets. Behind the courtyard a door gives access to the elevator lobby, and further behind the projecƟ ng porƟ on of the building there is a basement areaway and stair. On the rear (south) of the building the new fi re staƟ on joins the original structure, with a covered loading area fi lling in a nook at the southwest corner. Behind and to the side here is a broad parking lot that slopes down towards the Municipal Building.

Exterior The masonry is the fi nest and architecturally most signifi cant element of the building. The walls have very carefully laid Flemish bond brickwork with grapevine joints, and the brick arches over the central and leŌ -most second story bays on the Crawford Street elevaƟ on and the corresponding bays on the west are very neatly done. Finally, brick circles ornament the parapet which is capped with cast stone.

Masonry trim consists of cast stone. This is dark gray for the base course around perimeter (imitaƟ ng Elberton granite); lighter for the rest of trim (imitaƟ ng Indiana limestone). Especially elaborate cast stone work occurs on the Jackson Street front. Stone veneer faces the fi rst story around arches of the central pavilion, which have a slightly recessed surround and keystones (whose line of beads conƟ nues underneath across the doorway’s recess) and deeply recessed paneled jambs. A molded stringcourse marks the second-fl oor level. Ionic columns with molded bases, shaŌ s with entasis, and volute capitals create the pavilion’s porƟ co. An entablature with “MUNICIPAL BUILDING” engraved on the frieze and a modillioned cornice tops the columns.

Finally, a cast stone pediment with swags and an

General Descrip on A basic descripƟ on of the composiƟ on and elements of the building was given in the Building EvoluƟ on secƟ on above. More detail of materials will be given in the CondiƟ on Assessment below. The emphasis here will be on elements that are original and contribute to the building’s architectural signifi cance.

IV. BUILDING ANALYSIS

30 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium elaborate roseƩ e terminates the composiƟ on.

The windows in the central pavilion have cast stone fl at arches with decoraƟ ve keystones and are topped with cast stone panels with swags.

Cast stone arches and surrounds also occur on decoraƟ ve arches to each side of the central pavilion and at the lobby’s sides, where they contain stone plaques. Cast stone plinths project in front of these arches, as if they could have held statuary. All four plaques contain the seal of Thomasville. That to the right of the central bay carries a long inscripƟ on, beginning “THE

MUNICIPAL BUILDING OCCUPYING THE SITE OF

THE ORIGINAL CITY HALL,” and carries the names of the mayor, city council, architect, builder, etc. The plaque on the east side of the lobby commemorates the Federal Works Agency. That on the west commemorates the Thomasville Public Library. At this point the decoraƟ ve iron work should be noted: rectangular panels with diagonal crosses in the three bays of the central pavilion and the light fi xtures below, all called out on the original architect’s drawings.

Figure 8: Architectural details on the Crawford Street façade; photo taken by author

Figure 9: Architectural detail surrounding an entrance on the Crawford Street façade; photo taken by author

Preservation Plan 31

A similar cast stone arch and surround also ornaments the cross-corridor entrance on Crawford Street. In general, the cast stone detail is similar but plainer on Crawford Street and the west elevaƟ on. The cast stone string course has no molding. The entablature established by the front pediment conƟ nues around the building but without modillions on the cornice. The jack or fl at arches have plain keystones. The pilasters of the two side pavilions have simple bases and Tuscan order capitals. One cast stone element stands out on the Crawford Street elevaƟ on: the central doorway. This is a fi ne composiƟ on with a rusƟ cated backing, fl uted Doric pilasters, and an elaborate entablature, broken out over the pilasters and with a pulvinated frieze, the laƩ er a classical solipsism or, more probably given the architect’s skill with Beaux-arts style, an inside wiƫ cism because it rightly belongs with the Ionic order in most classical textbooks.26 Perhaps it represents a nod to the Ionic of the north front, making this entrance of equal importance because of its honorifi c funcƟ on of giving entrance to city offi cials and the public.

Figure 10: Image of the fenestraƟ on on the Crawford Street façade, showing the diff erent types of windows; photo taken by author

32 Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

Figure 11: Image of the rear facade, showing the only visible secƟ on of the original rear facade; photo taken by author

Figure 12: Image of the rear facade, showing the 2001 fi re staƟ on addiƟ on; photo taken by author

Preservation Plan 33

Another important element is the fenestraƟ on.

Throughout the building wood double-hung windows serve polite spaces used by the public, while more uƟ litarian, work spaces have steel factory-type windows with Ɵ lƟ ng secƟ ons of sash in the middle that open for venƟ laƟ on. Thus, all windows north of the cross corridor on both side elevaƟ ons and on Jackson Street are wood. In the building’s rear secƟ on (and on the original lock-up block near the southwest corner), the windows are steel, including on the uƟ litarian rear or south elevaƟ on where all the windows had steel sash though they have now been removed and the openings blocked.27 The exterior doors and doorways throughout the building are fashioned of wood. The triple doorways of the Jackson Street front, each with paired doors, and the three doorways on the west elevaƟ on (with paired doors, sidelights, and delicately divided fanlights) all with extensive glass to give light inside, are parƟ cularly fi ne examples of the joiner’s craŌ .

The rear entrance on the Crawford Street façade, to the cross corridor, is much simpler than that farther forward on this elevaƟ on: a pair of doors only, protected by a wooden awning, again supported by iron brackets.

The rear elevaƟ on…