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1906. "Birmingham, Alabama -- Jefferson County Courthouse and St. Paul's Church." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
Except for the campanile, this building could be the half-size brother, if not the twin, of the Orange County Courthouse, which still stands in Santa Ana, California. Beautiful red sandstone lasts pretty well in a mild winter climate, and this style of building has so much more dignity than the glass and steel shoe boxes that so often replaced them mid-century.
The church has not only survived but has weathered the years well, and was promoted to cathedral when the Diocese of Birmingham was formed. It is really fine example of Vicky polychrome, brick and stone on the outside and elaborately patterned plaster on the inside.
The courthouse site's current occupant, unfortunately should have been taken away by the Po-Mo police.
Like so many grand structures of late 19th century America, seemingly built for the ages, this one didn't last very long, razed to the ground before fifty years were out. The clock tower is an interesting and peculiar departure from the otherwise textbook Richardson Romanesque style, with a Baroque cupola, tempiettos, gothic arches, and maybe a little bit of the Giralda thrown in for good measure.
If it's noon then shouldn't the sun be higher in the sky? Or maybe the clocks didn't work, but back then I doubt it.
[It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will always be somewhere to the south. - Dave]
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