The Woolworth Building is a historic building in Watertown, New York. It is a contributing building in the Public Square Historic District.[1] Plans for the Woolworth Building were begun in 1916 by Frank W. Woolworth, the founder of the Woolworth's chain of department stores.[2]
History
editWoolworth began his retail career at the Smith and Moore Dry Goods Store in Watertown in 1873. It was during his time here that he was given the idea of selling fixed price merchandise, which led him to create his successful chain of five and dime department stores in 1879. The Smith and Moore store later became a member of the Woolworth chain.[3]
In 1916, Woolworth purchased the American Building in Watertown, which housed the store in which he began his career. Woolworth planned to demolish this structure, and build a grander building in its place.[4] Woolworth's death in 1919 initially halted these plans, but the Woolworth Corporation eventually decided to go ahead with his plans, and the new six story Woolworth Building opened its doors in 1921.
Woolworth's Department Store occupied the building until 1971, when the store was moved into a modern facility. Many shops occupied the bottom floor of the building in the ensuing years, while the upper five floors remained occupied by various business offices.[5]
Current status
edit
In 2007, declining occupancy and poor maintenance led to the building's closure. In 2008, a developer purchased the building, with hopes of converting it into a boutique hotel, which would bear the Woolworth name.[6] This plan was abandoned in 2012 in favour of a proposal to transform the upper floors into low-income residential apartments.[7]
As of 2013[update], the interior was in poor condition.[8] Restoration work began in November 2013[9] and was expected to continue into 2015.[10] As of early 2015 the restoration is complete and the building is occupied.
The ground floor is to remain commercial space.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Public Square Historic District". New York State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Watertown Herald 1916-April-June" (PDF). Watertown Herald. Northern New York Library Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Watertown, NY Official Site Frank W. Woolworth". City of Watertown History. City of Watertown, NY. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Watertown Herald 1916-July-September" (PDF). Watertown Herald. Northern New York Library Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "JeffCo Wiki-Woolworth Building". Jefferson County Wiki. Wikispaces. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Watertown Daily Times-Developer eyes downtown hotel". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Woolworth Building to Become Affordable Housing | WWNY TV 7 - News, Weather and Sports for | Local News". Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- ^ "Developers eager to revive Watertown Woolworth building".
- ^ http://www.newzjunky.com/news2013/1120woolworth_building.htm [dead link]
- ^ "Work begins soon to bring Watertown landmark back to life". November 20, 2013.
- ^ "Watertown Daily Times | Woolworth Building project could start in December". www.watertowndailytimes.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014.