This is the north wall of the parking lot. Some of the plaster can still be found on the wall. Why the diagonal line. Was it a fire escape? The original, unpainted bricks indicate portions of this wall were covered by the exterior of the mysterious structure.
In a small parking lot behind Uptown Forum in Greenville is a very interesting collection of old buildings. The site of the parking lot was once an annex to the Perkins Department Store. At some point in time, Perkins Brothers closed the annex, only to raze the structure at a later date. Finally, in the 1980s the City of Greenville acquired that lot and several others that were vacant. These became little pocket parking lots.
Recently I pulled into the one behind Uptown Forum and realized that a portion of the spaces were filled with scaffolds. This was really a good thing. The lot holds about ten vehicles on the north side. On the south side are the back entrances to several retail spaces in various stages of renovation. Some are open to the public, others are in the process of repair, and the rest need lots of TLC.
Many buildings from the 1890-1920 era have these interesting shapes at the rear or side of the building. The tall shape was a door, to a roof, a balcony or stairs. However, there appears to be at least two windows below and one on each side of the door. Remember, there was no air-conditioning until the 1950s. Tall windows allowed fresh air to flow through the building, even if it was as hot as blazes. Doors allowed even more air to circulate.
The entrance to the parking lot is on the west side, and the east side was once an outdoor dining area to a delightful café. Cars parks at right angles to the north side of the lot.
All of the buildings are old, some about 100 years old. On the north side of the parking lot the brick wall was once completely covered with one-inch thick plaster. Over the years with rain, broiling summer heat, and cold winters, the plaster fell off. Signs warned customers to park with caution.
The workers were removing the plaster, revealing surprises. Because these were walls not exposed to the public, cheap bricks were used. Mortar needed repointing. Parts of the walls were painted at some time, one with a diagonal blue stripe. Midway along the wall is a door with an exit sign for a small auditorium used for Saturday night parties back in the late 1970s. Since I doubt anyone is still using that space for a fire exit, it is my favorite parking place.
Interior tiles found in the parking lot indicate this section was a room or office. It has definitely stood the rough treatment.
Along the south wall are a few places with little, white tiles used in public restrooms in the 1950s. Vines climb up pipes. Until we had an outburst of crickets this fall, there was a delightful hydrangea plant by the backdoor to one of the shops. How it was able to bloom profusely was a miracle. But, the hydrangea is now gone.
This little area is typical of little spots throughout downtown Greenville. There
At some point it time it appears that another form of tile was laid over the original while octagonal tiles. However, few of the brown tiles exists in the area.
are no alleys, as such, behind buildings. But there are small open spaces accessible only from inside the shops. Some restaurants have a table or two out there. Others are places where employees can get a breath of fresh air.
And the bricks, many were made in Greenville around 1878-1890. A brick factory was located across the Sabine River east of town. It was never a big factory and never produced good quality bricks. However, think about the cost of importing wagon loads of bricks for a house, church, or office. So, until railroad arrived in 1880, the local brick factory supplied the town’s needs.
The Fire Exit Door came after the mysterious structure was torn down. It is probably about thirty-five or forty years old. It is more than likely the newest piece on the parking lot.
Once you discover the secrets all around you in any town, you will want to look up, look down and look all around. Use your imagination to create a story about these photos and ones you take.
It’s really a fun thing to do.