216 West Pearl Street

Moving west on Pearl street, we are now walking into the heart of the Commercial District which is included in the National Register of Historic places because, like the Post Office, nearly all of the buildings have architectural details from the popular styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We are going to visit several of the buildings that were cited as particularly notable in the National Register.

Here is an interesting building at 216 West Pearl. Built in 1893, this architect used both Italianate and Romanesque styles to enhance the visual appeal of a commercial building. 

Let me take a moment to explain an architectural term you'll be hearing today. Notice the three raised brick columns that rise to the full height of the building, one on either corner and the other in the center? Architects call these raised column-like features pilasters. Pilasters are decorative and not load bearing unlike true columns.

A broad metal belt course, with a return at the corners visually separates the first and second floors. Three brick pilasters rise the full height of the building and divide the façade into two symmetrical bays. Rough-faced stone blocks accentuate the pilasters at regular intervals through their entire length. In the second story, six more evenly placed pilasters create eight matching bays. Atop the second story pilasters sits a belt of rough-faced stone. Together the pilasters and the stone belt give the impression of columns supporting the massive frieze above. A repeating pattern of bracket-like corbelled brick detailing decorates the frieze which is capped by a slightly projecting corbelled brick cornice. Together the columns, frieze and cornice wrap the corners of the building accentuating its size and grandeur. The marching columns, massive stone and brickwork and large pediment are signatures of the imposing Romanesque style. Italianate details include the eight matching windows, one centered in each 2nd floor bay and the six turrets above the cornice. Looking closely, one can see that the original windows were taller than the present ones and had large transom lights which made the windows impressively tall -- nearly floor-to-ceiling. The six rectangular turrets with tall, narrow windows and pyramidal metal roofs delineate the corners and returns of the cornice and flank the large central pediment upon which is the year "1893” in raised, stone numerals.

National Archives Catalog Register of Historic Places reference #99000303 pdf pp. 10-11 ,35

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/132004619