Smith Building

Brief History:

• 1901 - All seven masonic lodges were tenants of the building.

• It cost $35,000 to construct as a replacement to previous building on that same location which was lost to the Downtown Bloomington Fire of 1900.

• The main purpose of this building was to house the Stephen Smith & Sons dry goods store, complete with offices on the second floor and a millinery.

• Rolands Department Store was a prominent tenant of the building.

• Restored by Heritage Enterprises, architect Paul Young.

Architectural Description:

• Four-story masonry structure built in Sullivanesque style.

• Faced in grey pressed brick.

• First floor of cast iron pillars with a naturalistic decoration, non-ferrous metal window frames, carved window cornice , and show window covered in modern material

• Three bay windows off Jefferson Street, composed of Chicago-style windows and are followed by third story windows with flat limestone headers

• Fourth story windows half round Roman arches followed in courses of diamond motif terra-cotta tile, separated by six brick string courses.

• Cornice of dentiled stone, carved with a circular motif.