Straight ahead you’ll spot the Hart Building-just look for a three-story corner structure with tall rows of windows and a striking maroon awning at the intersection of West 3rd and Court Streets.
Now, let me take you back to 1895, when the Hart Building was the sparkling new kid on the block, designed by local architect Amos S. Wagner-a man so talented, if he built a doghouse, it’d end up on the National Register too. Imagine this steel frame rising from the dust, with workers' hammers echoing down the street, all busy crafting pressed brickwork and delicate terra cotta details. Ornate stone carvings and elegant wood-framed windows began to gleam in the daylight as the city’s commerce boomed all around. Throughout its long life, the Hart Building has seen styles come and go, from fancy bowler hats to groovy disco shoes trudging past its wide windows. In 1984, when neon socks were all the rage and big hair ruled the world, this place gained national recognition-slipping right into historic fame like a business card into a suit pocket. Even today, with traffic and chatter drifting by, the Hart Building stands as a proud reminder that good design, much like a good joke, truly never gets old!
