100 Years Old

Another Evansville landmark turned 100, though technically last year. The General Cigar Company at 2nd St and Court St was completed in 1923 so HistoricEvansville will spotlight its belated centennial.

Philip F Grill established the Grill Cigar Co which operated out of the old Allen House at the same corner of 2nd and Division (renamed Court St later). The local cigar maker incorporated his business in 1917 which continued to grow.

The General Cigar Co out of New York acquired the business in 1919, and Grill Cigar became a branch of the national company. The manufacturer prided itself on made by hand quality cigars. General Cigar thrived in Evansville, and soon a new facility was planned.

Famous local architect Alfred E Neucks proposed a new building while remodeling part of the old. The 1870s boarding house on the corner would be torn down. A c1898 addition would be modernized and a top story added which meant the factory would have 40,000 sq ft of operating space.

The design was rough texture brick with Indiana limestone trimming. The final building would be 3-story with a basement. The 1st floor would contain the main offices, and on the 2nd would be cigar making. The 3rd floor would include packing, shipping, and crating, and also include a nursery and a lunch room. The basement would house a tobacco sweat room, the boiler, and receiving / storage.

The contract to construct the new factory was given to Hoffman Construction Co (who also built Reitz High School) in October 1922. They started tearing down the old Allen House in December 1922. The foundation was poured February 1923 and by March brickwork was started. The building was under roof in April, and some sections opened in May 1923 when departments began to use the first story.

The building officially opened August 4, 1923. The newspaper reported over 7,000 in attendance, including New York bigwigs that came to town. A dance was also held to celebrate its opening.

Sadly, the good times did not last. After operating here for decades, General Cigar closed the facility c1950 as cost beat quality, and the company couldn’t compete with mechanized plants.

Over the years, the building has been a variety of concerns including the local Indiana state employment office, Pro-Tex-All, and Girls Scout offices. It has found new life as it is currently a small business center. This building is a living testament to the city’s cigar history and has been cared for well. Here’s to 100 more!

 

The idea of Washington Ave Presbyterian was conceived in late 2012 when the Presbyterian church wish to expand eastward.  The new church was planned to serve the growing suburbs buoyed by the streetcar.  The cornerstone was laid June 29, 1913, and construction progressed rapidly on what was dubbed “one of the finest churches in the city.”

The church was dedicated May 17, 1914 making it the 7th Presbyterian church in Evansville.  The interior boasted a green color scheme with ivory colored ceiling set off with pink and brown decorations.  Its seating capacity was around 400.

An addition was built in 1954 to the right (west).  Some of the adjoining houses including the old parish house were cleared for parking.
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Washington Ave Presbyterian merged with Eastminster Presbyterian on August 19, 1999. The old church was converted into the Washington Avenue Center, an outreach mission where more than a dozen ministries took place.

Not long after, the church became God’s Way Church which still operates here today.  It should be noted that during renovations the church was required to replace some of the beautiful stain glass windows on the front with clear glass per fire code.

Germania Maennerchor, a singing club dedicated to German heritage, was established in 1900 and relocated in 1910 to its current location on Fulton Avenue when the bought an old mansion just north of town.  The new clubhouse was completed and dedicated 100 years ago, so it’s your duty as a history enthusiast to attend Volksfest this weekend and drink some beer.

The growing Germania organization boomed to over 400 members necessitating a larger clubhouse, so once the mortgage on the old Lahr residence was paid off, plans were drawn by famed local architect Frank J. Schlotter during the summer of 1913.  Members enjoyed using the back of the property for entertaining (come this weekend and you can see why for yourself), so it was desired to build in front of the old home.  A two-story structure of pressed dark red brick with Kentucky limestome for trim was designed that fronted Fulton Avenue where the road narrows.  On the first floor was a reception room, billiards room, check room, ladies’ parlor and a probe zimmer (German for “tasting room”).  The upper floor had an open design and had a large hall with a stage at the northern end.  The hall, which hosted several performances, boasted a rigging loft and equipment as nice as any theater and also had dressing rooms.  The design also had a driveway where the street entrance is now that allowed members to get back to the old house.  The stage above served as a porte cochere or a covering for those dropping off members at the club’s side entrance.

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Ground was broken early September 1913 and the cornerstone was laid October 19th.  A time capsule was placed inside the cornerstone, and members of other societes as well as any Germans were invited to a public ceremony of song.  The building ran a cost of $18,000 and was dedicated over a three day period May 27-29, 1914.  Crowds had to be turned away for some of the festivities, which included Mayor Benjamin Bosse speaking.

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A significant remodel occurred in 1939 at which time the murals were painted. The first floor was altered and the entrance was moved to where the driveway stood. (It was originally under the third bank of windows, below the “ERC” in Maennerchor).

In 1947, the old home was torn down and a new boiler house was built in the rear.  Later, a 2nd story was added above the boiler room including a kitchen.

Volksfest, which has been an annual tradition since it began in 1934 (save a few years after World War II), runs this weekend.  See their Facebook page for more information

Lanhuck’s Bar, torn down Thursday, didn’t get the chance to celebrate its 100th birthday, but we’ll spotlight it in our Century Club nonetheless.

The building at the corner of Columbia and Governor was built by the F W Cook Brewing Co. Breweries would often own or build saloons to sell none other than their own beer. The 2-story brick building was designed by Frank J Schlotter and had a cafe and kitchen on the 1st floor and several bedrooms and a bath on the 2nd floor. George Geier operated the saloon and lived upstairs.

The Home Realty Company (the real estate arm of Cook’s Brewery) began construction in the summer of 1914. The brickwork was done by September and the building was completed in December 13, 1914. (Note the Arts and Crafts numbering in the parapet)

George Geier operated his saloon here for several years until it was closed because of Prohibition.

Around 1935 L L Conia opened a restaurant in the old building
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Over the years it served a variety of concerns including Lee’s Tavern, Hen House Tavern, Reinie’s Tavern, Colonial Bar, and Russ’s Tavern.  Around 1967 it became Peg’s for Singers and Swingers. Lanhuck’s opened in 1983 and had occupied the old building until its demise this week.

A car crash Monday damaged the front which finally collapsed Wednesday. An emergency raze order was issued putting the building out of its misery just short of its 100th birthday.  It’s always sad to see a historic building go, especially when it’s well used.  R. I. P. Lanhuck’s!