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Payne Building

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c. 1936, Meanor and Handloser. 819 Lee St. (corner of Hale St.)
  • Payne Building (Michelle Krone)
  • Payne Building (Michelle Krone)

One of Charleston's handsomest commercial facades is just around the corner from Capitol Street, facing a small triangular park. The Payne Building presents an appealing and restrained, yet colorful, Moderne adaptation of classical motifs. First-floor display windows are framed with green marble, while the two floors above are faced with yellow brick. End bays of the twelve-bay facade are unadorned, but those in between are separated by terra-cotta pilasters with stylized capitals, which support a delicate entablature capped with acroteria. Pastel colors in the terra cotta add just the right note of subdued decoration.

Writing Credits

Author: 
S. Allen Chambers Jr.

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