From the Archives: Adolph Rose Building

By Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.

Adolph Rose Building- In March 1890, Adolph Rose purchased a large property on the north side of Clay and on the corner of Walnut Street that consisted of four houses and lots, for $21,000.

The property was considered to be one of the most attractive because it was across the street from the new Carroll Hotel that would soon be under construction.Rose hired architect William Stanton to design a six-story building to house his wholesale dry goods house. Construction of this building was not started, however, until 1896 and the height had been reduced to four stories.

Adolph Rose was born in Speyer on the Rhine in Bavaria, Germany.  Before moving to Vicksburg in 1884, he was a bank clerk in Bavaria.  Once in Vicksburg, he worked in the mercantile trade for a couple of companies before joining forces with Victor Brown and establishing the Adolph Rose and Company.

His new building on Clay Street was said to be of “fireproof” construction and cost $30,000, with an additional $10,000 spent on fixtures.

At the beginning of construction in May 1896, the Daily Commercial Herald reported the following, under the headline “Relics of the Past.” “So much grading and filling has been done in Vicksburg since the city was laid out that a resident of sixty years ago would scarcely recognize the place, even were its buildings restored to their condition at that time and all the new structures swept away.  It is among the traditions of the city that many years ago a deep ravine existed near Clay Street, which it crossed near the corner of Monroe, extending from Cherry to the lake.

Apparently, it must have run along the rear of the B. B. Literary Association’s building and the Hoffman block, for only yesterday Contract Gregory announced that after excavating to the depth of fifteen feet-about twenty feet below the level of Clay Street- he had found a good foundation for the northeast corner of the Adolph Rose block, and, incidentally three boat gunwales which the former inhabitants of Vicksburg had perhaps used to bridge the little stream at the bottom of the ravine. The wood was in a fair state of preservation.” Work continued throughout the year and at one point in October of 1896, twenty-five carpenters were at work on the building.

The entire four-story building (the fourth floor does not span the width of the floors below) was to be occupied by the wholesale dry goods house of Adolph Rose.  The Herald reported that Rose had “built up an immense business in this section and will find in these roomy quarters, a capacious basement being added to the four stories already mentioned, space to display the largest wholesale stock ever brought to the city.”

Construction continued into December 1896 with the Daily Commercial Herald reporting that “scaffolding at the new store of Mr. Adolph Rose fell yesterday with a considerable crash and bruised several of the carpenters who were working on it, but luckily none of them were seriously hurt and in a few minutes all were at work again.”

When the building was completed in January 1897, the Vicksburg Post reported that the second-floor ceiling is “of a new and original design, finished in natural wood and oiled.  The main stairway is located in the northwest corner of each floor, and is a massive and elegant piece of work.  The building is well worth a visit and must be seen to be appreciated.  It is a credit to this city and to all who have taken part in its construction.”

Adolph Rose died on December 18, 1914 at his home on Cherry Street.  His obituary detailed a legacy of leadership and service- vice president of the Board of Trade and the B. B. Club, a director of the Mississippi Home Insurance Company, finance chairman of the Mutual Loan and Building Association, president of City Savings Bank and Trust Company, and vice president of First National Bank.  He was survived by his wife, Ophelia, and three children- Alfred, Lester and Minnie.  The Adolph Rose Company continued to operate at least through 1929.

From Clay Street, Vicksburg, Miss. Sysid 93072. Scanned as tiff in 2008/11/07 by MDAH. Credit: Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History

In 1934, the right side of the building was remodeled into the Strand Theater and it was used for this purpose until 1966.  The left side housed a number of businesses including Feld Furniture in the 1940s through the early 1980s.  The building then housed Yesterday’s Treasures Antiques and the “Vanishing Glory,” which was a film produced about the Civil War experience in Vicksburg.  Eventually, the building was bought by Malcolm Allred and the third floor was converted into residences, while the first and second floors offered antiques for sale. The first floor has now been converted into and wine and spirts store.  A number of years ago, the Strand was resurrected by the
Westside Theater Foundation and Vicksburgers are once again treated to movies, plays, and concerts.