The Farr Building is a historical building, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1907, today it is used for retail and residential space.
History
The building was constructed in 1906-1907. It was built by Harvey H. and Jacob L. Farr Jr., whose father, Jacob Farr Sr., had opened a shoe business in Allentown at the same location in June 1862. Jacob Farr had learned the shoe trade in Philadelphia in 1852 when he was 14 years old. He operated the business at the site during the industrial revolution years of the late 19th Century, passing the business down to his family upon his death in April 1889 at the age of 51. The family brought in a business partner, Nathan Hass, and the business was named Farr, Hass & Company. In 1898, the business was expanded to large-scale manufacturing of shoes, with the organization of the Leigh Valley Shoe Company, located at Chestnut and Howard streets in Allentown. Farr manufactured 1,000 shoes a day, and sold them both at the store on 8th and Hamilton as well as distributing them to other stores in the area. When describing the business, the owners stated that "There is nothing in the line of ladies' men's and children's shoes that cannot be supplied to their large trade from their establishment." In 1900 Nathan Hass and Harvey Farr dissolved the partnership by mutual consent after Hass purchased the Cross Keys Hotel on the northwest corner of Eighth and Hamilton streets from the Hagenbuch family, who had operated a tavern and later the hotel at the site since about 1800. Hass tore down the hotel and erected a five-story building in 1901 and opened N.A. Hass & Son, a competitive shoe business that he operated until 1912 when Hass sold the property and retired from the shoe business. In 1900 when Hass left the Farr company, Edgar Wenner was brought in by the family to replace him, and the company was renamed Farr Brothers' and Co. By this time the business had expanded beyond its existing building, and a new, larger five-story building was constructed that exists on the site today. It was designed by Allentown architects Rhue & Lange. The Farr company occupied the first floor with a retail store, the basement held the stockroom and company offices were on the fifth floor. The second, third and fourth floors were rented space for business offices. The company opened a store in Bethlehem in 1919; Easton in 1910; Reading in 1913 and Harrisburg in 1953. The company's slogan was "Better Shoes By Farr". The building was remodeled in 1932, and again in 1965. The company thrived until the 1970s, as with most downtown Allentown businesses, the central shopping district along Hamilton street suffered from the suburbanization and the building of shopping malls, which drew shoppers away from the downtown. In December 1985, the company announced that the store at 8th and Hamilton streets would end full retail service and become a self-service store. Also, the company was sold to a New York firm, the Farr family leaving the shoe business. In 1988, the building was taken over by a speculator. A family member, Harvey Farr, re-acquired the property when the property speculator sold it. In August 1992, Farr sold the property to D.E. Jones Company, a "poor man's Kmart" and used the store for selling discounted merchandise. By this time, the upper four floors were abandoned.
Current use
In 2004, the building was sold to Metropolis Management LLC, a development firm from New York City with a history of preserving historic structures. The property was completely renovated and was retrofitted into luxury loft-style apartments. On December 1, 2005, the Farr Lofts were inaugurated with a public showing of a finished 2-bedroom model unit. An additional 19 units began occupancy in early 2006. The ground floor is used as "The Villa" urban clothing store. In 2011, when demolition began for the PPL Center, an entire block along the north side of Hamilton Street between 7th and 8th streets was demolished except for The Farr Building and Dime Savings and Trust Company. It was noted that "... Because of the improvements that have been made, it is probably the most valuable property on the block". During the physical demolition work of buildings for the Arena in 2012, it was found that the east wall of the Farr Building required additional shoring, and the wall was strengthened by a structural engineering team brought in to insure the building's stability. A historical plaqueon the side of the building along North 8th Street states that "On this site was located one of four hospitals for soldiers of the Continental Army." The plaque was placed on the building in 1925 by the "Citizens of Allentown and Liberty Bell Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution".
