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Saturday, June 1, 2013

The Architect's Revenge

This is St. Mary's Catholic Church, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, and designed by the architect Henry S. Taylor in the 1920s. There is a legend in this town that Mr. Taylor was angered that he never received full payment for his Romanesque Revival design. The story goes that shortly thereafter, he made a very low bid to ensure that he would be the one to design a waterfront restroom, Comfort Station One:

Comfort Station One has thereafter been popularly known as "Little St. Mary's." There are those who say that this story is an urban legend — and it might be — but I'll let you look at the architectural details and decide for yourself.





Regardless, it's wise
to pay for services received.

As a post script I am including a link to another site that might or might not refute this legend. The architect's wife said that he was paid in full, but that "it took some time." 

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15 comments:

  1. GinaJune 1, 2013 at 8:39 AM

    Dear Mark, A two for one. And why not. Architect Taylor was not fully paid for the first design so why not even out the score. Besides, his comfort station has style and originality. Too bad it didn't start a new design trend for comfort stations.
    Happy Sunday to you. Gina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark D. RuffnerJune 1, 2013 at 3:42 PM

      Dear Gina,

      As you will see in Kirk Dale's comment, there are sources that counter this legend, and yet it persists. I have even read that the restroom came first, though it's hard to imagine a church design inspired by one.

      Delete
  2. ParnassusJune 1, 2013 at 12:20 PM

    Hi Mark, This has to be one of the best and funniest architectural stories ever. The winner obviously is St. Petersburg, which has one of the classiest Comfort Stations ever.

    Of course all buildings in a particular style will match to a certain extent, but looking at your proof, the comparison is striking, so I am a believer in this legend! One would think that the station is on the grounds of the church.
    --Road to Parnassus

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark D. RuffnerJune 1, 2013 at 3:53 PM

      Hi, Jim,

      St. Petersburg has one more striking Romanesque building which started out as a church but is now a theater. Perhaps I'll showcase that another time.

      As you will see by Kirk's comment, there are sites that deny the story, and yet one has to wonder about the connection of the two designs. I am inclined to believe the legend.

      Delete
  3. UnknownJune 1, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    Dear Mark,
    Both buildings look lovely! I wish public amenities today were built in such a style. I do love that Romanesque style!
    I couldn't rest until I had researched via the Internet to see if the story was true. According to the 'St Pete's Historical Society, Mr. Taylor's wife affirmed that he was indeed paid for his work, in full. I'm glad about that.
    I also looked at some pictures of the interior - I like it.
    Bye for now
    Kirk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark D. RuffnerJune 1, 2013 at 4:24 PM

      Hi, Kirk,

      As you can see, I've included a link to the page you've cited. Perhaps both sories are true, that the monies were paid in full, but that the comfort station was built to speed up the payment that "took some time."

      In any event, the two buildings continue to be compared, and both are admired.

      Delete
  4. ArchitectDesign™June 3, 2013 at 9:05 AM

    Lovely design in either case! Cheeky urban legend though ;-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Mark D. RuffnerJune 3, 2013 at 10:34 AM

      Hi, Stefan,

      I thought that header might get your attention! I think an urban legend like this persists in large part because people really want to believe it.

      Delete
  5. Woodside ParkJune 3, 2013 at 3:43 PM

    Haha, gotcha! Pay up or else...

    Amazing architecture and details. How lovely to have such a charming public restroom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark D. RuffnerJune 3, 2013 at 4:28 PM

      Hi, Loi,

      Wouldn't this series of photographs make a great statement for a corporate power point presentation on a subject like client/customer relations?

      Delete
  6. columnistJune 5, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    I was trying to think of something witty to say, but rather like the late payment, it hasn't yet come to me. But whether true, or embellished, it's a lovely story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark D. RuffnerJune 5, 2013 at 5:29 PM

      Yes, people love the story so much that they want it to be true. St. Mary's has ignored it completely, which I suppose is wise on their part. At any rate, all that happened more than 80 years ago.

      Delete
  7. KarenaJune 6, 2013 at 12:10 PM

    Very interesting Mark. I can see it being true, even if he was paid after a very long time!
    Amazing architecture!

    2013 Designers Series
    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    ReplyDelete
  8. YvetteJune 12, 2013 at 7:12 PM

    They look the same to me. Ha.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mark D. RuffnerJune 13, 2013 at 2:50 PM

    Hi, Karen and Yvette! They look the same to me as well, and I think there is some truth in this story.

    ReplyDelete