Jacksonville Architecture

This attractive four-story commercial building was originally constructed for the Hutchinson Shoe Company, a wholesale distributor. The president of the company was E. L. Hutchinson, and the vice president was Robert V. Covington, who owned the large wholesaling company next door. Covington later took over this company. The building was purchased in 1931 by Suddath Moving and Storage Co., which has occupied the building ever since. The Suddath Co. was founded in Jacksonville and has grown to be the largest moving company in Florida, with operations in over fifty countries throughout the world. The building still retains much of its original appearance. Constructed of reinforced concrete, it has a brick facade trimmed with cast stone, a pressed-metal cornice, and a cast-iron store front. This building and the adjoining commercial structures were once part of the busy business district that was served by the wharfs along Bay Street.