Still Standing Series
The front elevation of the esquire hotel.
Detailed Highlight of the Esquire Hotel
I have always been drawn to old buildings and the different types of architectural styles they were constructed in. These buildings are like physical time stamps that we walk past, drive past, live in, and work in every day. The craftsmanship and attention to detail that they display even to this day in 2025, is absolutely amazing.
I want to start this personal blog as a project, highlighting specific older buildings that I see throughout my day to day travels, that deserve to be highlighted and documented. Most of these buildings will be located in and around the Charlotte are of North Carolina, but as I venture out further to surrounding states Ill be on the lookout. I will also take a more targeted approach by researching building and actively going out to photograph them.
All that being said, the first building I would like to highlight is the Esquire Hotel, formerly known as the “First National Bank of Gastonia”. Originally built in 1918, it’s located in downtown Gastonia, North Carolina. It is my personal, not professional, opinion that the style of architecture displayed in this building is that of the “renaissance revival” style which was a popular style of architecture from 1840 to 1925.
The key architectural designs and features of this building that stand out to me, and that I think draw attention to it are the; dentils along the roof line, the pediments above the three tall windows on the second floor, and the design of the brickwork. Now more than a century old, the attention to detail, the choice of materials used, and the craftsmanship in how it was constructed are all reasons why this building in the heart of downtown Gastonia North Carolina is still standing and demanding attention in 2025.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on a topic that I really enjoy learning and talking about. I look forward to sharing more of these highlights with you!
The Esquire Hotel at sunrise.