Loveman's is, perhaps, the best known of old downtown department stores. The original Loveman, Joseph & Loeb Building at 19th and 3rd Avenue was built in 1897. The card at left was mailed in 1910. Loveman's burned in 1934 in a major downtown fire in which no lives were lost.  The building in the postcard below was constructed on the same site.  This card was mailed in 1958. The Loveman's building has been recycled into McWane Center, a hands on science center. Loveman's Old
Loveman's 1934 Fire
Loveman's Fire

The Loveman's fire is noted for the survival of the Alabama Theater visible in the right photo.  A children's matinee was occuring when the fire broke out and produced many worried parents across Birmingham.

Top postcard published by Internation Postcard Company. The bottom card was published by Birmingham Woodenware and printed by Dexter Press.

Fire Photos Courtesy Birmingham Public Library .

loveman's Loveman's as McWane Center
Loveman's was rebuilt into the McWane Center, a hands on science center. The original 1935 building is to the right.  A new lobby entrance and a portion of the Imax theater show to the left.

 Jan 2003 by Warren Reed