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Local surveyor Hamilton Palmer is turning Fredericksburg's landmark Purina tower into a gem of an office building. Date published: 12/7/2001
Checkered past, future
Since becoming the property's new owner a couple of years ago, Hamilton G. Palmer, who runs the surveying company HGP Inc., has renovated the site to the extent that his own offices are now in there. He now spends what time he can overhauling the rest of its interior and repairing the tower's weathered exterior. And yes, he is planning to repaint the familiar Purina checkerboard pattern on the restored tower. "This area needs some continuity," said Palmer of the neighborhood that adjoins the Fredericksburg train station. "We're setting a decent standard, though I don't have all the money for what I'd like to do." As far as Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc. is concerned, "decent" translates to "tickled" and "delighted," according to the foundation's Kitty Farley. "We really like what he's doing down there." The building will serve as the gift shop and rest stop for the foundation's 31st Candlelight Tour this weekend. So if you want to get a peek inside, this would be a good opportunity. The appearance of the building will be changed dramatically when a wall of steel and glass is added to the north side of the warehouse, facing the CSX railroad tracks. "We would welcome a restaurant or offices in here," said Palmer. He said neighborhood residents had suggested a small, upscale grocery store, but the property's zoning prevented that. Hyperion Espresso soon will be serving the neighborhood and commuters with a coffee cart as it expands to a second downtown location. Palmer said he is getting overtures from people interested not only in commercial space, but from those who would like to live in the tower itself. Much of the flooring and roofing has been redone, primarily because, Palmer said, "You could have fallen through the floor and the roof leaked like a sieve." When he first entered the building, Palmer said it was vacant and reflected its use as a haven for the city's homeless. Rundown, he said, did not adequately describe it. Portions of the building are still much as they were when the Young-Sweetser Co. occupied it. The company built the warehouse in 1919 and added the grain elevator tower shortly thereafter. The concrete construction was regarded as fireproof. Nevertheless, a fire in June of 1920 caused significant damage to the warehouse and elevator.
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