Historic Tyler on Tour, 2004
Cranford's Auto Hotel/Loft, 124 South College #101
The Jenkins-Harvey Super Service Station and Garage was built in 1920. The building's Utilitarian form embellished with restrained cast concrete Art Deco ornamentation make it a visual asset in the down town district. The building is the only known auto repair and storage facility to survive from the pre-1950s era.
Samuel A Lindsey,(1866-1961) a lawyer, judge, land developer and financier, purchased the garage site and the lot immediately north in July of 1922 from Eliza Weir. Mrs. Weir inherited this property from her mother, Sarah Scott. The garage parcel was developed into a boarding house. In 1929 Lindsey obtained the services of local architect James P. Baugh. The building was razed and the garage was constructed. Lindsey leased the garage to William Jenkins and L.G. Harvey, who operated a filling station and repair garage on the first floor and basement levels. Auto storage was available on the second floor.
In 1933 A. C. Webster, N.A. Mounce and O.O. Oxford leased the garage for a complete automotive service station and an auto hotel. In 1940 and continuing into the mid 1950s the first floor and the basement housed Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store. Auto storage continued to be available and the second story was also used for dances. There are stories that alcoholic beverages were sold at the dances from a temporary wooden concession stand under the guise of medicinal use.
James Earl Griffin began operating an auto repair business in the building in 1959. Griffin took his son, Thomas, into the business in 1980 and the garage was known as the Griffin Auto Storage until 2002.
John O'Sullivan purchased the building in 2002. He and his wife Deborah, and their sons John Jr. and Bryan have converted the historic garage into nine upscale loft apartments. The O'Sullivan family has kept the exterior of the building very much as it was in the 1950s.
David Cranford's 1700 square feet one bedroom loft is located on the first floor of the garage. There are two entrances to his home. One is thru the old garage office area and the other is thru a standard size garage door. The walls are the original concrete and the floors are the original concrete floors with a stain applied.
The large open living space includes a living room area, granite and stainless steel kitchen, a computer office area and a parking space for Mr. Cranford's Porsche. The bedroom bathroom area is one large area with a beautiful black bath tub and a tile shower.
The loft is decorated in contemporary black, red and chrome. The museum quality lighting illuminate the art work throughout the two rooms. All of the art in the loft are the works of Mr. Cranford.
David Cranford's auto storage/loft is a fabulous example of why our community should keep Tyler's historic buildings. The loft is one of the most unique homes in Tyler. The garage remains a landmark in downtown Tyler.
