Remembering the Lloyd Building
For five years beginning in 1999, I owned and operated an online retail store that sold fine plush animals. I had the idea for the business years before, but searching high and low, I had never been able to find any kind of suitable (or affordable) commercial space locally in which to house an inventory.
Then, just when I thought my options had been exhausted, I found the Lloyd Building in downtown Eureka. My dream was within reach now. I told that story last October in this post, though, so I won't rehash the details here.
Much has taken place since then, however. Following a damaging earthquake only two months later, the city of Eureka wasted no time swooping in to condemn the Lloyd Building and order its demolition. It is now vanished completely off the face of the earth.
What follows is something of a pictorial memorial to a place most considered a civic blight but which I remember with a great deal of fondness, as my life as I know it today would never have come to pass without it.
The Lloyd Building, formerly at 219 5th Street, Eureka, California, August 12, 2008. (It was actually named after actor Lloyd Bridges.)
Erected in 1912, it was originally a lodge for the Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.).
The ediface's attractive Georgian design elements were completely erased by a drastic remodel in 1958.
It was the crumbling of this false facade that would ultimately doom the structure 65 years later.
Although I vacated the premises in 2002, my store's name remained in the building's lobby directory to the end.
The door to my office on the 3rd floor.
The 3rd floor hallway which led to the only bathroom on my floor. It was a somewhat spooky walk at night, but I never saw any ghosts, alas!
View of beautiful downtown Eureka from the 3rd floor hallway window. August, 2008.
I slept over at the office often, and ate many a wee-hours Grand Slam at this Denny's across the street.
A portion of my happy inventory on display, July, 2000.
My security detail. The husky at left actually barked at loud noises! October, 2000.
Pulling an overnighter, January, 2001.
In 2002, I felt my business was sufficiently established that I could move all its operations to my new home in McKinleyville. I still kept some inventory at the Lloyd after that, but in a much smaller room next door.
Fast forward to the present...
April 11, 2023: Demolition almost complete. A sad end to a once-grand building.
Brick mementos salvaged from the ruins.
Then, just when I thought my options had been exhausted, I found the Lloyd Building in downtown Eureka. My dream was within reach now. I told that story last October in this post, though, so I won't rehash the details here.
Much has taken place since then, however. Following a damaging earthquake only two months later, the city of Eureka wasted no time swooping in to condemn the Lloyd Building and order its demolition. It is now vanished completely off the face of the earth.
What follows is something of a pictorial memorial to a place most considered a civic blight but which I remember with a great deal of fondness, as my life as I know it today would never have come to pass without it.
The Lloyd Building, formerly at 219 5th Street, Eureka, California, August 12, 2008. (It was actually named after actor Lloyd Bridges.)
Erected in 1912, it was originally a lodge for the Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.).
The ediface's attractive Georgian design elements were completely erased by a drastic remodel in 1958.
It was the crumbling of this false facade that would ultimately doom the structure 65 years later.
Although I vacated the premises in 2002, my store's name remained in the building's lobby directory to the end.
The door to my office on the 3rd floor.
The 3rd floor hallway which led to the only bathroom on my floor. It was a somewhat spooky walk at night, but I never saw any ghosts, alas!
View of beautiful downtown Eureka from the 3rd floor hallway window. August, 2008.
I slept over at the office often, and ate many a wee-hours Grand Slam at this Denny's across the street.
A portion of my happy inventory on display, July, 2000.
My security detail. The husky at left actually barked at loud noises! October, 2000.
Pulling an overnighter, January, 2001.
In 2002, I felt my business was sufficiently established that I could move all its operations to my new home in McKinleyville. I still kept some inventory at the Lloyd after that, but in a much smaller room next door.
Fast forward to the present...
April 11, 2023: Demolition almost complete. A sad end to a once-grand building.
Brick mementos salvaged from the ruins.