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{{For|the Waco, Texas building|Praetorian Building (Waco, Texas)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| building_name   = Stone Place Tower
| image           = Praetorian Building, Dallas, TX.JPG
| caption         = Depiction of the Praetorian Building on a 1908 postcard
| alternate_names = Praetorian Building
| location        = 1607 Main Street<br />[[Dallas]], [[Texas]]
| coordinates     = {{coord| 32.7811|-96.7983|region:US-TX_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| start_date      = 1905
| completion_date = 1909
| demolition_date = 2013
| status          = Demolished
| building_type   = Commercial offices
| architectural_style = 
| roof            = {{convert|58|m|abbr=on}}
| floor_count     = 15
| floor_area      = <!-- {{convert||m2|abbr=on}} -->
| architect       = Corgan Associates<br />CW Bulger & Son
| engineer        = 
| main_contractor = 
| developer       = 
| owner           = 
| management      = 
| references      = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818083529/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118310 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |title=Emporis building ID 118310 |work=[[Emporis]]}}</ref><ref>{{SkyscraperPage|71285}}</ref><ref>{{Structurae|20041211}}</ref>
}}

The '''Praetorian Building''', also known as '''Stone Place Tower''', was a 15-story, {{convert|58|m|abbr=on}} [[high-rise]] constructed in 1909 at Main Street and Stone Street in the [[Main Street District, Dallas, Texas|Main Street District]] of [[downtown Dallas]], [[Texas]]. It was regarded the first skyscraper in Texas and the first skyscraper in the [[Southwestern United States]]. It was among the first skyscrapers built in the entire [[Western United States]], following the 1885 [[Lumber Exchange Building]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]] and other taller towers in [[Metropolitan Building (Minneapolis)|Minneapolis]], [[Central Tower (San Francisco)|San Francisco]], [[Omaha National Bank Building|Omaha]], and [[Commerce Trust Building|Kansas City]].<ref name="pra2"/>

However, the Praetorian Building remained the tallest building in Dallas only until 1912.<ref name="pra1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dallaspioneers.org/stories/historical.php?ID=330|title=Dallas' First Skyscraper|publisher=Dallas County Pioneer Association|accessdate=2007-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208135815/http://www.dallaspioneers.org/stories/historical.php?ID=330|archive-date=2012-02-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was {{convert|190|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} tall with 15 floors of office space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/tall.htm|title=The Tallest Buildings in Dallas|accessdate=2007-10-06|publisher=Dallas Architecture|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010075627/http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/tall.htm|archive-date=2007-10-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> Plans for its redevelopment were eventually disbanded and the building's deconstruction was completed in the summer of 2013.

== History ==
The Praetorian Tower was conceived as the national headquarters of the [[Praetorian Order]], a fraternal insurance company based in Dallas.<ref name="pra2">{{cite web|url=http://dallaslibrary.org/ctx/photogallery/downtownliving/praetorian.htm|title=Praetorian Building|accessdate=2007-10-19|publisher=Dallas Public Library}}</ref><ref>"New Praetorian Building." ''The Dallas Morning News''. May 23, 1905.</ref> The mostly empty plot of land at Main Street and Stone Street had previously hosted the circus, medicine shows and college football events. In 1905 the Order announced a six-story, fireproof building capable of expanding eight additional floors. Months later, plans were changed to the construction of a 15-story building—the first skyscraper in Dallas.<ref>"First Skyscraper Had Its Skeptics." ''The Dallas Morning News''. August 27, 1948.</ref> Construction began in late 1905 and after several delays the frame of the $800,000 building was complete in 1907 and it finally opened to visitors on February 28, 1909.<ref>"Frames Are In Place." ''The Dallas Morning News''. March 31, 1907.</ref><ref>"Praetorian Building Opens to Visitors." ''The Dallas Morning News''. February 28, 1909.</ref> Designed by [[Charles William Bulger|C.W. Bulger & Son]], its unique neoclassical exterior was fitted with gray granite pillars, gold ornamentation, and terra cotta columns on a brick and steel structural frame, while the interior was finished with African mahogany, tile and marble.<ref name="pra2"/> The building was heated by steam, featured three modern elevators of the time and contained 2 artesian wells. Each office featured electricity, telegraph and telephone connections and hot and cold running water. A rooftop observatory provided views over the growing city and up to {{convert|20|mi|km}} over rural landscape.<ref>"New Home of the Praetorians." ''The Dallas Morning News''. October 10, 1909.</ref>

The building remained a center of business activity even as taller skyscrapers opened in following years. The building was air conditioned in 1948.<ref>"Praetorian Building to Be Air-Conditioned." ''The Dallas Morning News''. May 9, 1948.</ref> The Order also requested that Stone Street, named after a Dallas Civil War hero, be changed to Praetorian Lane; this was denied by the City in 1952.<ref>"Change in Name of Stone Street Advised Against." ''The Dallas Morning News''. January 24, 1952.</ref> The Praetorian Order transformed into the Praetorian Mutual Life Insurance Company and in 1958 announced an adjacent 15 story addition and $1.5 million face-lift for the 50-year-old structure.<ref>"Praetorian Addition Set." ''The Dallas Morning News''. October 10, 1958.</ref> Months later, what had been planned as a general modernization changed to a complete overhaul of the building. The width of the building along Main Street was doubled with the addition, increasing the building tract to {{convert|10000|sqft|m2}}. The historic exterior was stripped down to the steel frame and replaced with a brightly colored "Praetorian Yellow" porcelain steel exterior. The new building, opened in 1961, was designed by Grayson Gill, Inc. and contained {{convert|140000|sqft|m2}} of office space.<ref>"Structure to Utilize Old Frame." ''The Dallas Morning News''. March 29, 1959.</ref>

[[Tandy Corp.]] occupied the building's basement and first two levels with the 21-department "Tandy Craft & Hobby Mart" in the 1960s, but success of the new building was short-lived.<ref>"Tandy Opens 'Supermart' for Hobbyist." ''The Dallas Morning News''. November 23, 1962.</ref> The building was sold to off-shore investors in 1970,{{who|date=June 2011}} and Praetorian Mutual Life vacated the building in 1987 for a new location in [[Las Colinas]].<ref>"Mutual Fund Buys Praetorian Building in Central Dallas." ''The Dallas Morning News''. August 1, 1970.</ref><ref>"Praetorian Mutual Life Moving To Irving." ''The Dallas Morning News'' 21 May. 1987, HOME FINAL, BUSINESS: 4D. NewsBank. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.</ref> The yellow porcelain exterior was painted gray during a 1990s renovation by [[Corgan (company)|Corgan]]. The structure changed hands over successive years and fell into foreclosure; by 1993 low occupancy forced the building to close. It became the 10th office building in a five-block stretch to close its doors during the five-year period of economic hardship for the downtown business district.<ref>Steve Brown. "Downtown offices hit towering loss of tenants – Many firms have moved their operations to suburbs." ''The Dallas Morning News'' 4 Jun. 1993, HOME FINAL, NEWS: 1A. NewsBank. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.</ref>

=== Redevelopment and demolition ===
As the [[Main Street District, Dallas]] and downtown Dallas began a revival and many surrounding buildings were rehabilitated, the Praetorian Building was also eyed for renovation. In 2005, the tower was purchased by the [[California]]-based 3J Development. The company decided to remodel the tower and restore it to its original 1909 [[facade|façade]]. Due to financial problems the renovation was delayed and the building sold in 2007 to Lockey Capital.<ref name="pra2" /> The building's office floors were planned to be converted into loft apartments.<ref name="pra2" /> In 2010 the building was one of several in the Main Street District to be purchased by [[Timothy Headington]], developer of [[The Joule Hotel]], with plans for redevelopment.<ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-headington_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.3f6558b.html "Joule developer adds Praetorian to downtown Dallas holdings." ''The Dallas Morning News''. February 9, 2010.]</ref> Soon after, the city of Dallas confirmed plans to demolish the building.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilonsky |first=Robert |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/01/erykah_badu_rebirth_brass_band.php |title=Erykah Badu, Rebirth Brass Band and a Late-Night Funeral Procession for Main Street |work=Dallas Observer |date=2012-01-15 |accessdate=2016-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/morning_call/2011/12/headington-oil-buys-building-on-main.html |first1=Lance |last1=Murray |title=Headington Oil buys building on Main Street in Dallas |date=December 20, 2011}}</ref> The building was fully demolished by the summer of 2013, being replaced by [[Eye (sculpture)|a sculpture of an eye]].

==See also==

* [[List of tallest buildings in Dallas]]
* [[Wilson Building (Dallas, Texas)|Wilson Building]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/38795277@N05/3567755627/ Photo from 2007]
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/sminor/3984556429/ Photo from 2009]
*{{cite news |author=Robert Wilonsky |series=Unfair Park |work=The Dallas Observer |title=The Old Praetorian Building Downtown May Be Coming Down as Part of Joule Expansion |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/09/praetorian_tower.php |date=September 15, 2011 |accessdate=September 1, 2012}}

{{Downtown Dallas}}
{{Buildings in Texas timeline}}
{{Buildings in Dallas timeline}}
{{Dallas skyscrapers}}

[[Category:1909 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1909]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2013]]
[[Category:Charles William Bulger buildings]]
[[Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Dallas]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Texas]]