The The Wininger Law Firm, LLC office may not exactly sparkle like a jewel; after all, it is made of red brick and Spanish tile, hardly the glitter of a diamond. But to David Wininger the building might as well be a precious gem because it has a very special place in Birmingham's history. Indeed, The Wininger Law Firm, LLC office is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wininger Law office at 517 N. 21st Street was designed and built by D.O. Whilldin, one of Alabama's early preeminent architects. In fact, the building served for many years as Whilldin's office, and from it, Whilldin designed several of Birmingham's most notable structures. Whilldin's long list of designs includes Birmingham's Legion Field, Phillips High School, the Florentine Building, as well as the not-so-famous, including Glen Iris Elementary School, David Wininger's boyhood alma mater.

David Wininger bought the Whilldin Building in 1981 so that he could preserve this Birmingham landmark. He has since renovated the building, but much of Whilldin's work and design has been preserved in its original form. For example, visitors to the Wininger office can still marvel at Whilldin's gilded, coffered ceiling with its beautiful carved woodwork or its ornate arched doorway. And, because of David Wininger's love of history and Birmingham's past, the building will remain for Birmingham to appreciate for years to come.

Click the link to visit historic photos of North Birmingham.

 

Special thanks to Yolanda Valentin of the Archives Department at Birmingham Public Library for her assistance.