Old-time Brickwork

Interesting brick detailing

A corbel is defined as a shelf or ledge formed by projecting successive courses of masonry out from the face of the wall. Racking is defined as masonry in which successive courses are stepped back from the face of the wall. (Source)

Brick is added to a building from the bottom up, so the brick pattern at the top of this building was added by stepping the bricks out from the main wall. Thus, it must be a corbel, I think.

The pattern of the bricks is interesting and it also creates attractive shadows. There are bricklaying rules about how far each row of masonry can safely protrude beyond the previous row.

These are the second story windows and roof line of an old building in Hopkinsville, KY. It sits next to Metcalfe Flowers on East 7th Street.

I believe Mr. T. L. Metcalfe had a business here, about a century ago. He owned a laundry and a newspaper in addition to his flower business, and they were all located on East 7th Street. I don't know the building's recent history.