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Rewrote anecdote about Danish flag based on plaque on building. Frankly, I didn't like the word "gloated" in the previous version.
The [[Thiesen Building]] is Pensacola's first commercial high-rise. At the time of its construction in 1901, this five-story building was the tallest building in Pensacola and the first with a modern elevator and steam heat. Built in a Renaissance Revival style, it features terra-cotta ornamentation on the west and south facades.
It was conceived, financed, and owned by Danish businessman [[Christen Thiesen]], who was reportedly warned that his venture would fail and the building would be lost to receivership; when this failed to happen, . Thiesen gloated responded by flying vowing to fly the Danish flag from the building each April 1st as a symbol of his continued ownership. It is said that Thiesen raised the Danish flag every year April 1st until his death in [[1934]]. It The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December, [[1979]].
By the 1970s, the building had fallen into disrepair and had become vacant. In [[1992]] businessman [[Ray Russenberger]] purchased the building to provide offices for his paging company [[Network USA]]. He restored the exterior to its original 1901 design.
