East Peachtree Street

The south side of the square was the last of the four sides to develop commercially. It remained largely dedicated to agricultural concerns (meat packing and farm implement businesses) until well into the 1960’s. The south side of the square was the site of the last residence on the square, also demolished in the late 1960’s. Today, the south side is the only side of the square with empty street-front property devoted to parking rather than commercial buildings.

1945: Masonic building and the Locker Plant

This photo is from the Alabama State Archives. The caption reads, “Building in which the new locker plant is housed. Entrance to lobby is door is under emblem. Plant contains 261 lockers with room for 360 more. Facilities are provided for slaughtering, chilling, aging, salt curing, wrapping and freezing. A Masonic symbol is on the front of the building, and the Jackson County Health Department is next door.” This photo was taken about 1945.

1950s: left side during First Monday

Notice Benson Childress Hardware on the left, the Hunt Stuart House, and the tractors on display in this photo.

1970 First Monday

Notice the three buildings that can be seen in the background:

Top Dollar Store in the Armstrong Building. According to city directories, this business was at this location 1965-1970
Variety Bake Shop, with no visible sign
Mac’s Discount Shoes, first in this location in 1970
Old City Hall Building

Snapshot Views of Peachtree Street

The businesses on all sides of the square changed over time and as new buildings were built. We have reliable “snapshots” of the square from such public documents as phone books and city directories.

1956

Businesses on the south side of the square in 1956 according to the phone book.

206 West Floyd Thomas Plumbing and Electrical
103 West Blackwell Feed and Seed

102 City Hall, Fire Department, Police Department, and Water/Sewer
106 Dr. Fred Himberg, Optometrist
108 Variety Bake Shop
110 Armstrong Sanitone Cleaners-Palace Cleaners
112 Carl Johnson Motor Company/Used Cars
120 Alabama State Employment Service
120 Lad’n Lassie Shop
122 Jackson County Locker Plant
134 Childress Implements and Supplies
134 Selective Service System Local Board (Childress Building)
134 State Farm Mutual Life Insurance Company Claim Office (Childress Building)
134 TVA Maps and Surveys (Childress Building)

1961

Businesses on the south side of the square in 1961 according to the phone book.

103 West Peachtree Blackwell Feed Store
206 West Peachtree Floyd Thomas Plumbing and Electric

102 City Hall and Fire Department
106 Dr. Fred Himburg, Optometrist
108 Variety Bake Shop
110 Armstrong Sanitone Cleaners
112 Orkin Pest Control
112 Farm Bureau
114 Moon Light Cafe
120 Lad and Lassie Children’s Clothes
122 Jackson County Locker Plant
134 Childress Implement and Supply Company
134 TVA (Childress Building)
134 John L. Haislip, Attorney (Childress Building)

1966

Businesses located on the South side of the square according to the 1966 phone book. A lot has happened between 1961 and 1966. Phone numbers are now seven digits instead or 2 or 3. Businesses are moving off the square in greater numbers to locations further down Broad street and on the Ft. Payne Highway. Other retail locations, like Holiday Plaza on East Willow, are becoming available. The frame building at 112 East Peachtree is still standing. The Lad’n Lassie Shop is gone. The Fred’s Building is now next door to Old Hickory Smoke House, and houses a business called C & H Department Store. Armstrong Cleaners has gone out of business, and Dolberry TV Sales and Repair and Top Dollar Store are in this location.

309 West General Telephone
212 West Word Popcorn
103 West Bryant’s Auto parts

106 J. Fred Himberg, Optometrist
108 Variety Bake Shop
110 Top Dollar Store
112 Dolberry TV Sales and Service
114 Moon Light Cafe
120 Thrifty Mart Sundries
122 Old Hickory Smoke House
122 Lodge #359 F & AM
126 C & H Department Store
134 International Harvester Farm Equipment
134 Sebring Truck and Tractor
134 Childress Implement and Supply
134 TVA (Childress Building
Dawson Auto Parts

	1956	1960	1961	1965	1966	1967	1970	1972	1975
102	City Hall and Fire Department	NC	NC	Vacant	No data	City Neighborhood Youth Corps (out of school division)	NC	No data	Vacant
106	Dr. Fred Himberg, Optometrist	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	Bill’s Discount Shoes	No data	Vacant
108	Variety Bake Shop	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC Mac’s Discount Shoes	NC
110	Armstrong Sanitone Cleaners (Palace)	NC	NC	Top Dollar	NC	NC	NC	NC	The Peachtree Shop
112	Carl Johnson Motor Company	Orkin Pest Control Jackson County Farm Bureau Alabama Farm Bureau Insurance	NC	Dolberry Radio and TV Shop	NC	NC	NC	NC Dolberry Fence and Insulation	Chandler’s Men’s Wear
114	No data	Moonlight Cafe V.H. Heal (residence, renter) Paul Arnold (residence)	Moon Light Cafe	Moonlight Cafe Mrs. Bertha Heal (renter)	Moon Light Cafe	Moon Light Cafe Mrs. Bertha Heal (renter)	Moon Light Cafe (rental space vacant)	Moon Light Cafe	Moonlight Cafe
120	Alabama State Employment Service Lad’N Lassie	NC	NC	Tru-Discount	Thrifty Mart Sundries	NC	NC	Clay’s Wig Wholesale	Clay’s Wigs and Accessories
122	Jackson County Locker Plant	Jackson County Locker Plant Dari King Masonic Hall/Masonic Lodges	NC	Old Hickory Smoke House Masonic Hall/Masonic Lodges	Old Hickory Smoke House Lodge #359 F & AM	NC	upstairs Masonic space vacant	NC	Old Hickory Food and Chemicals Old Hickory Smoke House Fraternal Order of Police
126	No data	No data	No data	No data	C & H Department Store	NC	NC	Fred’s Discount Store	NC
134	Childress Implements and Supplies Selective Service System State Farm Mutual Claims Office TVA Maps and Surveys	Childress Implement and Supplies	Childress Implement and Supply TVA John L. Haislip, Attorney	Childress Implement and Supply	Childress Implement and Supply Sebring Truck and Tractor International Harvester Farm Equipment TVA	Sebring Truck and Tractor	Sebring International Alcoholics Anonymous	Scottsboro Equipment Company	Jackson Auto Parts