Word Arcade, located at 213 South Market Street, was built in 1923-33. It is a two-story brick construction. The second story is faced with Perma-Stone. The six fixed windows on second floor have small frosted panes. The ground floor is completely altered and includes plate glass display windows. This building was originally constructed by Hal Word, who build it as the location of Word Motors.

The Word Arcade Building was home to Word Motor Company until at least 1960. The company moved its business to the more roomy location where it operated for many years at 205 S. Andrews Street directly behind the Word Arcade Building, before selling the business to the Harbin family in 2008. This business is now located on John T. Reid Parkway.

When Word Motor Company moved off the square, this left a building behind that was remodeled into the office building that is Word Arcade. There is no business listed for this location in the 1961 phone book (it is assumed that remodeling is underway) but by the 1966 phone book, this retail location seems to be fully populated.



Current view: Word Arcade






These are the current tenants of Word Arcade:

  • Melanie Varner Dance Studio
  • Salon 209
  • Parker Edminson, Attorney at Law
  • Dr. Kevin Gross
  • Marine recruiting office
  • The Roofing Company



1928:Proctor Building, Post Office, Word Motor

Walt Hammer found his 1928 photo of the Proctor Building and Word Motor Company when it was on the square. Notice that the post office is in the Proctor Building on the left and the stairs, which are now blocked, are open for free access to offices on the second floor.




1931: during the Scottsboro Boys trial




1940s: Word Motor on the square

This photo of Word Motors during the 1940s is from the Daily Sentinel’s Reflections II book.




1958: Oldsmobile and Chevrolet signs outside Word Motor




Word Motor becomes Word Arcade

In the early 1960s, Word Motors moved to Andrews Street and the building was redesigned to accommodate offices. This was THE place to be in the early 1960s, and many businesses that had offices elsewhere on the square moved to Word Arcade. Here are some snapshots of the tenants of Word Arcade by year.

1965

  • Elizabeth’s Shoe Box (street front)
  • Ladies and Children’s Shoppe (street front)
  • Wilkinson TV (the location of his Philco sign)
  • Mary B. Brewer Agency
  • J. A. Lee, City Attorney
  • K. H. Butler Company
  • Alabama Farm Bureau Insurance Company
  • Dr. Sarah E. Atchley, Optometrist
  • Dr. H. T. Foster, Dentist


1966

  • Elizabeth’s Shoe Box (street front)
  • Ladies and Children’s (street front)
  • H. T. Foster, Dentist
  • Mary B. Brewer Insurance
  • Kenneth Butler, Real Estate
  • State Farm Claim Office
  • Joseph A. Lee
  • Thomas Wilkerson, Accountant
  • Lois’s Salon of Beauty (Lois Winninger, Opal Dobbins, Carol Martin, Joe Talley)


1967

  • Ladies and Children’s Shoppe (street front)
  • Elizabeth’s Shoe Box (street front)
  • County Board of Education Remedial Reading Office
  • Brewer Insurance Agency
  • Dr. H. T. Foster Jr., Dentist
  • Mrs. Sarah E. Atchley, Optometrist
  • J. A. Lee, City Attorney
  • Alabama Farm Bureau Insurance Company
  • K. H. Butler Company
  • Owens Coffee Shop
  • Scottsboro Sewing Center
  • Lois Salon of Beauty
  • City Neighborhood Youth Corps
  • State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Claim Office
  • Wilkinson TV


1970

  • Ladies and Children’s Shoppe (street front)
  • Elizabeth’s Shoe Box (street front)
  • Dr. H. T. Foster Jr., Dentist
  • Dr. Sarah E. Atchley, Optometrist
  • Alabama Farm Bureau Insurance Company
  • Federal Land Bank Association
  • Brewer Insurance Agency
  • Mutual Savings Insurance Company
  • Kenneth H. Butler Company
  • Scottsboro Sewing Center
  • A. G. Warr, CPA
  • Jo’s Salon of Beauty
  • Jackson County Mental Health Center
  • Photo Shop
  • Wilkinson TV


1972-1975

  • Elizabeth’s Shoe Box (street front)
  • Ladies and Children’s Shoppe (street front)
  • Brewer Insurance Agency
  • R. F. Clayton, Real Estate
  • Clements Jewelers
  • Jo’s Salon of Beauty
  • Alabama Farm Bureau Insurance Company
  • Jackson County Mental Health Center
  • Dr. H. T. Foster Jr., Dentist
  • Huntsville Production Credit Association
  • State Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Scottsboro Sewing Center
  • Dr. Sarah E. Atchley, Optometrist (in 1975, son Ron joined her practice)
  • Neyman Dental Lab
  • Public National Life Insurance
  • North Alabama Security Agency <1975 only)
  • Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company




1965: Word Motors on Andrews Street from the city directory