Built by early Poulan businessman D. A. Phelps, this structure has served many purposes over the years. Hugh Harris West writes: This was Mr. Goodman’s Drug Store during my years in Poulaln. There was a gasoline pump out front at the corner and we could see the gasoline as it entered the glass top after being pumped. Dr. Harris came to Poulan about twice a week. His office was above the front of the store…At one time in the early 40’s the Post Office was in the rear of the building. Later, apartments were made in the upper and lower rear of the building. I understand that the Phelps family was an important part of Poulan’s development around the early 1900’s.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
Here is another note about this building. I mentioned earlier that Dr. Harris’s office was upstairs across the front of the building. Later in the ’50’s the office area was converted into an apartment. The Mathew Webb family lived there for a while. It was next door to the newly constructed concrete block building that served as a café operated by Ms. Annette Webb. The upstairs rear of the building was never completed except for walls and flooring. It must have been used for storage. During my high school years Jeanette Branch and I convinced Mr. Goodman to let us clean it up and use it for a Teen Club. We had dances there on Saturday nights. Quite a large crowd of Poulan kids attended.
Someone recently asked on FaceBook if there was a soda fountain there. There was a small area with two or three little soda fountain tables and chairs. It was not nearly as large as those in Sylvester such as Dearso Drugs and others. Mr. Goodman primarily sold medications as well as cosmetics and other notions. I remember a small flat box of makeup that he carried containing lipstick, rouge and powder. It was inexpensive and a great Christmas gift for a favorite teacher we hoped.
The store is of “Granitoid” construction as is the little town library. Mr. Goodman’s Drug Store was the anchor store and the “heart” of Poulan. This building is badly broken today as well as the hearts of those who recall it in better times.
During the 40’s John Phelps and his aged father lived in the Phelps house located on the old highway. It was restored and still looks great today. I am wondering if those Phelps were related to D.A. Phelps. John was on up in age when he married later in life.
Thank you, sounds like they were very well known in the community. Do you know of any children or what the itnitials were for, whhat his first and middle names were? I am trying to see if he connects to my family tree.
Thanks again for your help.
This was Mr. Goodman’s Drug Store during my years in Poulaln. There was a gasoline pump out front at the corner and we could see the gasoline as it entered the glass top after being pumped. Dr. Harris came to Poulan about twice a week. His office was above the front of the store. You can see the stairs to the right of the building. At one time in the early 40’s the Post Office was in the rear of the building. Later, apartments were made in the upper and lower rear of the building. I understand that the Phelps family was an important part of Poulan’s development around the early 1900’s.
Wish I could find more information on the Phelps family, that is part of my “brick wall”.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
According to the Worth County History Book I have, Mrs. D.A. Phelps was the first president of the “Poulan Civic Club” and its chief promoter. The club was organized in 1912 by a group of forward thinging women in Poulan. In 1916 the club was re-organized as a federater “Poulan Woman’s Club” with Mrs. F. M. Kimble as the first president. The club did lots of charitable good for the school and the town. Ms. Irene Harshberger was mentioned as a surviving member at the publishing of the Worth County History. Ms. Irene was the librarian and cook at the Poulaln School lunchroom for many years while I was there.
I am researching some Phelps in Georgia and have a picture of the headstone for Anna (wife of D A Phelps). Would like to know more about him.
Thank you.
This building was once a drugstore.
I hate that this building fell into such disrepair. Here’s a little history about the park across from this row of buildings: There used to be a cotton mill. It burned down in the 1960s.