West Ward Street runs along the railroad tracks, across from Railroad Street, and could be considered the commercial heart of Shellman today. The pharmacy, at right, was busy the whole time I was in town, a sure sign Shellman hasn’t rolled up the sidewalks just yet.
Shellman Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
You don’t see many of these old Rexall drug store signs anymore, but the one at Malcolm’s Drugs is a Peterson Avenue landmark and is still in business. There was still an old Rexall sign in Fitzgerald when I was very young, in the early 1970s, but it’s long gone, as it the business it advertised.
This isn’t an advertisement, but rather an appreciation for the fact that this slice of Americana is still visible and serving its original purpose. I’m not sure when Malcolm’s opened, but my father remembers it from his days at South Georgia College, circa 1960-1962.
Downtown Douglas Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This abandoned commercial block is located at the main crossroads of what was once “downtown” Sale City. Though it’s been derelict for many years, it’s still standing as far as I can tell. The storefront on the left side of the block was a pharmacy, and it’s hard to imagine Sale City ever being large enough to support such a business. But as with many historic towns, not everyone had their own transportation in the early 20th century, especially in rural areas, and all the business that is done at box stores today was done locally back then. I’m unsure as to what was located in the other two storefronts.
When the Atlanta & Florida Railway bypassed Knoxville in 1888, opting to build a depot about a mile away, the settlement of Roberta began. It was originally known as New Knoxville, after the county seat. When Hiram David McCrary (1847-1912) and James Mathews gave the right of way for the railroad, McCrary, who was also an active entrepreneur, was allowed to choose a name for it. He chose Roberta, in honor of his daughter*. *-Mattie Roberta McCrary Champion (1881-1977)
The old Bankston Store is a great example of restoration. It’s located adjacent to the bank/post office building.
The corner entrance was a popular commercial style in the early 20th century.
I made these photos a few years ago, so some of these business have been repainted. For a small town, Roberta does a good job of maintaining its historic commercial structures and still uses them all, as best I can see. I don’t encounter that in many places.
Roberta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This local landmark dates to at least the 1940s, and perhaps earlier. And, they still have a soda fountain and hand-dipped ice cream. The Art Deco storefront, once commonly seen on pharmacies and jewelry stores, is largely intact.
Elberton Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Though it is best remembered today as the Moore Furniture Company, this was originally a commercial duplex housing a pharmacy on the left side and the old Jasper Post Office on the right.
This early 20th century commercial block was most notably home to a pharmacy, whose ghost sign remains.
Colbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
In the early 20th century, Coca-Cola wall paintings, or murals, were ubiquitous in small towns all over America. But through research and authentication by the Coca-Cola Company, it has been determined that the very first such advertisement was created here in Cartersville, on the side of Young Brothers Pharmacy, in 1894. It was painted by syrup salesman James Couden.The Coca-Cola Company regularly refreshed the sign with new paint until the late 1970s, and in the 1980s, Dean Cox, who had purchased the pharmacy from one of the Young brothers’ daughters in 1970, became curious about the historical sign. In 1989, he hired Alison Free and Aggie Ferguson to restore it to its original condition. 25 layers of paint were removed to reveal the mural visible today. Coca-Cola fans and collectors from all over the world have been making pilgrimages to Cartersville to see it ever since.
Cartersville Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Sullivan Drugs has been in business since 1957.
This modern storefront is presently home to the Royston Drug Store, which has been in business since 1913. I’m unsure when they moved into this building. It was built by or for C. N. Weatherly, as identified on the column.
Royston Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places