south
side - 1923 map
|
In 1923, there were no buildings located at 407 South Colorado Street,
except for a garage or outbuilding behind the dwelling located at 201 East
Walnut Street. |
"In 1929, J. B. Priddy
owned a blacksmith shop at 407 South Colorado Street, which was behind
his home at 201 East Walnut Street."
(Coleman
City Directory, 1929 - Hudspeth.)
south
side - 1930 map
|
By 1930, a building had been built at 407 South Colorado Street,
which served as James B. Priddy's blacksmith shop, with some outbuildings
on the northeast corner.
|
south
side - 1948 map
EL.
MOT = Electric Motor
EARTH
FL = Earth Floor
|
In 1948, this same building, with the porch on the west side
removed, still remained, with the same outbuildings at 407 South Colorado
Street. Apparently it was now Clarence Durham's Garage.
|
 |
“STREET SWEEPING PREACHER” and two “PUSHING
DEACONS” are pictured as the old Durham Garage on Colorado Street came
tumbling down. Rev. John Stanislaw, pastor of First Baptist Church
in Coleman (on the right with his broom), helps Deacon John Gregg keep
debris out of the street as Deacon Harold Phillips (in his bulldozer) pushes
the garage down to make a parking lot for the church. The building is believed
to have been built in the early 1900s.
|
The Old Durham Garage Makes Way for Progress
By Billie Mercer
Recently members of the First Baptist Church of Coleman elected to
purchase a lot and old building located south of the Fellowship Hall, across
Elm Street, to be used as a parking lot. This past week, clean-up
work on the lot and the razing of an old building occurred. Motorists
driving by saw Harold Phillips in his big bulldozer pushing the building
down while Rev. John Stanislaw, along with John Gregg, worked to keep debris
out of the street.
The old building, believed to have been built in the early 1900’s,
was later known as the Durham Garage (belonging to Clarence Durham) and
still later, J. D. Steffey’s Garage. We spoke to Nathan Durham, son
of Clarence Durham, asking for a little of the history of the old garage.
Nathan advised before it became a garage, it was a blacksmith shop.
In fact, Nathan said his father worked at the blacksmith shop for awhile
before purchasing the building in 1946 and using it as a garage.
Many will remember some of the men who worked at the Durham Garage … Foy
Coleman, Gay Coleman, Buddy Heiser, Nathan, along with brother Archie,
P. R. Price, Ed Buetrox who hailed form Louisiana and Rondo Horton.
“That garage supported several families at one time,” Nathan said.
Nathan advised that his father passed away at the age of 53 in 1960.
After his father passed away and J. D. Steffey’s wife was killed in a car
accident, Steffey and Nathan’s mother married. Steffey passed away
several years ago and Winnie Undean (Durham) Steffey remains in the same
home.
Progress has a way of taking away old things. Through the years,
people have talked about the Durham Garage and it will long be remembered
as a place that supported families of many good men who knew how to keep
cars in good working order.
(Coleman
Chronicle & DV, Tuesday, March 11, 2003, page 6-A.)
|
west
side - March 2003
|
|
About February 2003, The Coleman First Baptist Church began clearing
the west side of this block (Original Townsite, Block
19, lots 3 and 4) to build what began as a parking lot and expanded
into a "Family Center." This part of the block has included
200 East Elm Street, 405
South Colorado Street, 407 South Colorado Street, and 201
East Walnut Street. See 200
East Elm Street for information about this structure. |